APHW Workshop

Theories and Practices ofRiver Restoration
Dong Zheren（China Institute of Water Resourcesand Hydropower Research）

Oct. 2008, Beijing

CONTENTS
 Introduction
 Holistic model of river ecosystem

structures and functions
 Stresses of hydraulic engineering onriver ecosystem
 Goals, tasks and principles of riverrestoration
 The state of the art of river restorationin China

River ecosystem
4 scalesLandscapeRiver basin

River corridor

4 system

4 factors

Natural system

Reaches

Hydrological regimes
Flow pattern

Social system

Morphological landscapeEconomic system
Engineering system

Water quality

Scientific modelRCC

FPC

……

RPM
Technological methodologies

River
restoration

Reservoir
reoperation

Sustainablemanagementof river basin

Biologicalmethods forpollution
control……

Review of river ecosystem structuresand functions
zZonation concept
zRiver continuum
concept
zStreamhydraulics concept
zSpiralling
resource concept
zSerialdiscontinuity
concept

zFlood pulse concept
zRiverine
productivity modelzCatchment concepts
zNature flow
paradigm
zInshore retentivity
concept1 Holistic model of river ecosystem
structures and functions
4-dimension continuum model
for structure and functionof ecosystem

The holistic modelof river ecosystem
structure and function

The hydrological regime
and ecological processcoupling model

The diversity of biocenose andheterogeneity of geomorphology
landscape coupling model

(1) 4-dimension continuum model for
structure and function of ecosystem
tYX

Z

The directions of the four-dimension
x: Lateral direction; y: River flow direction; z: vertical direction;
t: Temporal direction

(1) 4-dimension continuum model for
structure and function of ecosystem
4-dimension continuum model for
structure and function of ecosystem
3D continuum of river flow condition
3D continuum of bio-communities
3D continuum of material, energy
and information flow
The dynamic characteristics ofstructures and functions

(1) 4-dimension continuum model for
structure and function of ecosystem

Illustration of the 4-dimension continuum model

(2) The hydrological regime andecological process coupling model

The interweaving of Hydrological cycle and biological processes

(2) The hydrological regime andecological process coupling model This sub-model include two concepts¾ Environmental flow
¾ flood pulse.

(2) The hydrological regime andecological process coupling model
Coupling Model of Hydrological regimeand river ecological process

Environmental flow

Hydrological method

Hydraulic parameter
assessment method

Flood pulse concept

Habitat assessment
methodTennant method

wet perimeter method

Hoppe method

microhabitat method

Range of variability
approach (RVA)

Instream flow incremental
methodology (IFIM)

Physical habitat
simulation (PHABSIM)

2D FEM model
RIVER2D

(2) The hydrological regime andecological process coupling model Environmental flow
¾ It is put forward for achieving the balance

between human requirement and river
ecological conservation¾ Its main objective is to prevent thedegradation of river ecosystem caused byrun-off decrease.

(2) The hydrological regime andecological process coupling model Flood pulse concept¾ Flood pulses are the driver for the live,

productivity of biology

The drive effect of flood pulse
9 Changes in high andlow flow cycles ofhydrological process
will result in diverse
behavioral trait ofmany species.
.

The Ecological functions of flood pulses
The Ecological functions of flood pulses

To efficiently utilize the organic materialsof river-flood plain system
To improve the dynamic connectivityof river-flood plain system

To play the role of information flow
To improve the diversity of biologicalcommunities

(3) The diversity of biocenose and heterogeneityof geomorphology landscape coupling model
Spatial patternContinuity Connectivity Stream form

Meandering
plan form

DiversePermeable
cross-section revetment

(3) The diversity of biocenose and heterogeneityof geomorphology landscape coupling model Establish relationship of spatial

heterogeneity and diversity of community.
 The coupling model is used for evalaation
the condition of rive ecosystem andpredicting its trend.

CharacteristicsBehavior

Investigation
Fluvial process

Morphology

explanation
System
Evolvement
path

Potentials

Evaluation
Change theorder of x y z

Goals

Planning

1 Holistic model of river ecosystem
structures and functions
 This holistic model is a kind of conceptual

description of river ecosystem;
 It is also the basic for river restoration.

Application of the models in river restoration
river restoration

Holistic model

flow pattern-structureand function
eco-environmental water
reguirements
river process

3D spacerive-lake connectivity
Hydrological regimeecological processecological operationof reservoir
environmental flowflood pulse
diversity of biocenose
Diversity of biocenose-heterogeneity ofgeomorphology
meandering

diverse cross-section

permeable and porous
revetment

2 Stresses of Hydraulic Projects onRiver Ecosystem

Stresses of Hydraulic
Projects on River Ecosystem

Water diversion
projects
Discontinuity of
Natural river
Channelizationof Natural river

Stresses on the area along thediversion channelStresses on wateracquisition area
Stresses on water
source area
Lateral discontinuity
because of dike
construction
Discontinuity along river
flow direction

Impermeable revetment
Regularized crosssection
Straighteninga) Channelization of natural river
ChannelizationRiver channel
Regularstraightening cross-section

Rigidrevetmentb) Discontinuity of river channel
Discontinuityof river channel

DamDikeb) Discontinuity of river channelhydrological regime The uniformization of naturalhydrological process including
diverse flood pulses

3 Goals and tasks of river restoration

3 Goals, tasks and principles of riverrestoration
 Goals of river restoration¾ To restore or improve the structure and functionof river ecosystem

 Indicator of the success of riverrestoration projects¾ The increase of bio- diversity Tasks of river restorationTasks
Improvementof waterquality

Improvementof HydrologicalregimeEnvironmental
flows

Flood pulse
simulation

Rehabilitation ofmorphologicalcharacteristics

Nativespecies

Conservation
and recoveryof species

Species in danger;
Rare and specificspecies

Rehabilitation of morphologicalcharacteristics
RehabilitationOr
improvement

Continuity

Connectivity

Fluvial form

Meandering

Diversecross-section

Porous andpermeable
revetment

4 The state of the art of river restorationin China Since 2004, The Ministry of Water

Resources (MWR) has conducted morethan 10 demonstration projects
 China Institute of Water Resources anddrydro power research (IWHR) has
carryed out research program and thepromote demonstration projects.

The roles of MWR
In 2006 and 2007, theplanning 10 demonstration
projects got the approvalof MWR.

Demonstration Projects under
the auspices of MWR
In 2006 and 2007, eight sites are selected for demonstration• Guilin City in Guangxi.
• Wuhan City in Hubei• Wuxi City in Zhejiang• Laizhou City in Shandong• Lishui , Zhejiang• Xinbin County in Liaoning• Fenghuang County in Hunan• Chagan Lake in Jilin
These sites represent different aquatic characteristics, river,urban water network, lake, ground water, wetland, etc.

Introduction on several
demonstration projectsof MWR

(1) The restoration of aquatic ecosystem in
Guilin reach of Lijiang river

General goals: maintain river environmental flow,
ensure the safety of flood defences, maintain waterlevel in wetland, improve water quality, conserve thebio-diversity , enhance aquatic habitatTwo-stage goals: 1st, 2010; 2nd, 2015.

(2 )The restoration of aquatic
ecosystem in urban area of Wuhan city
A city enwinds with rivers & lakes
Dong lakeWuhan

Yangtze river
35

General Goals
The Plan’s outline (2002-2010/2020)
Re-building River net
Improve water quality
Various measures

Riparian re-construction

Natural conservation
zone
Green-bank zone

Improve flow dynamics

River surface
36Effects of the restoration projects

Demonstration projects byIWHRCase-1

Xinjiangtan River in Haining
county in Zhejiang Province









Natural river form
Diverse cross-section
Diversity of aquatic habitat
Plant revetment
Diverse plants for landscapeenhancement

Benefits of traditional hydraulicprojects
Water quality improvementIncrease of biocenos diversity
Cost saving of 23 million RMRCase -2

Guanlanhe river and Tianxiahe river

Typical cross-section
Effects of the projects

The increase of habitat
heterogeneity¾Diverse morphologicalcharacteristics¾Alternation of pool withriffle,¾ Distribution of torrent
and slow flow.

Case-3

Kuxihe River of Chongqing City
Change original landscapeplanninganddesign
towards a comprehensive
ecologically-friendly
schemes

Habitat diversity

Fishing

Diverse plant

Diverse cross-section

Riparian planting

Plank roadabove water

Plan of demonstration project ofthe MWR
In 2008 and 2009, additional 16 projects will
be authorized for demonstration.
Additionally, 30 projects will be authorized
for demonstration by local governments.

Conclusions
 River restoration projects are highly

complicated in China because of its broadarea, diverse natural conditions anddifferent ecological conditions of river
basins.

Conclusions
 Chinese river restoration work is promoted

by governments at different levels. It is
gradually carried out following thetechnical research, demonstration andgeneralization. It is now in favorable
progressConclusions
 In technical aspects, methodologies will beestablished primary.
 Draft Technical regulation is underway.

Conclusions
 The shortcoming exists in disadvantage ofwide-spread national investigation on theaquatic ecosystems.
 It is necessary to establish river ecosystemmonitoring system in the large river basin.
 International cooperation should be
strengthened for multi-lateral benefits.

Lao Zi said :Man follows the waysof earth,
Earth follows the waysof heaven,
Heaven follows theways of Dao,
Dao follows the waysof nature.
- Lao Zi
《 Dao De Jing 》

Thank you for your patience