Sustainable river works – Gorai River

Construction

Part of the sand dredged from the low-water channel was placed on the high-water banks, low enough not to hamper the flow during high water and high enough to concentrate the flow during low water. Another part of the sand was removed from the river bed and used as a construction material by the inhabitants. During construction the river’s morphology was closely monitored and the design of the works was adjusted accordingly. Dredging was done during the wet season and took three successive years.

Utilizing and subtly steering the morphological processes in the river can be considered as building with nature. The natural forces help to shape the design, instead of the design shaping the natural forces like in conventional designs. The set-up of the works enabled adaptation to the hydrodynamic and morphological processes in the river.

Movement of sand from the the low-water channel too the high-water banks
Dredging