Abstract
Restoration of Danish stream channels is encouraged by the Watercourse Act of 1982 and has been undertaken partly because of the adverse physical and biological effects caused by artificial straightening. A new technique for restoring morphologic and hydrologic diversity to stream channels has been developed, exemplifying the concept of working with nature rather than against it. This relies on re-creating the former sinuosity, cross-sectional dimensions, slope and substrate of a stream channel. Natural fluvial features are restored to a channel, and becaused slope is decreased stability is probable. In turn, this could be beneficial to the flora and fauna of a watercourse and to aesthetic qualities. The technique was applied succcessfully to a small stream in southern Jutland, Denmark, in 1984/5. Additional methods of bank and bed protection were required to limit subsequent minor adjustments along the new course. Further applications of the technique need to be treated individually because of varying local hydrologic and sedimentologic conditions. On-site supervision during construction and planned maintenance are vital components of restoration.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Anderson, A. G., A. S. Paintal, and J. T. Davenport, 1970, Tentative design procedure for riprap lined channels: National Cooperative Highway Research Program Report 108, 75 p.
Barnard, R. S., and W. N. Melhorn, 1981, Morphologic and morphometric response to channelization: the case of the Big Pine Creek Ditch, Benton County, Indiana.In Craig, R. G., and J. L. Craft, ed., Applied geomorphology: London, Allen & Unwin, p. 234–239.
Bayless, J., and W. B. Smith, 1967, The effects of channelization upon the fish population of lotic waters in esatern North Carolina. Proceedings, Annual Conference S.E. Association Game and Fish Commun, no. 18, p. 230–238.
Bird, J. F., 1980, Geomorphological implications of flood control measures: Lang Lang River, Victoria: Australian Geographical Studies, v. 18, p. 169–183.
Briggs, D., 1977, Sediments: London, Butterworths.
Brookes, A., 1984, Recommendations bearing on the sinuosity of Danish stream channels: National Agency of Environmental Protection, Denmark, Technical Report no. 6, 130 p.
Brookes, A., 1985a, River channelization: traditional engineering methods, physical consequences and alternative practice: Progress in Physical Geography, v. 9, p. 44–73.
Brookes, A., 1985b, Downstream morphological consequences of river channelization in England and Wales: Geographical Journal, v. 151, p. 57–62.
Coates, D. R., 1976, Geomorphological and engineering: London, Allen and Unwin.
Daniels, R. B., 1960, Entrenchment of the Willow Creek Drainage Ditch, Harrison County, Iowa: American Journal of Science, v. 258, p. 161–176.
Emerson, J. W., 1971, Channelization: a case study: Science, v. 173, p. 325–326.
Ferguson, R. I., 1981, Channel forms and channel changes.In Lewin, J, ed., Bristish rivers: London, Allen & Unwin, p. 35–58.
Francis, G. R., J. J. Magnuson, H. A. Regier, and D. R. Talhelm, eds., 1979, Rehabilitating Great Lakes ecosystems: Great Lakes Fishery Commission, Technical Rpt no. 37, 99 p.
Gram Kommune, 1984, Forslag til restaurering af kommunevandløbet Stenbaek i Gram Kommune, Sønderjylland: Gram, Teknisk Forvaltning, Gram Kommune.
Goudie, A. S., ed., 1981, Geomorphological techniques: London, Allen and Unwin.
Gregory, K. J., ed., 1977, River channel changes: Chichester, Wiley.
Groen, C. L., and J. C. Schmulbach, 1978, The sport fishery of the unchannelized Middle Missouri River: Transactions American Fisheries Society, v. 107, p. 412–418.
Hansen, E. A., G. R. Alexander, and W. H. Dunn, 1983, Sand sediment in a Michigan trout stream. Part 1. A technique for removing sand bedload from streams: North American Journal of Fisheries Management, v. 3, p. 355–364.
Hjorth, E. S., and I. Tryk, 1984, Vandløbstrestaurering af Vrold, Vestermose baek: Danmark, Horsens Ingeniørskole.
Holm, T. F., 1984, Strømkoncentrators virkning på vandløbets morfologi og sedimentdynamik: Danmark, Miljøstyrelsens Ferskvandslaboratorium, 127 p.
Keller, E. A., 1972, Development of alluvial stream channels: a five stage model: Bulletin of the Geological Society of American, v. 83, p. 1531–1536.
Keller, E. A., 1975, Channelization: a search for a better way: Geology, v. 3, p. 246–248.
Keller, E. A., 1976, Channelization: environmental, geomorphic and engineering aspects.In Coates, D. R., ed., Geomorphology and engineering: London, Allen and Unwin, p. 115–140.
Keller, E. A., 1978, Pools, riffles and channelization: Environmental Geology, v. 2, p. 119–127.
Keller, E. A., and A. Brookes, 1984, Consideration of meandering in channelization projects: selected observations and judgements.In Elliott, C. M., ed., Proceedings of Conference Rivers '83, American Society of Civil Engineers, p. 384–397.
Keown, M. P., N. R. Oswalt, E. B. Perry, and E. A. Dardeau, 1977, Literature survey and preliminary evaluation of streambank protection methods: Vicksburg: U.S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiments Station, Technical Report no. H-77-9, 262 p.
Kern-Hansen, U., T. F. Holm, N. Thyssen, E. Mortensen, C. Hunding, and V. Brostrup, 1983, Vedligeholdelse og restaurering af vandløb: Danmark, Miljøstyrelsens Ferskvandslaboratorium, Tekniske anvisninger, 46 p.
Leliavksy, S., 1955, Irrigation and hydraulic design: London, Chapman and Hall, 492 p.
Leopold, L. B., 1977, A reverence for rivers, Geology, v. 5, p. 429–430.
Leopold, L. B., M. G. Wolman, and J. P. Miller, 1964, Fluvial processes in geomorphology: San Francisco, Freeman, 522 p.
McHarg, I. L., 1969, Design with nature: New York, Doubleday, 197 p.
Miers, R. H., 1977, The role of vegetation in land drainage: London, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 17 p.
Miers, R. H., 1979, Land drainage: its problems and solutions: Journal of the Institute of Water Engineers and Scientists, v. 33, p. 547–579.
Moyle, P. B., 1976, Some effects of channelization on the fishes and invertebrates of Rush Creek, Modoc County, California: California Fish and Game, v. 62, p. 179–186.
Myers, C. T., and R. L. Ulmer, 1975, Streambank stabilization measures in Mississippi. Michigan: American Society of Agricultural Engineers, Annual meeting, Paper no. 75-2517, 22 p.
Nordjyllands, Amtskommune, 1984, Voer å: Vandløbsrestaurering, Teknisk forvaltning, 48 p.
Nunnally, N. R., 1978, Stream renovation: an alternative to channelization: Environmental Management, v. 2, p. 403–411.
Nunnally, N. R., and E. A. Keller, 1979, Use of fluvial processes to minimize the adverse effects of stream channelization: University of North Carolina, Water Resources Research Institute, Report no. 144, 115 p.
Park, C. C., 1975, Stream channel morphology in mid-Devon: Transactions of Devon Association, v. 107, p. 25–41.
Park, C. C., 1976, The relationship of slope and stream channel form in the River Dart, Devon: Journal of Hydrology, v. 29, p. 139–147.
Parker, G., and D. Andres, 1976, Detrimental effects of river channelization. Proceedings of Conference Rivers '76, American Society of Civil Engineers, p. 1248–1266.
Rankin, D., 1980, Trees and rivers: Journal of the Soil Conservation Service of New South Wales, v. 36, p. 129–133.
Richardson, E. V., D. B. Simons, S. Karaki, K. Mahmood, and M. A. Stevens, 1975, Highways in the river environment: hydraulic and environmental design consideration: Washington, D.C., U.S. Department of Transportation, 453 p.
Schumm, S. A., 1969, River metamorphosis. Proceedings of American Society of Civil Engineers., Journal of Hydraulics Division, v. 95, p. 255–273.
Schumm, S. A., 1977, The Fluvial System: New York, Wiley-Interscience.
Schumm, S. A., M. D. Harvey, and C. C. Watson, 1984, Incised channels: morphology, dynamics and control: Littleton, Colorado, Water Resources Publications, 200 p.
Seibert, P., 1968, Importance of natural vegetation for the protection of banks and streams, rivers and canals: Council of Europe Nature and Environmental Series, no. 2., Freshwater, p. 35–67.
Simons, D. B., R. M. Li, M. A. Alawady, and J. W. Andrew, 1979, Report on Connecticut River streambank erosion study, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont: Fort Collins, Colorado State University Research Institute, Report no. CSU-213, 256 p.
Sønderjyllands Amtskommun, 1984, Grødeskaeringsforsøg i Surbaek 1982: Miljøafdelingen of naturforvaltningsprojektet. Teknisk forvaltning, 34 p.
Trautman, M. B., 1939, The effects of manmade modifications on the fish fauna in Lost and Gordon Creeks, Ohio, between 1887 and 1938: Ohio Journal of Science, v. 39, p. 275–288.
Trautman, M. B., and D. K. Gortman, 1974, Re-evaluation of the effects of manmade modifications on Gordon Creek between 1887 and 1973 and especially as regards its fish fauna: Ohio Journal of Science, v. 73, p. 162–173.
United States Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, 1982, Mitigation and enhancement techniques for the Upper Mississippi River System and other large river systems: Washington, D.C., Resource publication no. 149.
Wolman, M. G., 1955, The natural channel of Brandywine Creek, Pennsylvania: United States Geological Survey Professional Paper no. 271.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Brookes, A. Restoring the sinuosity of artificially straightened stream channels. Environ. Geol. Water Sci 10, 33–41 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02588003
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02588003