1 “Sediment management requires a solid mix of pragmatism and sound science” The actual discussion on the role of sediments in the European water legislation is a typical example, how the development of environmental policies mixes legal requirements with socio-economic aspects, issues of technical feasibility, and sci- 2 entific knowledge . In fact, the Sixth Environmental Action programme of 2001 has stipulated, namely, that “sound scientific knowledge and economic assessments, reliable and up-to-date environmental data and information, and the use of indi- tors will underpin the drawing up, implementation and evaluation of environmental 3 policy” . In the ten chapters of this book, a broad set of practical process knowledge is p- sented, comprising simulation techniques, laboratory and in-situ studies on the int- action between biological, chemical and hydrodynamic factors as well as models, for solving combined quality and quantity problems of riverine sediments. The und- lying research on various types of particulate matter, risk analyses and problem - lutions will also contribute to the implementation of the Soil Strategy and – in p- ticular – Marine Strategy Directive in Europe.
This is the first interdisciplinary book on the mobilization of nutrients and pollutants in the water phase due to hydrodynamic processes. Coverage includes the formation of aggregates in turbulent water; flocks and biofilms from organic reactions; and the formation of new surfaces for re-adsorption of dissolved pollutants. The book gathers papers resulting from an International Symposium on Sediment Dynamics and Pollutant Mobility in River Basins in Hamburg, Germany, March, 2006.