Latest revision as of 15:35, 5 January 2016

Flow dynamics improvement

General description

Several pressures affect the water discharge and its timing, i.e. the flow regime (e.g. changes in land cover, soil structure and compacting, loss of floodplains and wetlands, stormwater runoff from urban areas, and hydropeaking). The loss of water retention combined with accelerated runoff typically increases the frequency and magnitude of flood peaks but also reduces the availability of water to streams during the prevailing low flow (base flow) periods.

In addition to the measures listed in this category to restore a natural flow regime, Category 01: Water flow quantity improvement covers similar aspects but with a stronger focus on water quantity, especially water abstraction and diversion.