With the technical and the economical growth in Europe from the second part of the 19th nineteenth up into the second part of the 20th century rivers in urban areas were sealed in concrete, habitats got lost, the hydro morphological processes within such system are even today often strongly interrupted.
The technical success of sewage treatment after 1960 and the improvement of the water quality, was the basic for river restoration projects, beginning 1980. Assessments methods for chemical, biological and hydro morphological components in E
urope were developed, research projects for river restoration started. Today river restoration, in connection with other projects for city development and urban planning are offering Win Win situations: to improve flood control, to keep people in town, to offer recreational value and to raise the worth for living in urban areas.
Examples and experiences of restoration projects in Europe along large river as well along small creeks in urban areas will be presented in the lecture.