Scientifically based restoration of river bottoms without destroying ecosystems

Scientifically based restoration of river bottoms without destroying ecosystems

Concept

In many countries, river cleaning is limited to mechanical deepening of riverbeds using excavators. This approach often destroys natural habitats, disrupts spawning grounds, reduces biodiversity, and disrupts natural sediment transport.

In the systemDREVO Living MountainsBottom cleaning is not considered as the removal of all sedimentary material, but asrestoration of natural processes of riverbed formation.

The main principle:

Not to clean the river at any cost, but to restore its ability to independently maintain a healthy riverbed.

When cleaning is really necessary

Cleaning is carried out only after a comprehensive survey of the catchment area.

Main reasons:

artificial siltation;

accumulation of contaminated bottom sediments;

contamination with construction waste;

consequences of landslides;

emergency tree fallouts;

loss of bridge capacity;

restoration of navigation (if necessary).

Natural sediments in themselves are not a problem.

The first stage is Diagnostics

Before starting any work, an inspection is carried out.

Used:

hydrological measurements;

bathymetric survey;

LiDAR;

sonars;

TREVO AeroSense Drone;

underwater robots;

bottom sediment analysis.

The following are determined:

depth;

flow speed;

soil composition;

silt thickness;

content of pollutants;

spawning grounds;

state of the bottom fauna.

The second stage is finding the cause

Removing sludge without eliminating the cause leads to its re-accumulation.

It is necessary to determine:

sources of erosion;

destroyed slopes;

agricultural runoff;

construction sites;

lack of forest buffers;

destroyed floodplains.

First, the causes are eliminated, then cleaning is carried out.

Stage Three – Selective Cleaning

Only material that:

disrupts the flow;

contaminated;

prevents fish migration;

creates a risk of flooding;

interferes with the operation of hydraulic structures.

Saved:

natural gravel;

boulders;

sandbanks;

rifts;

whirlpools;

spawning areas.

Handling contaminated sludge

If contamination is present, a laboratory analysis is carried out.

Depending on the composition, the following are used:

Organic contaminants

Used:

bioremediation;

composting (if contamination is safe);

microbiological purification.

Heavy metals

Used:

specialized landfills;

material stabilization;

technologies for metal extraction where economic and technical feasibility exists.

Plastic

Deleted separately.

Sent for processing.

Preservation of the riverbed structure

During the work, the following must be preserved:

natural curves;

islands;

braids;

rifts;

whirlpools;

coastal roots;

tree debris, if it does not pose a safety hazard.

It is these elements that form a healthy river.

Bioengineered seabed restoration

After cleaning the following are created:

Stone thresholds

They:

saturate water with oxygen;

stabilize the riverbed;

create spawning grounds.

Gravel areas

They are used to restore fish breeding grounds.

Underwater shelters

Created from:

large stones;

Koryag;

wooden structures;

environmentally friendly modules.

They increase biodiversity.

Biological substrates

At the bottom there are surfaces suitable for development:

periphyton;

algae;

microorganisms;

invertebrates.

Use of robots

Applicable:

WOOD River Rover

Performed by:

examination;

underwater filming;

garbage removal;

quality control of work.

Underwater ROVs

Used for:

examinations;

sampling;

spot cleaning;

installation of sensors.

TREVO AeroSense Drone

Controls:

change of channel;

turbidity;

new deposits;

vegetation development.

Use of artificial intelligence

WOOD AI

Models:

sediment transport;

sludge formation;

change in depths;

probability of siltation;

cleaning efficiency.

This allows us to move from periodic cleaning to preventative management.

Environmental work calendar

Cleaning is carried out only during periods of minimal impact on nature.

When planning, the following are taken into account:

fish spawning;

animal migration;

nesting of birds;

periods of high biological activity;

hydrological regime of the river.

What not to do

The following is not allowed:

complete alignment of the bottom;

turning a river into a canal;

mass removal of boulders;

destruction of tree debris without necessity;

removal of all aquatic vegetation;

continuous clearing of the riverbed over large distances;

use of heavy equipment without environmental justification.

Long-term management

After recovery, continuous monitoring is introduced.

Used:

Living Mountain Observatory;

Mountain Digital Twin;

TREVO AeroSense Drone;

TREE AI.

The system automatically evaluates:

sediment accumulation;

change in depths;

state of benthic fauna;

water quality;

efficiency of the work performed.

Integration

The project is being merged with:

WOOD Clean Rivers;

DREVO Living Mountains;

Mountain Sponge;

Mountain Springs Recovery;

Living Mountain Observatory;

Mountain Digital Twin;

TREVO AeroSense Drone;

WOOD AI;

AMCWSRI.

Expected results

An integrated approach ensures:

restoration of the natural structure of the river bottom;

improving water quality;

increase in dissolved oxygen content;

restoration of spawning grounds;

reduction of re-siltation;

increasing the riverbed's resistance to floods;

reducing costs for regular cleaning;

restoration of the river's natural ability to self-purify.

Project mission

DREVO Riverbed RestorationThe riverbed is considered the foundation for the functioning of the entire river ecosystem. The project's goal is not to remove as much sediment as possible, but to restore the natural dynamics of the riverbed, where sediment transport, water self-purification, aquatic organism migration, and bank stability are supported by natural processes. This approach makes the river more resilient, ecologically sound, and significantly reduces the need for repeated large-scale interventions.

Mountain Springs Recovery