The Volga basin with a network of small rivers.

Almost all territory of this country is covered by small watercourses total number of which, as estimated by specialists, exceeds 2.5 mn. For centuries these so-called capillars were, in literal sense, the center of life on the endless Russian expanses, source of water and fish and the only convenient transport routes. That is why a lot of towns and villages appeared on their banks. Not so long ago all grain harvest was processed at mills located on small rivers (more than 60,000 mills). Besides, at the beginning of the 20th century there were numerous multifunctional dams not far from them.

However, subsequent industrial development and urbanization called into existence centralized water supply systems and high-power stations. They were built on major water arteries, while small rivers lost their importance as their transportation capacities decreased after development of railroad and automobile communication. Hydrotechnical structures stopped functioning, dams became out-dated and crumbled; that in many cases resulted in elimination of small river fishery. Finally, they turned into waste water reservoirs...

Only recently have we begun to realize that it is impossible to exten-

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sively develop farming which is ruining nature. That is why we are now trying to solve the following problem-to protect and revive small watercourses. Experts of the Scientific and Research Institute of Power Installations (Moscow) are working to settle this problem. Their research showed that ecological state of these objects is absolutely different. Thus, watercourses running through urban territories are highly modified, while rural areas suffered less. But general situation is becoming worse without special measures.

But what can be done with our small rivers? Theoretically, we want to see them in their original state. But in the course of long climatic, hydro-logical, and geomorphological processes and water basin transformations small rivers gradually changed. Consequently, as foreign experience shows, we can restore the state of natural watercourses as of the beginning of industrial development of the relevant territory, not that of the 12 - 13th centuries. For this purpose many countries are now carrying out measures to improve water quality, are reconstructing hydrotechnical installations and mills.

One of the most important tasks is to increase water content of the objects under consideration; for this purpose traditionally buttress dams were built. At present, construction of cascades of small power plants and arrangement of rest zones and fishing facilities are more preferable as it significantly increases efficiency of installations to be erected.

Khorobrovskaya Hydroelectric Power Plant on the Nerl River in Pereslavl-Zalessky District, Yaroslavl Region, is an obvious case of embodiment of such ideas. Aeration is another way to improve water medium (for rapid oxidation of organic substances contained in water). This method was applied by specialists of the Moscow Zoo who managed to restore a pond there.

Scientific and Research Institute of Power Installations has offered methods to restore urban small rivers. Some of their parts have fully disappeared or are enclosed in pipes and represent a segment of a sewage system. Preserved sections of river beds located in the parks can be isolated from contaminants and filled with clean water, creating closed cir-

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culating network with purification and conditioning units. That is the way a new reservoir, kernel of the biotic complex, is formed: there we can breed fish, install waterfalls-aerators, plant streamside vegetation around and partially restore surrounding landscape. The similar project is being implemented now on the basis of a mill pond in the mouth of the Zhuzha River on the territory of the Kolomenskoye State Preserve Museum (Moscow).

By the way, issues under consideration are closely interconnected with problems of small business in Russia. Its success, in particular in the spheres of cattle breeding and fishing, highly depends on the availability of suitable reservoirs. That is why it is necessary to take into account possibilities of practical use of these reservoirs, forecast changes in the course of such use and solve potential legal problems in advance while planning such restoration. In this regard ecological monitoring and operational control over hydrotechnical and melioration facilities should be performed by businessmen who are personally interested in pure water.

An innovative project to restore small rivers of Russia includes three principal parts. First of all, it is necessary to carry out an "audit"-assess quality of water, state of catchment basin, sources of contamination, social and economic needs of the population of the region. The second phase is preparation and carrying out of engineering activities, i.e. bed-cleaning and bottom-deepening works, construction (or reconstruction) of hydroelectric plants, hydro-technical installations, ensuring conventional water use (irrigation, fishing, fowl farming, etc.), creation of cascades of ponds, littoral areas and flood meadows. It is also essential to improve social attractiveness of the object under restoration, in particular, in urbanized territories. Erection of treatment plants, fulfillment of biomelioration measures that improve state of a watercourse are absolutely necessary. The third phase of the project is development of the operational monitoring system covering the whole complex.

On the basis of the exposed unified conception specialists of the Scientific and Research Institute of Power Installations offer a project of the federal target program of ecological management of small rivers. It would be expedient to enter into the program as the first point determination of one watercourse in each subject of the Russian Federation to be restored proceeding from the needs of the population of each separate region. After fulfillment of the above-said measures it is necessary to compare the costs and obtained results.

The next task is modernization of legislative base associated with issues under discussion, i.e. review of evaluation criteria of the considered objects on the basis of changes of normative acts, check-up of compliance of the results of the performed work with them, establishment of a system of operative control over the processes that affect environmental interests of commercial water users, evaluation of risks caused by restoration of small rivers, recommendations to reduce such risks. Last but not least, it would be useful to organize an all-Russia system of engineering and ecological monitoring of water bodies and train specialists capable of settling all the above-mentioned problems on the basis of specified educational establishments.

Nauka Moskvy i regionov (Science of Moscow and Regions) magazine, No. 3, 2004

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