Restoring meanders to straightened rivers

During the 1960’s in England a large number of the rivers were artificially straightened to reduce flooding. It is now acknowledged that far from reducing flooding events this straightening of channels increases the chance of flood events. This is due to large amounts of water being pushed through the system in a short period of time, where rivers were naturally allowed to meander this in effect slows the flow allowing the water time to work through the fluvial system. This of course assumes that there is ample floodplain to allow the river to come out of its banks without the unfortunate consequence of threatening life and property.

By reinstating these natural meanders it effectively mitigates against flooding by restoring a more natural flow regime to the river. When flood events do occur and there is an element of ‘over-banking’ this can in some circumstances be a positive event, facilitating wet-meadow habitats which harbour a variety of important species.