Types of Channelisation Realignment

What The straightening of the river channel

Advantages - increase the speed of the river - deepens the channel

Disadvantages - increased speed of the river after channelization may result in ooding downstream - although oods in one part of the rivers course of managed, they can still occur in another part of the river - disappearance of wetlands - affect plants and animals as their natural habitats may be destroyed

Examples Wallsea island

Re-sectioning

The widening - increases the and deepening channels of the river ability to hold channel water - increases the amount of surface runoff from the surrounding areas into the river - less friction between the water and river bed and banks

Sungei Api Api

Types of Channelisation Bank protection

What To prevent oods from occurring and to reduce soil erosion along the river banks

Advantages - increase the capacity of the river to hold water - protect the river banks from being eroded by running water

Disadvantages - the construction of dykes, revetments and gabions causes sediments to accumulate behind these structures

Examples - China, dykes have been built for centuries in the lower course of the Yellow River - In some countries, concrete structures like gabions and revetments are built along a river channel - Chao Phraya River, Thailand

Planting vegetation

Protect river banks against erosion as the roots of trees and other plants hold the soil together rmly

- slows down the rate of surface runoff - reduces the amount of eroded sediments being transported into the river - the channel does not become shallower

- ecosystems Pasir Ris Park, may be Singapore destroyed - excessive shade prevents sunlight from reaching the river bed, killing aquatic plants and affecting aquatic food chains