Is risk-based, sustainable sediment management consistent with European policy?

Apitz, Sabine E.

doi:10.1007/s11368-008-0039-8

Cited by 25 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…This approach could also include ecological riskbased assessment of water and air within river basins. This would lead to a more integrated risk-based decision framework for natural resources, which is in keeping with European environmental policy, such as the WFD (Apitz 2008).…”

Section: Urban River Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sediments in urban river basins: a review of sediment–contaminant dynamics in an environmental system conditioned by human activities

2009

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Background, aim and scope Over 50% of the global population live in urban centres and, therefore, an understanding of the processes acting upon urban systems is a global issue. The nature of human-made, often impervious, land surfaces and heavily engineered waterways results in hydrological and sedimentological systems in urbanised basins which contrast significantly to those within more natural (i.e. pristine, forested, agricultural) aquatic systems. In addition, the abundance of contamination sources in urban systems results in chemical pressures often manifested as high pollution concentrations or loadings, which in turn have detrimental impacts on human and ecosystem health. These lead to management and sustainability issues not generally encountered in more natural environments. The purpose of this review is to provide a state-of-the-art assessment of sediment sources, pathways and storage within urban river systems, to consider sediment management within urban systems and river basins, and examine the role of local and global environmental changes on sediment processes and management. Inevitably, much of the sediment that is transported within urbanised basins is contaminated, so this review also considers sedimentcontaminant sources and interactions. Conclusions and recommendationsWe reach a number of conclusions and recommendations for future research. There is a need for better sampling and monitoring of sediment and sediment-associated contaminant fluxes and cycling in urban river channels and basins. This should include better techniques and studies to identify sources and transfers of road-deposited sediment (RDS), airborne particulate matter and sediments in the river system. Greater interdisciplinary research, combining sedimentologists, hydrologists, urban planners, urban archaeologists, chemists and biologists, is needed. More attention needs to focus on upscaling and connecting urban areas to the rest of the river basin, both upstream and downstream. Finally, there is a need to balance multiple needs (urban population, water resources) with likely trends in both urban development and global environmental change.Keywords Contaminants . River basin . Sediment . Sediment management . Urban . Urbanisation Background, aim and scopeAt the time of writing, over 50% of the global population live in urban centres, with this value set to increase (UNFPA 2007). Thus, for example, about 80% of the UK population live in conurbations, and even in a large, relatively unpopulated country such as Canada about 70% of the population live in urban areas. In addition, the number of 'mega-cities' (those cities with a population of greater than 10 million) is also increasing, particularly in the developing world: China, India and South America. Therefore, an understanding of the processes acting upon

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Section: Urban River Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sediments in urban river basins: a review of sediment–contaminant dynamics in an environmental system conditioned by human activities

2009

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“…Although sediment has a variety of diverse roles and its regulation and management are complex and differ among countries (Apitz 2008), it is well accepted that reservoir siltation (RS) is one of the worst off-site consequences of soil erosion and sediment delivery (Korsching et al 2001;Navas et al 2004). RS is a serious threat to the economic sustainability of irrigated areas and the provision of water supplies for human consumption (Hao et al 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the potential effect of different land cover management practices on sediment yield from an abandoned farmland catchment in the Spanish Pyrenees

López‐Vicente

Lana-Renault

Ruiz³

et al. 2011

J Soils Sediments

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Purpose Sediment delivery from headwater catchments to reservoirs is a serious threat to reservoir sustainability and is a critical issue in Mediterranean environments where water resources are scarce. In this study we assessed the consequences of two landscape management scenarios (natural vegetation recovery and scrub clearance) on soil erosion and sediment yield. The results were analyzed in relation to predicted and measured rates of soil erosion and sediment yield, with the aim of promoting better management practices. Materials and methods The study area was the Arnás River catchment (284 ha), which is located in the central Spanish Pyrenees; the area includes abandoned and poorly managed fields. The combination of the RUSLE and SEDD models of soil erosion and sediment delivery was evaluated in terms of its ability to predict annual rates of sediment yield, using field measurement data for seven water years at the gauging station. The consequences of natural plant succession in other areas of the Spanish Pyrenees and scrub clearance practices implemented by certain regional governments to increase grazing meadow areas and reduce the incidence of wildfires were spatially analyzed using GIS. The main sediment source areas were identified, and their specific and total sediment yields were calculated. Results and discussion The predicted soil loss under existing conditions was 2.6 Mg ha −1 year −1 , with 5% of the surface area affected by rates greater than 2 Mg. The measured sediment yield range was 69-534 Mg year −1 . The maximum sediment yield detected was associated with an extraordinary debris flow. The predicted rates were strongly correlated to measured rates (Nash-Sutcliffe coefficient= 0.72). The main sources were alluvial deposits [specific sediment yield (SSY)=51 Mg ha −1 year −1 ], bare soil (SSY= 12), unpaved trails (SSY=11), lots (SSY=4), and pastures (SSY=1). Under a scenario of vegetation recovery, decreases of 3%, 17%, and 16% in soil loss and sediment delivery and yield (respectively) are predicted, whereas increases of 15%, 5%, and 2% are predicted following scrub clearance practices. Conclusions Coupling the RUSLE and SEDD models enabled estimation of annual values of soil erosion and sediment delivery in monitored and unmonitored catchments of small and medium size, making this approach a useful tool for risk analysis. Management practices that combine fire-risk control, by the implementation of scrub clearance practices, with the effects of plant succession on sediment production are suggested as the best management strategy.

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“…However, truly adaptive management is not reactive, but should be an experimental but goal-based process in which well-designed indicators of management objectives are monitored to inform management strategies. This approach is inconsistent with rigid, standards-based sediment decision frameworks, and also with presumptive remedies that are still being promoted in some regions (Apitz 2008b). Adaptive management requires that monitoring programmes are clearly linked to indicators of success (or failure) of a management strategy.…”

Section: A Call For Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%