- Urban River Rehabilitation as an Integrative Part of Sustainable Urban Water Systems    292 kb by    Simsek, Gul | gulsims@hotmail.com    Short Outline In recent decades, with more attention to sustainability, there is a greater understanding of the vital role of urban rivers. This paper offers an understanding to the challenges of urban rivers based on recent practices by means of comparative analysis. Abstract The history of human settlements is intertwined with different aspects of water. Among water resources, ‘flowing waters’ such as rivers, streams, creeks, etc. have a prominent role as they are the lifeblood of most cities in terms of providing transportation, security, energy, irrigation, commerce, and recreation. By the late 19th century, developments of terrestrial transportation modes diminished the magnetism of rivers and growing industries led to the deterioration of rivers. Urban rivers suffered from discharges of sewage, industrial waters and stormwater, and careless exploitation of water supply. Rivers are among the most sensitive of all ecosystems to climate change as well. After being neglected for decades, since the second half of the 20th century, with more attention given to sustainability of resources, an awareness has grown of the vital role of urban rivers as a resource for humans and a lifeline for cities. As a result of the problems associated with urban rivers cannot be isolated from the water system; a new approach was developed for the last decades, one that is integrative, taking the problem of rivers within the water system. Besides growing consciousness about urban river and their urban integrity, urban rivers gets attention as they are significative elements of cities, within the global agenda as well. Aiming to create sustainable cities, there is a concentration on the development of many transformation projects including urban waters. In this regard, the paper aims to better understand the challenges on urban rivers in the meaning of its integration to urban water system. To be able to clarify the challenges, the discussion extends into the old and emerging paradigms. The discussion is supported by major practices on rivers and comparative analysis on them conducted. Evaluating Porsuk River as a case, Turkey in accordance with the contemporary context, provides a framework on the dynamics of new approaches in Turkey as a final outcome. Keywords Urbanization, Sustainable Urban Water Systems, Rehabilitation of Urban Rivers Case Study presented on the ISOCARP Congress 2012: Fast Forward: Planning in a (hyper) dynamic urban context   Click to open the full paper as pdf document   Click to send an email to the author(s) of this paper