Managing urban riverscapes: An assessment framework to integrate social-ecological values and physical processes

Area of Science:

• Urban Riverscape Assessment
• Social-Ecological Systems
• Hydrogeomorphology

Background:

• Urban riverscapes are complex social-ecological and hydrogeomorphic systems crucial for urban planning and development.
• Despite their importance, urban rivers often face degradation, necessitating improved assessment and management strategies.
• Effective management requires linking environmental stressors to human values and integrating these into planning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline a flexible framework for assessing urban riverscapes.
• To connect human values (intrinsic, relational, use-based) with physical conditions (hydrology, geomorphology, ecology).
• To inform sustainable planning and management of urban riverscapes for enhanced urban vitality.

Main Methods:

• Developed a framework considering four facets: human values, hydrology, geomorphology, and ecology.
• Applied assessment across multiple nested scales, suitable for various stream conditions.
• Integrated physical condition assessment with human values to identify relevant indicators.

Main Results:

• The framework provides a context-driven approach to hydrogeomorphic assessment.
• It facilitates linking environmental stressors to tangible human values.
• Enables selection of measurable indicators to guide interventions for improved riverscape function.

Conclusions:

• The proposed framework supports better planning and management of urban riverscapes.
• It fosters dialogue among stakeholders, integrating diverse inputs for shared goals.
• Ultimately, it aims to improve riverscape function and enhance urban vitality through informed planning.