Abstract
River restoration projects are carried out actively in several countries as an alternative flood protection measure, and also to improve/restore water quality and habitat diversity. The implication of various river restoration measures on water quality is seldom studied. In this review, case studies of restoration projects that aimed at water quality improvement were selected from four industrialized countries in three continents. The water quality concerns and the systematic development of legislative policies towards better water quality management in the different countries considered were assessed. The best management practices for river restoration with respect to water quality amelioration were evaluated with the perspective of the case studies selected. In the various case studies discussed, a combination of different restoration measures were implemented in tandem. The restoration measures were adapted to suit the local conditions and problems. A pre- and post-restoration investigation of the main success indicators was found to be an important criterion for the evaluation of the outcome of restoration projects. Successful restoration projects were found to focus on reduction of pollutant/nutrient input to the rivers, in addition to the implementation of suitable restoration measures. This has been achieved by public infrastructure development (like installation of storm water controls and sewage treatment plants). This review is aimed to act as an inventory for future restoration projects with water quality amelioration as their main target.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Andrea F, Gschöpf C, Blaschke AP, Weigelhofer G, Reckendorfer W (2012) Ecological niche models for the evaluation of management options in urban floodplain—conservation vs. restoration purposes. Environ Sci. doi:10.1016/j.envsci.2012.08.011
ARRN (2009) Separate volume of “Reference guideline for restoration by eco-compatible approach in River Basin ver. 1” published in March 2009. http://www.a-rr.net/jp/info/letter/docs/ARRNguideline1-separatevol.pdf. Retrieved on 28.07.2014
Balls PW, MacDonald AM, Pugh KB, Edwards AE (1995) Long-term nutrient enrichment of an estuarine system, Ythan, Scotland (1958–1993). Environ Pollut 90(3):311–321. doi:10.1016/0269-7491(95)00025-M
Bernhardt ES, Palmer MA (2011) River restoration: the fuzzy logic of repairing reaches to reverse catchment scale degradation. Ecol Appl 21:1926–1931
CIA WORLD FACTBOOK (2015) Central Intelligence Agency, U.S.A, WORLD FACTBOOK. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/. Retrieved on 01.03.2015
Colangelo DJ (2014) Interim response of dissolved oxygen to reestablished flow in the Kissimmee River, Florida, U.S.A. Restor Ecol 22:376–387. doi:10.1111/rec.12058
Colangelo DJ, Jones B (2005) Phase I of the Kissimmee River restoration project, Florida, USA: impacts of construction on water quality. Environ Monit Assess 102:139–158. doi:10.1007/s10661-005-6017-3
Dunne B (2003) The relationship between algal mats and wading bird populations in the Ythan estuary, North east Scotland, M.Sc. Thesis, Aberdeen University
EPA (2014a) National Rivers and Streams Assessment, 2008–2009. A collaborative survey draft. http://water.epa.gov/type/rsl/monitoring/riverssurvey/upload/NRSA0809_Report_Final_508Compliant_130228.pdf. Retrieved on 30.07.2014
EPA (2014b) Policy & Guidance|Laws & Regulations|US EPA. [online]. http://www2.epa.gov/laws-regulations/policy-guidance. Accessed 30 July 2014
EU WFD (2000) European Commission: Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy (“Water Framework Directive”). J Eur Community 327(1):1–72
FAO (2000) Food and Agricultural organization. Water Quality Management and Control of Water Pollution. Proceedings of a Regional Workshop, Bangkok, Thailand, 26–30 October 1999, ISBN 92-5-104503-8.ftp://ftp.fao.org/agl/aglw/docs/wr21.pdf. Retrieved on 28.07.2014
FAO AQUASTAT (2012) Food and agricultural organization. AQUASTAT database. http://www.fao.org/nr/water/aquastat/globalmaps/AquastatWorldDataEng_20121214_Withdrawal.pdf. Retrieved on 9.03.2015
FAO AQUASTAT (2015) Food and agricultural organization, AQUASTAT. http://www.fao.org/nr/water/aquastat/water_use/index.stm. Retrieved on 9.03.2015
FISRWG (1998) Stream corridor restoration: principles, processes and practices. Federal Inter-Agency Stream Restoration Working Group (FISRWG),GPO Item No. 0120-A. USDA, Washington, DC. ISBN 0-934213-59-3. http://npscolorado.com/category/stream-restoration-bmp/. Retrieved on 30.07.2014
González del Tánago M, García de Jalón D, Román M (2012) River restoration in Spain: theoretical and practical approach in the context of the european water framework directive. Environ Manag 50:123–139. doi:10.1007/s00267-012-9862-1
Holzer M, Kong D, Bromberg D (2011) Citizen participation: innovative and alternative modes for engaging citizens cases from the United States and South Korea. Published by the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) and the National Center for Public Performance (NCPP) at the School of Public Affairs and Administration (SPAA), Rutgers University-Newark. ISBN 978-0-942942-13-2
Hwang K (2004) PhD thesis: Restoring Cheonggyecheon Stream in the Downtown Seoul, Seoul development institute, Seoul
Jones LB, Anderson DH, Bousquin SG, Carlson C, Cheek DM et al (2012) Kissimmee River Restoration and Basin Initiatives. In: South Florida Environmental Report 2012. South Florida Water Management District, South Florida, U.S.A
Koebel JW, Bousquin SG (2014) The Kissimmee River restoration project and evaluation program, Florida, U.S.A. Restor Ecol 22:345–352. doi:10.1111/rec.12063
Kondolf GM, Micheli ER (1995) Evaluating stream restoration projects. Environ Manag 19(1):1–15. doi:10.1007/BF02471999
Kurth A-M, Schirmer M (2014) Thirty years of river restoration in Switzerland: implemented measures and lessons learned. Environ Earth Sci 72(6):2065–2079. doi:10.1007/s12665-014-3115-y
Landscape performance (2015) Cheonggyecheon Stream Restoration Project. http://landscapeperformance.org/case-study-briefs/cheonggyecheon-stream-restoration. Retrieved on 11.03.2015
Lee JY, Anderson CD (2013) The restored Cheonggyecheon and the quality of life in Seoul. J Urban Technol 20:3–22. doi:10.1080/10630732.2013.855511
Meyer JL, Paul MJ, Taulbee WK (2005) Stream ecosystem function in urbanizing landscapes. J N Am Benthol Soc 24(3):602–612. doi:10.1899/04-021.1
Miller J, Craig Kochel R (2010) Assessment of channel dynamics, in-stream structures and post-project channel adjustments in North Carolina and its implications to effective stream restoration. Environ Earth Sci 59(8):1681–1692. doi:10.1007/s12665-009-0150-1
Miller J, Craig Kochel R (2013) Use and performance of in-stream structures for river restoration: a case study from North Carolina. Environ Earth Sci 68:1563–1574. doi:10.1007/s12665-012-1850-5
Nakamura K, Tockner K, Amano K (2006) River and wetland restoration: lessons from Japan. Bioscience 56(5):419–429. doi:10.1641/0006-3568(2006)056[0419:RAWRLF]2.0.CO
OSPAR (2006) The Convention for the protection of the marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic. Eutrophication Assessment Reports—Estuary Ythan. http://www.cefas.defra.gov.uk/publications-and-data/scientific-series/ospar-eutrophication-assessments/scotland-reports.aspx. Retrieved on 04.08.2014
Palmer MA, Bernhadt ES, Allan JD et al (2005) Standards for ecologically successful river restoration. J Appl Ecol 42:208–217. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2664.2005.01004.x
Perrin LS, Allen MJ, Rowse LA, Montalbano F III, Foote KJ, Olinde MW (1982) A report on Fish and Wildlife Studies in the Kissimmee River Basin and Recommendations for Restoration. Florida Game and Freshwater Fish Commission, Okeechobee, Florida
Ritter G, Flaig EG (1987) 1986 Annual report—rural clean water program. Technical memorandum. South Florida Water Management district, West Palm Beach
Schirmer M, Luster J, Linde N et al (2014) Morphological, hydrological, biogeochemical and ecological changes and challenges in river restoration—the Thur River case study. Hydrol Earth Syst Sci 18:2449–2462. doi:10.5194/hess-18-2449-2014
SEPA (2007) Scottish Environment Protection Agency: Significant management issues in the Scotland river basin district. http://www.sepa.org.uk/water/water_publications/swmi.aspx. Retrieved on 29.07.2014
SFWMD (2015) South Florida Water Management District. http://my.sfwmd.gov/portal/page/portal/xweb%20protecting%20and%20restoring/water%20quality%20stormwater%20treatment%20areas. Retrieved on 11.03.2015
Toth LA (1990) Impacts of channelization on the Kissimmee River ecosystem. In: Loftin K, Toth L, Obeysekera J (eds) Proceedings of the Kissimmee River Restoration Symposium. South Florida Water Management District, West Palm Beach, pp 47–56
Toth LA (1993) The ecological basis of the Kissimmee River restoration plan. Fla Sci 56:25–51
UNDESA (2004) UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs: Sustainable development knowledge platform, Country profiles, Republic of Korea, Freshwater 2004. http://www.un.org/esa/agenda21/natlinfo/countr/repkorea/waterKorea04f.pdf. Retrieved on 28.07.2014
UNEP (2008) Water Quality for Ecosystem and Human Health, 2nd edn. ISBN 92-95039-51-7—Prepared and published by the United Nations Environment Programme Global Environment Monitoring System (GEMS)/Water Programme
World Bank (2006) Water Resources Management in Japan Policy, Institutional and Legal Issues, World Bank Analytical and Advisory Assistance (AAA) Program. http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTEAPREGTOPENVIRONMENT/Resources/WRM_Japan_experience_EN.pdf. Retrieved on 28.07.2014
Wortley L, Hero J-M, Howes M (2013) Evaluating ecological restoration success: a review of the literature. Restor Ecol 21(5):537–543. doi:10.1111/rec.12028
Ythan Project (2014) The Ythan Project. [online]. http://www.ythan.org.uk/. Accessed 4 Aug 2014
Zhou T, Wu J, Peng S (2012) Assessing the effects of landscape pattern on river water quality at multiple scales: a case study of the Dongjiang River watershed, China. Ecol Indic 23:166–175. doi:10.1016/j.ecolind.2012.03.013
Acknowledgments
This research was completed within the framework of the Marie Curie Initial Training Network ADVOCATE—Advancing sustainable in situ remediation for contaminated land and groundwater, funded by the European Commission, Marie Curie Actions Project No. 265063. Additionally support was provided by the Competence Center Environment and Sustainability (CCES) within the framework of the RECORD and RECORD CATCHMENT projects.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Chittoor Viswanathan, V., Schirmer, M. Water quality deterioration as a driver for river restoration: a review of case studies from Asia, Europe and North America. Environ Earth Sci 74, 3145–3158 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-015-4353-3
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-015-4353-3