Gravel-bar, damming, river control works, man impact, Elbe River

Gravel bars are integral components and key sites of fluvial landscapes for many ecological function. In the last centuries, man affected natural processes of formation of these gravel bars in European rivers. A typical example of highly transformed fluvial system is the Elbe River in its downstream part in the Czech Republic. River control works and damming (e.g., for navigation, water irrigation or flood protection) restricted bars and islands development.