In the Alps territory some torrents are characterized by high erosion of the banks and progressive lowering of riverbed bottom that leads to local outcrops of the substrate. This tendency highly influences both the natural river ecosystem quality and the risk for settlements in the riverine areas. In erosion conditions the morphological evolution of the torrents turns from braided multiple channels to single channel. In the mean time, with the same discharge, the velocity increases as well as the sediment transport determining an extra erosion in the channel itself. As a direct consequence there is a deep habitat modification with a strong reduction in soil and water biodiversity. In this frame is then important a detailed knowledge of the parameters driving river evolution (i.e. hydrological, hydraulics, geomorphological, ecological), otherwise any kind of uncoordinated intervention could lead only to a “temporary” solution. For this reason no “ready to use” multipurpose design strategies have to be adopted but instead strict ones “well tailored” on specific cases. The trans boundary Italy-France Project, PELLIDRAC, (developed during period 2008-2011) aimed, among the others goals, the study and the design of interventions to fight the above mentioned erosion phenomena. On Pellice torrent in Italy and on Drac torrent in France different design approaches were developed. On the Italian side the widening of some riverbed sections and the reopening of abandoned braided channel were performed, as the most suitable design, to contrast a strong local bottom and bank erosion that was interesting a small village. On the contrary on French side, were the morphological and ecological situation was already strongly compromised, the stop of all quarry activity and the recharge of riverbed with sediment was the most appropriate one to avoid high damages to villages and riverine ecosystem.

Morphological and ecological torrent restoration: two tailored design approaches in the Alps / Comino, Elena; Rosso, Maurizio; I., Chouquet. - (2012). (Intervento presentato al convegno EcoSummit 2012 - Ecological Sustainability Restoring the Planet's Ecosystem Services tenutosi a Columbus (USA) nel 30/09/2012-05/10/2012).

Morphological and ecological torrent restoration: two tailored design approaches in the Alps.

COMINO, ELENA;ROSSO, MAURIZIO;
2012

Abstract

In the Alps territory some torrents are characterized by high erosion of the banks and progressive lowering of riverbed bottom that leads to local outcrops of the substrate. This tendency highly influences both the natural river ecosystem quality and the risk for settlements in the riverine areas. In erosion conditions the morphological evolution of the torrents turns from braided multiple channels to single channel. In the mean time, with the same discharge, the velocity increases as well as the sediment transport determining an extra erosion in the channel itself. As a direct consequence there is a deep habitat modification with a strong reduction in soil and water biodiversity. In this frame is then important a detailed knowledge of the parameters driving river evolution (i.e. hydrological, hydraulics, geomorphological, ecological), otherwise any kind of uncoordinated intervention could lead only to a “temporary” solution. For this reason no “ready to use” multipurpose design strategies have to be adopted but instead strict ones “well tailored” on specific cases. The trans boundary Italy-France Project, PELLIDRAC, (developed during period 2008-2011) aimed, among the others goals, the study and the design of interventions to fight the above mentioned erosion phenomena. On Pellice torrent in Italy and on Drac torrent in France different design approaches were developed. On the Italian side the widening of some riverbed sections and the reopening of abandoned braided channel were performed, as the most suitable design, to contrast a strong local bottom and bank erosion that was interesting a small village. On the contrary on French side, were the morphological and ecological situation was already strongly compromised, the stop of all quarry activity and the recharge of riverbed with sediment was the most appropriate one to avoid high damages to villages and riverine ecosystem.
File in questo prodotto:
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.
Pubblicazioni consigliate

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11583/2504391
 Attenzione

Attenzione! I dati visualizzati non sono stati sottoposti a validazione da parte dell'ateneo