River Conservation and Phytodepuration in a Mid-Mediterranean Streambed: A Sicilian Case Study

Abstract

For landslide mitigation purposes, a system of two screen dams was created along the main channel of the Capreria River in Sicily. The de facto constructed wetlands occasioned behind the flow-path barriers produced, for several years, an appreciable reduction of organic load of the upstream municipal wastewaters from the nearby town of Riesi, Italy. This coincidence inspires the prospect of promoting a multifunctional role for these slope-stabilization works, thereby allowing them to be viewed from an intriguing and innovative planning perspective.