Encyclopedia
Please note this is an old version of this entry, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Subjects:
Environmental Sciences
Bank Stabilization Structures of Yangtze-River are ecological revetment structures that have been carried out in the Yangtze River with a focus on preventing bed-shape evolution, river-width adjustment, and lateral channel migration, which are woody planting and combined applications of planting and artificial structures. The most widely used in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River are steel wire mesh gabions bank stabilization and chain-type bricks bank stabilization.
- Bank stabilization structures
- Yangtze-River
- Steel mesh gabion
- Chain-type bricks
1.Definition of Bank Stabilization Structures of Yangtze-River
Schiechtl and Stern (1997) defined woody planting and combined applications of planting and artificial structures used in riverbank as bank stabilization, distinguished from slope protection. Bank Stabilization Structures of Yangtze-River are ecological revetment structures that have been carried out in the Yangtze River with a focus on preventing bed-shape evolution, river-width adjustment, and lateral channel migration, which are integrated revetment system composed of woody planting and combined applications of planting and artificial structures.
2. Significance of Bank Stabilization Structures of Yangtze-River
The riparian zone is an important transition between the river and terrestrial ecosystems [1]. This zone has severe river erosion and frequent flow and exchange of material, energy, and information [2]. With the aim to adjust the flow and stabilize the shoreline, a series of bank stabilization structure projects have been carried out in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River in recent years, with a focus on preventing bed-shape evolution, river-width adjustment, and lateral channel migration. Application and construction of bank stabilization structure not only meets the requirements of flood control and drainage and riverbank stability, but also has important practical significance for maintaining river regime stability, thus improving the river biodiversity, ecosystem productivity, and self-purification capacity [3].
3. Comparison of traditional slope protection and ecological Bank Stabilization Structures
Traditional revetment structures are generally constructed with stone, steel, concrete, and other materials; the main design considerations are the mechanical factors to ensure the stability and economic benefits of traditional slope protection [4]. Blocking the exchange of material and energy between river and land ecosystems leads to the closure of the entire bank slope, which causes the riverbank to lose its ecological function and self-purification ability, destroy the diversity of the original river channel, and other adverse effects that hinder the development of traditional revetment structure [5][6]. Ecological bank stabilization can enable the natural restoration for the bank slope under the premise of satisfying the riverbank stability. Meanwhile, the bioroenosis on riverbanks provides underground soil reinforcement and surface protection from erosion.
4. Two widely used Bank Stabilization Structures of Yangtze-River
For the Yangtze River, due to the large velocity and discharge and the great seasonal variation of water level, before the installation of the new stabilization structures construct, some unprotected river sections were seriously eroded by the river, with little vegetation coverage; the construction of ecological bank stabilization under such complex flow conditions is of great significance. So, people are constantly innovating and researching optimized structures to fully integrate the bank stabilization projects with nature and maximize its ecological benefits. At present, the most widely used in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River are steel wire mesh gabions bank stabilization and chain-type bricks bank stabilization.
4.1 Steel mesh gabion bank stabilization
The steel mesh gabion bank stabilization structure is composed of wire baskets filled with rocks (Figure 1). The steel wire of wire baskets under anti-corrosion treatment is with the properties of corrosion resistance, high strength, and good flexibility. This structure has a rough surface, and the sediment in the gabion is easily deposited. At the initial stage of bank stabilization, natural soil with a thickness of approximately 3–5 cm is usually laid in the steel mesh grid of bank stabilization. Grass seeds are sown to carry out the slope structure greening, using vegetation to protect the soil, reducing the probability of soil erosion in the ecological bank stabilization area [7].
4.2 Chain-type bricks bank stabilization
Chain-type bricks bank stabilization is composed of slope bedding and concrete prefabricated slope bricks with a unique interlocking shape. Each brick and its adjacent six bricks form an excellent interlocking state (Figure 2). At the same time, the interstices of interlocking bricks are filled with graded crushed stone. Holes in the middle make the bricks porous, permeable, and breathable. Natural soil is paved in the holes and vegetation is planted [8].
5.The existing problems in Bank Stabilization research
Scientific studies on bioengineering structures along rivers mainly focus on methodological aspects, such as structural optimization and construction methods [9]. Some researchers found that succession of biocenose is found correlated with the techniques used in bank stabilization construction by biological investigation data from different structures [10][11][12]. The relationship between the distribution and diversity of plant communities and substrates are examined, but mostly concentrated on highway slopes and fluctuations of reservoir water levels [13][14][15][16]. Research remains limited on the ecological restoration and the relationship between environmental impact factors and the effect of biological restoration after the construction of different ecological structures on riverbank areas. However, the seasonal water level changes experienced by vegetation in bank stabilization areas are opposite to that in reservoir water-level fluctuations, because during the flood season, the latter is exposed while the former is submerged. For the ecological bank stabilization projects, limited professional data are available to allow tracing and comparison of the comprehensive benefits.
This entry is adapted from the peer-reviewed paper 10.3390/su12197991
References
- Zhang, Jianchun; e.g.; Study on riparian zone and the restoration and rebuilding of its degraded ecosystem. Acta Ecologice Sinica 2003, 23, 56-63, 10.3321/j.issn:1000-0933.2003.01.008.
- Kenwick, Rebecca A; e.g.; Preferences for riparian buffers. Landscape and Urban Planning 2009, 91, 88-96, 10.1016/j.landurbplan.2008.12.005.
- Chen, Peng; e.g.; Application Analysis of Ecological Slope Protection in River Training. Engineering and Technological Research 2020, 5, 278-288, 10.19537/j.cnki.2096-2789.2020.03.133.
- Li, Minghan; e.g.; Biotechnical engineering as an alternative to traditional engineering methods: A biotechnical streambank stabilization design approach. Landscape and Urban Planning 2002, 60, 225-242, 10.1016/S0169-2046(02)00057-9.
- Wyzga, Barteomiej; e.g.; A Geomorphologist 's Criticism of the Engineering Approach to Channelization of Gravel-Bed Rivers: Case Study of the Raba River, Polish Carpathians. Environmental Management 2001, 28, 341-358, 10.1007/s002670010228.
- Nakamura, Futoshi; e.g.; Changes in riparian forests in the Kushiro Mire, Japan, associated with stream channelization. River Research and Applications 2002, 18, 1535-1459, 10.1002/rra.621.
- Zhang, Guirong; e.g.; Preliminary study on eco-slope protection with stone cage under river scouring. Hydro-Science and Engineering 2018, 06, 112-119, 10.16198/j.cnki.1009-640X.2018.06.015.
- Tong, Daobin; e.g.; Application of Articulated Ecological Revetment Block in Water Environment Revetment Project. Yellow River 2012, 34, 12-13+16, 10.3969/j.issn.1000-1379.2012.02.005.
- Breton, Vincent; e.g.; Ecological restoration under pressure from invasive animal species: use of Salicaceae cuttings in a river bank overrun by coypu.. River Research and Applications 2014, 30, 1002-1012, 10.1002/rra.2688.
- Cavaillé, Paul; e.g.; Biodiversity assessment following a naturality gradient of riverbank protection structures in French prealps rivers. Ecological Engineering 2013, 53, 23-30, 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2012.12.105.
- Tisserant, Maxime; e.g.; Diversity and succession of riparian plant communities along riverbanks bioengineered for erosion control: a case study in the foothills of the Alps and the Jura Mountains. Ecological Engineering 2020, 152, 1-10, 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2020.105880.
- Cavaillé, Paul; e.g.; Functional and taxonomic plant diversity for riverbank protection works: Bioengineering techniques close to natural banks and beyond hard engineering. Journal of Environmental Management 2015, 151, 65-75, 10.1016/j.jenvman.2014.09.028.
- Sudduth, Elizabeth B; e.g.; Effects of Bioengineered Streambank Stabilization on Bank Habitat and Macroinvertebrates in Urban Streams. Environmental Management 2006, 38, 218-226, 10.1007/s00267-004-0381-6.
- Giupponi, Luca; e.g.; How to renew soil bioengineering for slope stabilization: some proposals. Landscape and Ecological Engineering 2019, 15, 37-50, 10.1007/s11355-018-0359-9.
- Jankauskas, Benediktas; e.g.; The Effects of Biogeotextiles on the Stabilization of Roadside Slopes in Lithuania. Baltic Journal of Road and Bridge Engineering 2008, 3, 175-180, 10.3846/1822-427X.2008.3.175-180.
- Furey, Paula; e.g.; Water Level Drawdown Affects Physical and Biogeochemical Properties of Littoral Sediments of a Reservoir and a Natural Lake. Lake and Reservoir Management 2004, 20, 280-295, 10.1080/07438140409354158.
This entry is offline, you can click here to edit this entry!
