• B1 – Urban, suburban, and periurban streams  

• B2 – Hidden rivers: uncovering and restoring 

• B3 – Ecohydraulics meets landscape architecture

• B4 – Governance, socio-environmental benefits, and areas of conflict

Session description 

This unique session explores the societal dimensions of ecohydraulics in the face of changing environmental and urban scenarios and aims at bringing together the social, the engineering and the architectural communities. It highlights the critical role of ecohydraulic principles in managing and restoring urban, suburban, and periurban streams (B1), addressing the unique challenges posed by human-altered waterways. A key focus is on “hidden rivers” (B2), emphasizing efforts to uncover and restore buried or neglected streams to enhance ecological and social resilience. The intersection of ecohydraulics and landscape architecture (B3) is also examined, showcasing innovative designs that integrate water systems with urban planning for sustainable, multifunctional spaces and the creation of new habitats for innovative, integrated urban and ecological development of future cities. Additionally, the session delves into governance, socio-environmental benefits, and conflicts (B4), discussing policies, community engagement, and trade-offs in ecohydraulic interventions, which often see the physical space as a possible source of conflict between human and environmental needs. Through these themes, the session aims to foster interdisciplinary collaboration, promoting solutions that balance ecological integrity, urban development, and societal well-being in the context of climate change and rapid urbanization.