Case Survey and Review
on the Restoration of Small River

Prof. Wang Xiaosong
Dept. of Hydraulics, IWHR
2013
0 3
ChengduOUTLINE1

Background2

Planning

3

Implementation

4

Major Achievements

5

Lessons2

Global problems
 Population

 Environment
 Resources
 Calamity

Hydrological cycle

Floods

U b St
Urban
Storm Fl
Floodd2004-07-10

Beijing
2011-06-23
2012 07 21
2012-07-21

Major Causes of Flooding•

Seven major
j river basin•

Highly Developed Area•

Intensity and Duration of Rainfall•Little Storage•

LID or BMP

U b i tiUrbanization
Rapid developmentdevelopment, Excessive exploitation and Urbanization
Degradation of the water system

Adverse Impacts of Urbanization:•••••••••••

Expansions (floodway developments)
Constrictions (bridge crossings)
Realignments (cutoffs(cutoffs, restoration)
Changes in resistance (dikes, weirs, riprap..)
Diversions (water intakes)
Dams and grade control structures
Deforestation (sediment supply)
Impervious cover( increasing runoff)
runoff).
Increased nutrient loads(water quality is deteriorated )Increased bank erosion
Decrease in quality of aquatic habitat in streams8Clarifying Problems
The reality is so challenge !!!

– WhatWhat’ss happening?
– What are the problems?
– Where are they coming from?
– What and how much do we need to do?
– How will we do it?
– Who’s going to do what, how, when, & with what?
– How will we know if we made it?

In 2008 and 2009, the central government launch the huge andwidespread projects to strengthen the restoration of small andmedium-sized rivers
rivers.
Ministry of Treasury and Ministry of water resources jointly issued
a series of documents.
Th shortTheh t termtrestorationt ti planl forf smallll andd medium-sized
dii d rivers
iin key regions outline the followings:• StageSrequirementsi• Preliminary work
• Efficient use of funds• Implementation• Management• Project acceptance• Supervision

River net

Broad definition of small and medium rivers:
The basin area between 200
200--3000 km2
There are more than 9,900 medium and small rivers
So many towns and villages farmland along the river

In 2010, State Council issued a guidance on the progressive
implementation clarify the task and goals
implementation,goals. Forcus on mitigation ofdisasters and environmental protection.
Triunity :Fl d control
Floodt l (reservoir(i reinforced,i fd riverirestoration)t ti )
Geological disasters mitigation (flash flood, debris flow)
Water and soil conservation

Process•

Know needs– Identification of goals/objectives– Stakeholder involvement•

Know the situation– Characterization
Cht i ti analysis
l i anddAAssessmentt– Issue identification•

Know what can be accomplished– Plan implementation
pand adaptation
p– Measures and approaches•

Know how to achieved– Adaptive management– Tracking progress

Prioritized Objectives
MinimizeMii i Ri
Risks:k Mitigat Flood threat
Minimize Impacts:
 Enhance the capability of flood control
Minimize Loss: Standard of flood control
Improve the environment for the public interest:
 Maintain Recreation and Aesthetic Enjoyment
Preliminary improved ecological environment
Preserving the environmental and cultural values(2005-06)
According to the central and local financial resources
resources,
comprehensively considered the disaster situation in different
regions,iGGenerall planslapproved
d byb theth State
St t Council
Cil putp t
forward five years goals and tasks, the priorities and the scaleof investment. More than 5000 small and medium-sized rivers
involved.

Phase I – 2209 riveri
completed beforef
2013
Cover Length: 27,500 km

2009～2015：
Rivers: 5174
Projects: 9243
g67,500 km
Cover Length:
Investment: 186 billion yuanb fbeforerestorationtti

Phase II – Extra 2965 river to beundertaken during
2013～2015
C
CoverLength:
Lth 40,000
40 000 km
kafterft restoration
tti

Merced R. Robinson reach

Houston river USPrincipals being pursued
 Focused :Flood pprone,, Dense ppopulation,p, Important
ppprotection objects
jand infrastructure Balanced :Flood control and water resources utilization

Development, protection and restorationConstruction
i andd management

 Maximizes short- and Long- term benefits Be cost-effective
 Receives broad public and agency support

Priority Stream Restoration Sites
Rural areas and less developed areas
Frequent and seriously affected by flood hazards
Flood control standards low
Ecological environment being serious impaired
Requirements of local have high urgency
The comprehensive benefit is remarkable
Special fund support
Investment scale under controlled18Distribution of pilot projects

Key Regions Distribution of the 5174 Rivers
海河片
6%

淮河片
9%

珠江片
15%

松辽片
10%

2500

太湖片
6%

黄河片
15%

2000

1500

长江片
39%

1000
500

0
长江流域片

黄河流域片

淮河流域片

海河流域

珠江流域片

松辽流域片

太湖流域片
20

Project implementation
Ministryy of water resources ppay
y close attention to theimplementation, held a series of work meeting to map out the work
plan for the coming period，make explicit demands for action.
1.
2.
3.

Scientific and reasonable plan formulation.
g g the function of flood control of engineering.
ggHighlight
Emphasize to the application of ecological technique.

 Improve
pthe responsibilitypy Initial pilot work Increased investment
 Strengthening the training Renew the idea Strengthen inspection

Achievements
Successful completion of the tasks in the short terms.
Up to the end March,
March 2013

1.
2.
3.
4.

25,200 km river have been renovated.
Meet the national standard of flood control.
Investment 55.3 billion yuan.
yBenefit 120 million people and 8 billion hectares croplandffromfl d threat.
floodth tSWPI
深圳市水务规划设计院Shenzhen

Demonstration projects

CCaseSSurvey
Th restortion
Thet ti isi a process tot explore.
lSiSince
it launchitsl
h ini 2009，
2009
The projects draw the attention and concern of all parties. To know
more deeply, some problems concerned need further study.
Four investigation teams organized.
organized special investigation aim atsummaring the experience and successful practices,draw lesson from the past practices,pprovide the basis for subsequent
qpproject
j conduct more effective.

IInvestigation
ti ti ffocus on diffdifferentt sides：
id Anhui: relation between the lowland plains and main stem
 Hunan: land reclaimed in lakeside Zhejiang: flood control and drainage standards
 Shanxi
Sh i : sediment-laden
dit l d riveri

Pitfalls or Lessons
1.
2.
3.
4
4.
5.
6.
7.
88.
9.

River natural features and various flow condition,, Projectj is not tailored to scale
Rivers channelization and disconnecting of natural rivers
Inadequate evaluation and study in the initial phases
G l off action
Goals
ti items
itambiguousbiPlanning river restoration from the viewpoint of the basin
Coordination at the watershed level,, Lack of consistencyy
Balance between flood control, environmental, economic, social aspects. Occupyriver
Q lit andd schedule
Qualityh d l controlt lMoney shortage , influence the full play of the engineering benefit

Lessons• Impose changes in channel characteristics locally will causechanges upstream and downstream.
downstream Should estimate theextent and magnitude of induced changes.
• Approaches adapted should consider the local conditions andthe technical level• Letting a river restore its own original cycle of water
water, with its
own natural power, by minimizing the influence of humanactivity.
activity• Nature oriented river should have multi functions such as:
fl d control,flood
t l ecologicall i l recovery , aesthetics
th ti andd amusement.
tScale considerations
Region Scale

Landscape Scale

St ream Corridor Scale

St ream Scale
Reach Scale

The true nature river
Understanding dynamism of rivers
Understanding the morphological processes within
and around rivers,, the evolutionaryy processesp•••Four-dimensionalFour
dimensional framework– Longitudinal– Lateral– Vertical– Temporal
Initial reaction is focus on the longitudinal,
Neglectg
the pphysicalystructure alongg thelateral dimension

Straightening, reinforcement, channelization, anddisconnecting
gp
processes still taken pplace.

Landscape and Historic value

The natural, historical, and cultural aspects

River is crucial to the sustainable development of humancommunity and the bio-diversity.
How awful is a river without water !
A saying from ancient Egypt

To see a worldTld iin a grain
i off sanddAnd a heaven in a wild flower,f,
Hold infinity in the palm of your handA d eternity
Andi iin an hhour.
William Blake