Quasi-pristine rivers

The Tagliamento River (North Eastern Italy) is the last weakly-impacted large braided river in Europe. The flow regime is almost natural, as no dams are present on the main river course, and reduction in the sediment feed only owes to long-term catchment-scale changes such as change in land use (reforestation of slopes). A recent trend of increase of vegetation cover accompanied by reduction in braiding complexity in some reaches has been detected

The Hurunui River (South Island, New Zealand) features almost a natural flow regime, with just a few irrigation schemes. It is however threatened by ongoing spread of alien vegetation, while major water storage systems have been proposed.