Massimo Rinaldi

• PhD
• Professor (Associate) at University of Florence

This study provides fundamental examination of mass fluvial erosion along a stream bank by identifying event timing, quantifying retreat lengths, and providing ranges of incipient shear stress for hydraulically driven erosion. Mass fluvial erosion is defined here as the detachment of thin soil layers or conglomerates from the bank face under higher...

Geomorphic units are the elementary spatial physical features of the river mosaic at the reach scale that are nested within the overall hydromorphological structure of a river and its catchment. Geomorphic units also constitute the template of physical habitats for the biota. The assessment of river hydromorphological conditions is required by the...

The Water Framework Directive commits European Union member states to achieve good ecological and chemical status of all water bodies. As hydromorphology is a key factor for ecological status, a consortium of 26 partners from 15 countries studied the role of hydromorphological pressures and measures in the REFORM project. Its main objective was to...

The combined analysis of past evolutionary trajectories of channel morphology and temporal patterns of driving factors is fundamental to understanding present river conditions, supporting river management and evaluating future changes. Rivers in Europe underwent important channel changes during the Anthropocene in response to changing natural drive...

The study of the historical evolution of rivers is a requirement for their sustainable management. This work aims to investigate the historical geomorphological evolution and the present evolutionary trends of the valley portion of the Serio River (Lombardia, Italy) in order to propose a sustainable management of its river corridor. In particular,...

This study describes the morphological changes occurring upstream a dam along a low energy alluvial river having cohesive banks, low bed slope, and high flow regulation within the catchment. Based on the observed changes, a channel evolution model is developed. A multitemporal analysis of aerial photos and topographic survey comparison of the chann...

Meandering rivers and their morphological changes have been extensively investigated in fluvial geomorphology, but little knowledge is available on the meander geometry response in rivers heavily impacted by dams and their relative importance compared to natural hydrological and climatic variability. Understanding the causes of planimetric changes...

Background Rainfall and other climatic agents are the main triggers of soil erosion in the Mediterranean region, where they have the potential to increase discharge and sediment transport and cause long-term changes in the river system. For the Magra River Basin (MRB), located in the upper Tyrrhenian coast of Italy, we estimated changes in net eros...

Hydrological and geomorphological impacts upstream dams have been less frequently investigated than those occurring downstream. Geomorphological mapping, multitemporal analysis of aerial photos, topographic survey comparison of the channel bed, and archives of information concerning flood events were used in this paper to document the effects that...

An overall hydromorphological assessment of the middle to lower Guadalquivir River (southern Spain) was conducted using the Morphological Quality Index (MQI) and a novel extension, the Hydro-Morphological Quality Index (HMQI), with the following aims: (1) investigate the morphological problems and (2) describe and test the HMQI on a case study char...

Fluvial sediments of the Paglia River, a tributary of Tiber River (Central Italy), are contaminated by mercury (Hg) as a consequence of past mining activity (1846–1981, with main production 1900–1970) in the Monte Amiata district (the 3rd largest Hg producer worldwide). In this study, we combine a geomorphological analysis with geochemical data to...

Abstract Fluvial sediments of the Paglia River, a tributary of Tiber River (Central Italy), are contaminated by mercury (Hg) as a consequence of past mining activity (1846–1981, with main production 1900–1970) in the Monte Amiata district (the 3rd largest Hg producer worldwide). In this study, we combine a geomorphological analysis with geochemical...

Following the introduction of the Water Framework Directive (WFD), numerous methodologies have been proposed to assess and monitor the “hydromorphology” (i.e. hydrology and geomorphology) of fluvial water bodies, which vary widely in terms of their concepts, aims, spatial scales, collected data and therefore their applicability (e.g., Fernandez et...

The Morphological Quality Index (MQI) and the Morphological Quality Index for monitoring (MQIm) have been applied to eight case studies across Europe with the objective of analyzing the hydromorphological response to various restoration measures and of comparing the results of the MQI and MQIm as a morphological assessment applied at the reach scal...

The Paglia River drains the Mt. Amiata Mercury District (the 3rd most important district worldwide exploited from 1880 to 1980) before becoming a tributary of the Tiber River. A combined geochemical-geomorphological approach was applied to understand Hg distribution in the fluvial morphological units (MUs). The Hg mean values in the terraces (here...

Anthropogenic alteration of hydromorphological processes in rivers is a major factor that diminishes river health and undermines environmental objectives envisaged by river protection policies. Specifying environmental flows to address those impacts can be a key strategy for the maintenance of functional river processes and the achievement of those...

This is a policy discussion paper aimed at addressing possible alternative approaches for environmental flows (e- Flows) assessment and identification within the context of best strategies for fluvial restoration. We focus on dammed rivers in Mediterranean regions. Fluvial species and their ecological integrity are the result of their evolutionary...

This guidebook provides a detailed description of the Morphological Quality Index (MQI) and some integrated tools (MQIm, HMQI). The Morphological Quality Index (MQI) was originally developed in Italy (Rinaldi et al., 2013), and then expanded and applied to other European countries within the context of the REFORM project (Rinaldi et al., 2015). The...

The multi-scale hierarchical framework devel- oped within the REFORM project, for the study of the functioning of river reaches and their catchments, was applied to the Magra River catchment (Northern Tuscany, Italy). The Magra River is a quite dynamic gravel-bed river that has undergone severe channel adjustments over the last century (i.e. incisi...

his paper forms a post-script to a Special Issue of Aquatic Sciences devoted to the rationale, nature and application of a multi-scale, hierarchical framework for developing process-based understanding of catchment to reach hydrology and fluvial geomorphology (termed hydromorphology). It considers some potential future directions for hydromorpholog...

This presentation will provide an overview of the geomorphic assessment tools and methodological frameworks most recently developed for evaluating river conditions and supporting river management, with a specific reference to the outputs of the EU REFORM (REstoring rivers FOR effective catchment Management) project. Following the introduction of th...

Alteration of hydrological and sediment regime in rivers, due to anthropization (e.g. dams, water abstraction), is a top factor harming rivers health and undermining the achievement of environmental objectives envisaged by river protection policies. Specifying environmental flows to address those impacts can be a key strategy for maintaining functi...

The spatial scales of geomorphic and smaller (hydraulic, river element) units are the most appropriate to assess the presence and diversity of physical habitats. Geomorphic units (e.g., riffles, pools, etc.) constitute distinct habitats for aquatic fauna and flora, including temporary habitats (e.g., refugia from disturbance or predation, spawning,...

• Il progetto REFORM ha l’obiettivo di realizzare un quadro metodologico per migliorare i metodi di valutazione idromorfologica ed il successo di misure di riqualificazione • Il quadro metodologico complessivo di REFORM è un approccio gerarchico multiscala, basato sulla considerazione dei processi geomorfologici e finalizzato a supportare la scelta...

La valutazione delle condizioni idromorfologiche di un corso d’acqua è richiesta dalla Direttiva Quadro sulle Acque (2000/60/CE) per la classificazione e il monitoraggio dei corpi idrici. Seppure la scala di tratto rimanga quella più appropriata per la valutazione delle caratteristiche morfologiche e delle condizioni del corso d’acqua, la scala del...

ASPETTI CHIAVE • I fenomeni di piena eccezionale in Italia sono quasi sempre accompagnati da notevole trasporto di sedimento grossolano e di materiale legnoso, che modificano la geometria degli alvei e creano occlusioni • Una pianificazione territoriale basata unicamente sui risultati di modellazioni idrauliche è nella maggior parte dei non adeguat...

This paper introduces this special issue of Aquatic Sciences. It outlines a multi-scale, hierarchical framework for developing process-based understanding of catchment to reach hydromorphology that can aid design and delivery of sustainable river management solutions. The framework was developed within the REFORM (REstoring rivers FOR effective cat...

During the last years, the Mediterranean region has been affected by an increasing number of heavy precipitation events causing flash floods, landslides, and severe morphological channel changes. Flash floods often induce drastic bed level adjustments and/or dramatic planform adjustments in unconfined settings. A variability of channel responses to...

A high‐magnitude flash flood, which took place on 25 October 2011 in the Magra River catchment (1717 km ² ), central‐northern Italy , is used to illustrate some aspects of the geomorphic response to the flood. An overall methodological framework is described for using interlinked observations and analyses of the geomorphic impacts of an extreme eve...

Channel form has long been recognized as a diagnostic tool in evaluating fluvial landforms. This chapter presents an overview of available techniques, methods and parameters for characterizing and measuring channel forms and analysing and interpreting changes over time. Synthetic review of analysis of channel changes, including measurement of some...

Rivers draining mining areas may contribute to the diffusion of contaminants through their dispersion and accumulation into different morphological river units. The Paglia River's catchment (southern Tuscany) hosts the SE portion of the Mt. Amiata mercury district, the third most important worldwide (exploited from 1880 to 1980 with a total product...

This work addresses the geomorphic response of mountain rivers to extreme floods, exploring the relationships between morphological changes and controlling factors. The research was conducted on six tributaries of the Magra River (northern Apennines, Italy) whose catchments were affected by an extreme flood (estimated recurrence interval > 100 year...

As part of an hierarchical, multi-scale, hydromorphological framework for European rivers that has been developed within the REFORM project, a procedure for classifying rivers has been devised. The procedure includes components that categorise river channel morphology, floodplain morphology, flow regime, and groundwater - surface water interactions...

The present work is a 2016 revised version of the former one published in 2014 (namely MLG 113/2014). This Handbook encompasses the definition of the procedures and methods of the “System for stream hydromorphological assessment, analysis, and monitoring” named IDRAIM. This system is a comprehensive methodological framework for the analysis, post-m...

This part provides a detailed description of the Morphological Quality Index (MQI), and the related version adapted for monitoring (Morphological Quality Index for monitoring, MQIm). The Morphological Quality Index was originally developed in Italy, and then expanded to other European countries within the context of the REFORM project. The Morpholo...

Fluvial communities and their ecological integrity are the result of their evolutionary adaptation to river habitats. Flowing water is the main driver for development and maintenance of these habitats, which is why environmental flows (e-Flows) are needed where societal demands are depleting water resources. Fluvial habitats are not only the result...

Fluvial communities and their ecological integrity are the result of their evolutionary adaptation to river habitats. Flowing water is the main driver for development and maintenance of these habitats, which is why environmental flows (e-Flows) are needed where societal demands are depleting water resources. Fluvial habitats are not only the result...

Objective The aim of this Deliverable is to provide a flexible, open-ended framework of procedures and tools through which practitioners can summarise river conditions, set monitoring activities, support the selection of appropriate and sustainable restoration actions. Methods and Results The overall assessment framework presented in this Deliverab...

Part 2 of Deliverable 6.2 provides detailed information on some specific aspect outlined in Part 1. In Annex A, a series of indicators is presented for the different stages of hydrological characterization, assessment of current status (alteration) and design (rehabilitation measures), including groundwater – surface water indicators. Annex B revie...

This part provides a detailed description of the Geomorphic Units survey and classification System (GUS). This method is used to identify, characterise and analyse the assemblage of geomorphic units within a given reach. The system is suitable for integrating the MQI and is also aimed at allowing the establishment of links between hydromorphologica...

This part provides a series of applications of some of the methods reported in the Part 1. The document is organised in three chapters. In Chapter 1, the Morphological Quality Index (MQI) and the Morphological Quality Index for monitoring (MQIm) have been applied to eight case studies. Chapter 2 presents the application of semi-automated procedures...

This part provides a detailed description of the Morphological Quality Index (MQI), and the related version adapted for monitoring (Morphological Quality Index for monitoring, MQIm). The Morphological Quality Index was originally developed in Italy, and then expanded to other European countries within the context of the REFORM project. The Morpholo...

As part of an hierarchical, multi-scale, hydro- morphological framework for European rivers that has been developed within the REFORM project, a procedure for classifying rivers has been devised. The procedure includes components that categorise river channel mor- phology, floodplain morphology, flow regime, and groundwater—surface water interactio...

The aim of this deliverable is to address the impact of hydromorphological degradation on floodplain and riparian ecosystems, with specific focus on vegetation, fish and invertebrate responses and to provide guidance on how to identify those impacts. 􏰀 An introductory chapter summarises the research context and reviews the lessons for managers and...

The paper summarizes the results of a study aimed at identifying how to achieve the future sustainable management of sediment and channel processes along the Serchio River (northern Apennines, Italy). Data collection and methodologies included a: (1) retrospective study of the past trajectories of channel adjustments; (2) quantification of a sedime...

The Magra River catchment experienced an extreme flood event on 25th October 2011, with return periods ranging from about 100–200 years along the Magra, and up to 500 years along some tributaries. This flood event resulted in morphological changes, flooding, damages and loss of human lives, and has further exacerbated existing conflicts in river ma...

Disturbances affecting flow and sediment transport regimes (e.g. dams, diversions, gravel mining, weirs, bank reinforcements, climate changes) can promote riverbed degradation and channel narrowing, and thus influence vegetation dynamics and composition. This study investigates the relationships and feedbacks between channel adjustments and riparia...

This deliverable presents the overview and structure of the REFORM 3-day summer school ‘Restoring regulated streams linking theory and practice’ for early career researchers and young scientists. On the first day participants took part in a field excursion to river restoration projects in the vicinity of Wageningen in The Netherlands. On the second...

In this paper we briefly illustrate a system for the classification and survey of geomorphic units (GUS, Geomorphic Units survey and classification System). This aims at characterizing physical habitats and stream morphology, and is suitable for integrating the hydromorphological assessment at the reach scale. Introduction The assessment of stream...

In this paper, we propose a comprehensive and synergic hydromorphological assessment based on the integration of three tools, originally developed in Italy and then expanded to other European countries within the context of the REFORM project. The Morphological Quality Index (MQI) is a tool designed to assess the overall morphological condition of...

The Morphological Quality Index (MQI) and the Morphological Quality Index for monitoring (MQIm) have been applied to eight case studies with the objectives of: (1) testing and improving the new versions of the indices, and (2) analyzing the hydromorphological response to various restoration measures. For each restored reach, the two indices were ap...

A series of methods and tools for an integrated and synergic assessment of hydromorphology have been initially developed in Italy, and then expanded to other European countries in the context of REFORM (REstoring rivers FOR effective catchment Management). The Morphological Quality Index (MQI) is a tool based on a scoring system, designed to assess...

The Geomorphic Units survey and classification System (GUS) has been developed for the survey and classification of geomorphic units in streams and rivers, suitable to integrate the hydromorphological assessment at the reach scale (e.g. the Morphological Quality Index, MQI), and therefore to better establish links between hydromorphological conditi...

Riparian vegetation actively interacts with fluvial systems affecting river hydrodynamics, morphodynamics and groundwater. These interactions can be coupled because both vegetation and hydromorphology (i.e. the combined scientific study of hydrology and fluvial geomorphology) involve dynamic processes with similar temporal and spatial scales. To pr...

Il presente Manuale riporta il Sistema di rilevamento e classificazione delle Unità Morfologiche dei corsi d’acqua, denominato SUM. Tale procedura rientra nel più ampio sistema di valutazione idromorfologica, analisi e monitoraggio dei corsi d’acqua IDRAIM (Rinaldi et al., 2014), di cui ne va a costituire parte integrante. Come noto, IDRAIM rappres...

On October 25 th 2011, the Magra River (central–northern Italy) was affected by a significant flood event with an estimated return interval ranging from 30 to 200 years. This study investigates the morphological responses of the Magra River to this major flood event with the aims of (i) documenting the channel changes which occurred in response to...

Numerous hydromorphological assessment methods have been developed in different countries during recent decades, with notable differences in their aims, scales, and approaches. Although these methods are increasingly applied to support river management, the strengths and limitations have been insufficiently investigated. This review of 121 methods...

Fluvial bank erosion rates are often quantified by assuming that the erosion rate is a function of the excess (above a critical threshold) boundary shear stress applied by the flow. Research has shown that the form roughness induced by natural topographic bank features, such as slumps, spurs and embayments, is the dominant component of the spatiall...

Along the Magra River (Central–Northern Italy), human control at the local-scale appears to be the main driving factor of morphological changes observed since WWII. Our results, based on aerial photographs analysis and field survey, indicate that the reduction in channel width observed between the 1950s and the 1980s is probably due to local factor...

An analysis of channel changes of the Toce River (Northern Italy) was carried out with the main aim of identifying the trajectories of channel adjustments. A first phase consisted of a general characterization of the catchment and a division of the river into homogeneous reaches. A systematic analysis of topographic maps and aerial photographs was...

Gravel mining may induce deep changes in river morphology including bank instabilities, downstream as well upstream bed incision. In the present work, morphological changes due to a large sediment mining in the Orco river (a tributary of the Po river, located in the Piemonte Region) are documented and modeled. The river mining occurred in 2003–2004...

Many current river assessment methods emphasise the river 'reach' scale (a fixed length of river of the order of a few hundred meters) and provide a wealth of useful information that characterises the river corridor at the time of survey. However, they also have several limitations when they are used for understanding physical processes and causes...

Many current river assessment methods emphasise the river ‘reach’ scale (a fixed length of river of the order of a few hundred meters) and provide a wealth of useful information that characterises the river corridor at the time of survey. However, they also have several limitations when they are used for understanding physical processes and causes...

Part 2 of Deliverable 2.1 provides fuller details concerning some specific topics outlined in Part 1. A method for automating delineation of river reaches is described and tested (Annex A). Information on the natural riparian and aquatic plant communities of Europe is tabulated (Annex B). Flow regime analysis (Annex C) is explored in far greater de...

Work Package 2 of REFORM focuses on hydromorphological and ecological processes and interactions within river systems with a particular emphasis on naturally functioning systems. It provides a context for research on the impacts of hydromorphological changes in Work Package 3 and for assessments of the effects of river restoration in Work Package 4...

A multitemporal series of aerial photos and cross-section topographic surveys have been used to analyze reach- scale channel evolution along a segment (length of about 22 km) of the lower Trebbia River (Northern Italy) with the aims to investigate the relations between channel width vs. bed-level adjustments and to identify spatio- temporal pattern...

Il presente Manuale comprende la definizione delle procedure e dei metodi del “Sistema di valutazione idromorfologica, analisi e monitoraggio dei corsi d’acqua”, denominato IDRAIM. IDRAIM costituisce un quadro metodologico complessivo di analisi, valutazione post- monitoraggio e di definizione delle misure di mitigazione degli impatti ai fini della...

This Handbook encompasses the definition of the procedures and methods of the “System for stream hydromorphological assessment, analysis, and monitoring” named IDRAIM. This system is a comprehensive methodological framework for the analysis, post-monitoring evaluation and for the design and implementation of the programme of restoration and mitigat...

The Mount Amiata mining district (southern Tuscany, Italy) was, for decades, one of the world’s largest mercury (Hg) producing regions, where mining activity lasted until the 1980s. The Paglia River drains the eastern part of the district and is also the main western tributary of the Tiber River. Recent studies show that, still today, high total Hg...

A methodological framework for hydromorphological assessment, analysis and monitoring (named IDRAIM) has been developed with the specific aim of supporting the management of river processes by integrating the objectives of both the Water Framework and Floods Directives. The framework builds on existing and up-to-date géomorphologieal concepts and a...

Many current river assessment methods emphasise the river 'reach' scale (a fixed length of river of the order of a few hundred meters) and provide a wealth of useful information that characterises the river corridor at the time of survey. However, they also have several limitations when they are used for understanding physical processes and causes...

The estimation of river bank erosion requires the knowledge of both local hydrodynamic and erodibility characteristics. Models exist in literature that allow the estimation of the river bank shear stress, the fundamental parameter in evaluating the retreat given the discharge flow and the geometry of the river channel. In this study, two hydrodynam...

Riverbank retreat derives from a complex combination of various processes where a key role is played by the interactions of groundwater and surface water. Recent progress has been made in two main research areas, i.e., the effects of hydrological factors on mass failures, and the role of subsurface flow in seepage erosion and bank stability. This p...

European rivers have been altered by means of changing their morphology (straightening and canalisation, disconnecting channels from flood plains, occupying riparian lands, building dams, weirs, bank reinforcements, etc.) to facilitate agriculture and urbanisation, to enable energy production and protection against flooding. Also, water has been ab...

In this chapter, the state of the art of the research of fluvial processes and their linkages with ecology are presented, with a focus on European physical context. European river systems have experienced a long history of catchment-wide (land-use changes) and in-channel human disturbances (channelization, dams, sediment mining, etc.). In many rive...

Channel incision is part of denudation, drainage-network development, and landscape evolution. Rejuvenation of fluvial networks by channel incision generally leads to further network development and an increase in drainage density as gullies migrate into previously nonincised surfaces. Large anthropogenic disturbances, similar to large or catastrop...

Several ecological and hydromorphological assessment methods have been developed in different countries during the last years, with notable differences in terms of aims, scales, and approaches. In many cases, strengths and limitations of the different types of methods are not yet sufficiently known, although they are widely used in some European co...

A new index has been developed for the hydromorphological assessment of Italian rivers. The method was designed to comply with the EU Water Framework Directive requirements, but its use can be extended to other applications in river management. The evaluation of stream morphological quality is preceded by a phase of river segmentation, consisting o...

The aim of this paper is to provide an updated review of recent and ongoing methodological developments re- garding the hydromorphological assessment, analysis and monitoring of streams, and the current and future application of such methodologies at national level in the context of the implementation of European Directives, specifically of the Dir...