Integrated eco-hydraulics options for the recovery of life and safety in aquatic environments

The paper aims that nowadays, fundamental principles of river channel restoration in a wide range of settings, principally from European and North America’s case studies, summarize the current state of art on this subject. Conversely, a guide to manage river restoration in the Neotropics is still a challenge. Traditional, expanded and integrated eco-hydraulics methods for the recovery of life and safety in aquatic environments are outlined. Briefly, the concepts of riparian ecotones with biological restoration derived from the uncertainties in streamflow hydrographs, as REBRUSH strategy (Mendiondo 2000), are depicted through a real basin, representative of 300,000 km2 in South America. This example indicates for South America basins, with very degraded riparian areas, the plausible watercourse restoration guidelines. Life and safety discussions are centered on naturalization principles and goals, conceptual strategy and assessment and, finally, eco-hydraulics techniques.