In the future decades, we will face increasing pressures on our fluvial systems ranging from floods increasing in frequency and magnitude to an unprecedented boom in dam construction. On the other hand, dam removal is getting more and more common in developed countries as a measure for fluvial restoration. The fluvial system is a complex interaction of hydrological, geomorphological and anthropogenic factors. The construction and removal of dams change channel geomorphology. At the same time, sediment transport influences the time lapse of reservoirs. Morphological changes in channels, either by natural or anthropogenic causes, are drivers of flood risk (e.g. changes in sediment delivery, bed elevation, bank erosion, and planform morphology).
Specific topics of interest presented in this session include:
• impacts of climate and land use change on sediment delivery;
• quantifying changes in channel capacity due to erosion and deposition;
• changes in stage-discharge relationships;
• effects of infrastructure (e.g. dam/weirs construction and removal) on sediment transport and channel morphology.
The topics could include monitoring, case studies or modelling at a reach, catchment, regional or global and at different temporal scales.
With the session, we would like to bring together the latest knowledge on the linkages between geomorphological changes, hydrology and engineered infrastructure that will allow holistic assessment and management of flood risks as well as support the decision making on the design and the location of future dams as well as on dam removal.