The Panaro River (Northern Italy): definition of possible strategies for river restoration

The Panaro River is a representative case of deeply-incised and degraded river located in the Northern Apennine (North Italy). A research project was funded by the Modena Province, aimed to define possible mitigation strategies for existing problems and to promote river restoration. An integrated geomorphological and ecological study was carried out, including the main following aspects: 1. Geomorphological study, including an analysis of historical and recent channel changes, bed sediment sizes, present channel forms, and geomorphic processes. 2. Ecological study, including an analysis of riparian vegetation, macroinvertebrates, aquatic and riparian habitats and diversity, fish fauna, water quality. Based on the analysis of the present geomorphological and ecological conditions, the main problems have been identified, including the following: (1) High channel bed incision (up to 10 m); (2) Numerous ecological problems strictly related to the physical degradation. A series of strategies and measures for future river management and restoration have been identified, including: (a) delimitation of a fluvial corridor to be used to allow lateral mobility to the channel and to adopt river restoration strategies; (b) proposal of interventions of channel widening, recreation of an active floodplain (by lowering the terrace surface) and/or secondary (side) channels, strategies for increasing sediment recovery, including artificial reintroduction of gravel at present stored in the floodplain; (c) strategies to improve habitats and riparian zones by management of riparian vegetation; (d) strategies to improve water quality, by reducing organic loads, and increasing the capacity of self- purification; (e) strategies to reduce pollution from agriculture and livestock farming (buffer zones, restoration of canals, creation of wetlands, etc.).