Assisting the recovery of ecological integrity in a degraded watershed system by re-establishing hydrologic, geomorphic, and ecological processes and replacing lost, damaged, or compromised biological elements (Wohl et al. (2002) Landsc. Ecol. 17). Restoration activities include: cutting a new, meandering course, creating stepped banks to provide diverse ecological niches, removing dams to restore fish movement, reconnecting flow by cutting linking channels, setting back or breaching levees, and dredging. McDonald et al. (2004) TIBG 29, 3 argue that the purpose of restoration has shifted from simple utilitarian needs for flood and erosion/sedimentation control towards the incorporation of ecological concerns.

See Millington and Sear (2007) Earth Surf. Procs Landforms 32, 8 on the geomorphic and ecological effects of reintroducing woods in river restoration schemes. See Downs and Kondolf (2002) Environ. Manage. 29, 4, 477 on post-project appraisals in adaptive management of river channel restoration.

http://www.therrc.co.uk/index.php The UK River Restoration Centre has case studies.

http://www.ecrr.org/ The European Centre for River Restoration has a useful bibliography.