Linking the field to the river 30 years on: Policy, practice and professional geomorphology

Shanahan, Jo; Phillips, John

doi:10.1002/hyp.14531

Cited by 1 publication

(1 citation statement)

References 23 publications

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“…Des's work in understanding fine sediment in river systems and how it can cause problems as material is transferred from the field to the river channel has informed the management of sediment issues, especially in UK catchments. Shanahan and Phillips (2022) in a commentary paper for this Special Issue review how his research has enabled geomorphologists in England's Environment Agency to have a voice in the development of policies that are used to manage land and water, to engage in practices such as sediment sourcing, sediment properties and ‘linked thinking’ and to facilitate the ongoing evolution and influence of professional geomorphology within the organization. A second commentary paper by Stone (2022) stresses that the strategic selection of natural flood management measures in the UK is constrained by fine sediment considerations which have arisen from Des's studies of sediment budgets, sediment characteristics and floodplain sediments.…”

Section: Themesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding sediment in river systems—Building on a 50‐year contribution

Webb

Foster

McNamara

2023

Hydrological Processes

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Walling wrote his first papers about suspended sediment in Devon river catchments as a young hydrologist more than 50 years ago in the early 1970s. In those days, some very senior scientists told him he was wasting his time, because soil erosion in Britain was not a problem, and British rivers were not muddy! A half a century, and more than 500 publications (the majority of which are devoted to fine sediment in river catchments) later, Des is regarded as one of the world's leading hydrologists who have focused on erosion and sediment yields and catchment sediment budgets. His prolific, distinguished and frequently highly-cited research contributions have been recognized by important awards including the IAHS/UNESCO/ WMO International Hydrology Prize, the American Geophysical Union Hydrologic Sciences Award, the Norman Hudson Memorial Award of the World Association of Soil and Water Conservation, the Chien Ning International Prize of the World Association for Sedimentation and Erosion Research and the Victoria Medal of the Royal Geographical Society. Des has advocated eloquently and powerfully that sediment studies have an important role within the discipline of hydrology, not only because of the implications for environmental protection and sustainable development, but also because fine sediment represents a key pathway for material transport at all scales ranging from the individual farmer's field to the global earth system. In order to underpin his work, Des established an intensive programme of field investigations through a network of long-term measuring sites in the local Exe basin, which operated for over 30 years. He also developed complementary high quality laboratory facilities in the Geography Department at the University of Exeter for studying sediment properties, including one of the best-equipped gamma spectrometry laboratories in the world. However, he was also keen to extend the canvas on which he worked beyond the local to the national and the international. Such activity has seen him conducting soil loss studies across several areas of Britain and investigating the delivery of sediment through larger river systems including the River Severn and the Yorkshire Ouse. He has also carried out much work overseas in North, East and Southern Africa,

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Section: Themesmentioning

confidence: 99%