Living with erosion: new approaches to managing erosion of rivers and coasts
Includes a Live Web Event on 2026/08/31 at 6:00 PM (MDT)
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Living with erosion: new approaches to managing erosion of rivers and coasts
Ian Rutherfurd | Professor |University of Melbourne, Alluvium Consulting
Date: Tuesday 1st September 2026
Time: 10am Australian Eastern Standard Time
Level: Intermediate
Duration: 1 hour
Type of Course: Webinar – Live
Geomorphologists love erosion because it is a basic process in natural landscapes, but humans struggle to live with dynamic rivers and coasts, and there are many good reasons to stop erosion. However, managers are moving away from the view that all erosion of rivers and coasts is bad, and has to be controlled, toward a more nuanced approach. Sometimes the answer is not to control the erosion at all (e.g. the erosion is doing good, you make the problem worse, it is futile, it is a distraction from the real problem, and more), but sometimes to use land-use planning tools to give the rivers and coasts space to move. More and more we are accepting that vegetation is the key to long-term, sustainable management of erosion (nature-based solutions) but this just slows the rate of the erosion rather than eliminating it. I conclude by identifying some situations where we should control erosion when we don't (e.g. it can make flooding worse). In short, there are many reasons for us to learn to live with erosion.
HOSTED BY:
Ian Rutherfrud
Professor
University of Melbourne, Alluvium Consulting
Ian is a fluvial geomorphologist with 30 years working with governments and communities in stream and catchment management. His research spans basic and applied river processes, and he has completed over 150 publications, $7m in funded research projects, and 70 consulting projects. Ian also has rich experience in education and professional training of all types.
After spending twenty years at the University of Melbourne (of which several years were spent seconded to the Victorian State government working in river policy) Ian joined Alluvium in a part-time capacity. In addition to his involvement in many consulting projects, he chairs the Alluvium Foundation and helps coordinate the Research and Insights Program. He brings deep experience in the application of research to all aspects of river and water management, as well as excellent connections across the water sector.
This event is worth one (1) Professional Development Hours.
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