River floodplains and riparian areas are highly valued as they provide not only easy access to water, but also to transportation, food production, recreation and natural beauty with high levels of biological diversity

Managing rivers and floodplains must address the growing pressure caused by development. This includes water-related disasters such as floods and droughts, sustainable water supply, protection and remediation of water quality, management of river sediments and soil erosion, river restoration as well as protection of riparian habitats. Water shortage, water pollution and flood impacts are among the most urgent problems in river management. Also the number of flood disasters worldwide has increased significantly in recent years. While this may partly be due to a changing climate, the additional utilisation of flood plains and a reduction in the natural retention capacity of catchments play a significant role.

Dams and reservoirs contribute significantly to the management of water, which is becoming a scarce resource. Dams and reservoirs ensure water for power and irrigation, and are used to mitigate the potentially devastating effects of floods and droughts. At the same time they may have adverse environmental and social impacts. There is therefore an increasing demand for detailed and accurate assessments of the environmental impacts and for the efficient operation of existing dams to minimise the adverse effects while maximising the benefits. DHI’s services are tailored to clients’ needs and can assist rivers and reservoir managers faced with complex decisions in meeting these demands – both in real time and for planning purposes.