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Introduction
Due to surface erosion in basins and bank erosion along river channels, all rivers carry sediment. Our understanding of the changing equilibrium between the sediment supply from upstream and a river’s sediment transport capability is important for the success of overall integrated water resource management.
In Alpine river basins, intensive sediment transport processes and sediment continuity have a notable impact on several water management issues in alpine river basins, posing multiple use conflicts related to small hydropowers, ecology, fishing, flood control, river morphology, tourism, etc.
A conflicting ecological role of river sediment can be observed through different river management tasks. For example, in flood risk mitigation (Floods Directive) sediment transport, often in conjunction with large woody debris, may strongly amplify flood hazards.
In the case of hydropower production (RES Directive) that requires dam installations and water level manipulation in reservoirs, technical, economic and ecological problems are often a consequence of a disrupted natural sediment continuum.
The geological and climatic variability across the Alps generates complex patterns of sediment formation and transfer, whereas management problems and conflicts are similar. Therefore, decision makers involved in the river basin management in the Alps are facing the urgency to test policies able to reconcile these conflicting requirements.
