Last month we celebrated World Rivers Day, a reminder that rivers deserve more than a passing thought. They shape the landscapes we live in, support agriculture, sustain a variety of...
Last month we celebrated World Rivers Day, a reminder that rivers deserve more than a passing thought. They shape the landscapes we live in, support agriculture, sustain a variety of wildlife and offer us places for recreation and relaxation. When we care for rivers, we are also caring for ourselves.
For centuries, our approach to river management has been about control. We’ve built walls, straightened channels, and installed weirs and culverts to tame rivers, aiming to protect our cities and agricultural land from flooding.However, this approach has often come at a great cost, both to the environment and to our own long-term security. The concept of “making space for water” challenges this traditional view, advocating for a more harmonious and integrated relationship with our rivers. It’s about letting rivers be rivers, allowing them to reconnect with their floodplains and flow freely along their natural courses.
The importance of this approach can be understood through two key concepts: Linear connectivity and Lateral connectivity.
Linear connectivity refers to the uninterrupted flow of a river from its headwaters to its mouth. Think of a river as a highway for aquatic life. Weirs, culverts, and other man-made barriers act as roadblocks, fragmenting habitats and preventing the movement of species. Many fish, like salmon and eels, are anadromous, meaning they migrate between freshwater and saltwater to complete their life cycles. Removing obstacles or installing fish passes (ladders or ramps that allow fish to bypass barriers) is crucial for their survival. Without this ability to move upstream to spawn, populations can dwindle and even disappear.
But it’s not just about fish. The movement of sediment, nutrients, and organic matter is also vital for a healthy river ecosystem. Weirs trap sediment, causing erosion downstream and starving gravel beds that are essential for spawning. By allowing a river to flow freely, we enable the natural processes that build and maintain its unique habitats. This is a return to a more natural, dynamic state where the river can create the diverse environments such as riffles, pools, and glides, that support a rich tapestry of life, from insects to otters.
Lateral connectivity is about re-establishing the relationship between the river channel and its floodplain. For decades, we’ve separated them with hard flood defences, turning rivers into confined, single-purpose conduits. This disconnect has had profound consequences. A floodplain is a river’s natural release valve. When a river is in flood, it naturally spreads out over the adjacent land, dissipating energy and slowing the flow. By confining the river, we force floodwaters to travel faster and higher downstream, often increasing the flood risk to communities further along the river.
Making space for water involves a radical rethink: instead of fighting floods, we work with them. This might mean setting back flood defences, create designated flood storage areas, or even restoring meanders to the river channel. When floodwaters are allowed to spread out over the floodplain, they not only reduce the risk of catastrophic flooding downstream but also provide a huge ecological boost. Floodplains are incredibly fertile and biodiverse. They act as nurseries for fish and amphibians, and the temporary wetlands created during floods provide crucial habitats for wading birds and other wildlife. They are the lungs of a river system, filtering pollutants and recharging groundwater supplies.
The benefits of making space for water extend far beyond the ecological. A healthy, connected river is a huge asset to society. Firstly, and most importantly, it’s a key part of natural flood management. Allowing rivers to interact with their floodplains and slowing the flow of water upstream is a more sustainable and often more cost-effective way to protect homes and businesses than building ever-higher walls.
Furthermore, these restored rivers and floodplains create incredible recreational opportunities. They become green corridors through our cities and countryside, offering spaces for walking, kayaking, and wildlife watching. This improved access to nature has well-documented benefits for mental and physical well-being. The restored habitats also improve water quality by allowing floodplains to act as natural filters, trapping sediment and pollutants before they reach our water supply.
Finally, a healthy river is a powerful indicator of a healthy landscape. It supports local economies through tourism and recreational activities, and it embodies a more resilient and sustainable approach to managing our environment. Making space for water is not about surrendering to nature but about recognising that our well-being is intrinsically linked to the health of our rivers. By reconnecting our rivers, we create a richer, more resilient future for both people and wildlife. It’s a fundamental shift from control to collaboration, and it’s a vital step towards a more sustainable world.
This article was written by The West Country Rivers Trust
