From: Michel Leclerc To: 'Klaus Jorde' ; Subject: RE: Rivers-List: River engineering problems for 21st Century Date: 04 July 2000 16:48 Hi River-list, Bravo for the suggestion by Klaus Jorde, Secretary of the IAHR Ecohydraulics section. I hesitated to propose something related to ecohydraulics because the targeted problems still to solve seemed so far to be rather related to pure fundamental hydraulic-mathematical matters. In fact, a real challenge for engineers today is to take into account the real complexity, the one which considers the river as a continuum of geomorpho-physico-chemico-ecological processes. There is no such a mathematical framework to take all this into account simultaneously. Where is the methodological approach that would permit to avoid irreversible damages to natural systems while permitting to achieve the utility goals expected with major civil works ? Thus, I emphasise Klaus's suggestion to include such a topic (multi-processes integration in natural water bodies) into the list. Michel Leclerc, professor Chairman, IAHR Ecohydraulics section INRS-Eau C.P. 7500 Sainte-Foy (Qc) Canada G1V 4C7 Tél : +1.418.654-2555 Fax : +1.418.654-2600 E-mail : michel_leclerc@inrs-eau.uquebec.ca Site web institutionnel : http://www.inrs-eau.uquebec.ca/ -----Message d'origine----- De: Klaus Jorde [SMTP:jorde@iws.uni-stuttgart.de] Date: 4 juillet, 2000 08:59 À: Rivers List Objet: Re: Rivers-List: River engineering problems for 21st Century Dear Roger and other list-participants, I do not want to interrupt or disturb the diskussion on Regime theorie but I would like to rise another field of diskussion. Reading Roger's propositions I miss topics related to river system ecology. That might be one reason, why the public awareness of the value of hydraulic engineers seems low. People can see that rivers that have been "treated" by hydraulic engineers on one side still do not perform perfectly (e.g. extreme floods still cause damage) but on the other hand obviously have lost often part of their ecological value. Therefore I find it important that hydraulic engineers seek for a strong link with limnologists and related sciences, such as geomorphologists etc. to work for a better understanding of lothic ecosystems. A mojor topic are the interactions between morphology (at different scales, including networking and spatial relations in a heterogeneous environment), discharge (including temporal variability) which shapes habitat availability and quality, and ecosystem performance or behaviour. So I suggest to include this into the list and hope that the public awareness of "our" value will increase following our actions. Additionally I suggest that there should be a worldwide aggreement by hydraulic engineers that some of the last "pristine" rivers in certain ecoregions should simply not be touched even if there is a chance for another hydropower plant or whatever. But this is possibly not a point for the list. regards, Klaus Jorde -- Dr.-Ing. Klaus Jorde Institute of Hydraulic Engineering University of Stuttgart Pfaffenwaldring 61 D-70550 Stuttgart Germany Phone: +49 -711 -685-4772 Fax: +49 -711 -685-4746 http://www.iws.uni-stuttgart.de/