Modelling Mediterranean rivers

Careful water management is key to the survival of humans, animals and plants in populated areas such as the Mediterranean. To manage seasonal streams and small rivers effectively, there is a need for more reliable models or rivers and the ecosystems they support.

The EU-funded 'Environmental river management: An innovative holistic approach for Mediterranean streams' (HOLRIVERMED) project aimed to provide models and methods to manage Mediterranean streams and rivers more sustainably.

Project work was divided into two parts: data collection and modelling. Data was collected from case studies in Greece, Spain and Italy, and used for building and testing models.

Several different models were constructed to predict the effects of changes in rivers on species and groups of species living in and around riverine habitats.

The team chose Mesohabitat models as the most appropriate scale for environmental planning and management. These models helped researchers choose the best restoration measures for threatened species and limiting the negative effects of dams and power plants on the ecosystem.

Researchers then used habitat time series analysis to identify events that are harmless or stressful to a particular habitat. This technique was also used to evaluate the best way to release large quantities of water from a dam without destroying riverine ecosystems.

HOLRIVERMED developed models for river and stream management in the highly populated Mediterranean area. The project has shown how rivers can provide ecosystem services while conserving the plants and animals that rely on them.