Design Nature Based Solutions in Water Management Using Aquatic Ecology and Morphodynamic Principles

In Water management nature Based Solution are promoted as a sustainable and cost-effective solution for a variety of water related problems in society such as prevention of droughts and floods, reducing heat stress and disaster risk reduction. This course will address the underlying ecological and morphological principles. The course will introduce and discuss key principles and apply those in various NBS in water management. More specifically:

The course introduces ecological concepts related to water management. It will detail on aquatic ecosystems functioning for stagnant water, running water and wetlands. Points to cover will be: biological, physical and chemical aspects of aquatic ecosystems, trophic levels, characteristic organisms, population dynamics, natural and induced shifts in ecosystems and the aquatic ecological effects of climate change.

The course will introduce hydro-geomorphological concepts and detail on especially water erosion, sedimentation and landslide mechanisms and the role of vegetation and animal activity on it in different environments (mountains, rivers, estuaries) and different climates (arid, tropical and humid). Feedback mechanisms between ecology and hydro-geomorphological processes will be discussed.

Furthermore, the course will discuss and evaluate case-studies of Nature Based Solutions (NBS) in Water Management.

• Activities in weeks 1 till 8: 2 * 4 hours mix of interactive lectures, assignments, presentations or workshop