Dynamic aspects of large woody debris in river channels

The research work has been dedicated to the analysis of some aspects of wood behavior and to the development of effective tools to perform hazard analysis in the perspective of a comprehensive approach to the hydraulic risk assessment. The dynamical processes of wood in river reaches: a) production and recruitment; b) entrainment and transport; c) halt and deposition; d) exit (burial, deterioration, leaving); are considered, taking into account, also, that the physical phenomenon is characterized by the superposition of several natural processes (hydrogeological, forestry and climatic). In particular, after a general analysis on LWD damaging potential based on literature material and direct observations in different river reaches, the activity tasks have been the development of survey methods for mapping and monitoring the in-channel wooden material as well as the achievement of an entrainment condition for LWD. Monitoring allows to establish the existing condition necessary for planning management