Ecohydraulics and River Ecosystem Interactions: Processes, Modelling and Restoration Perspectives

Abstract

Ecohydraulics is an interdisciplinary field which studies the mutual interactions between hydraulic processes and riverine ecosystems. Rivers are dynamic systems where flow regime, sediment transport, channel morphology and vegetation together controls habitat availability and ecological functions. In many regions, anthropogenic modifications such as dams, channelization and pollution have disturbed the natural ecohydraulic balance, causing biodiversity decline and habitat degradation. This review paper discusses fundamental principles of ecohydraulics, major river ecosystem components, hydraulic–ecological feedback mechanisms and modelling approaches used for understanding riverine habitats. The paper also highlights restoration strategies based on ecohydraulic concepts such as environmental flows, nature-based river engineering and habitat enhancement. A synthesis of recent advances in field monitoring, numerical simulation and ecological assessment methods is provided. Challenges such as scale mismatch, climate change impacts and uncertainty in ecohydraulic prediction are also discussed. The review shows that integrated ecohydraulic frameworks are essential for sustainable river management and ecological conservation.

KEYWORDS: Ecohydraulics, River ecosystems, Environmental flows, Habitat modelling, Sediment transport, River restoration