Ongoing channel changes in some major rivers in southern Italy

Some major rivers in southern Italy (Trigno, Biferno, Fortore and
Volturno), as most of Italy's rivers, have suffered significant channel
changes during the last 60 years. Channel adjustments mainly consisted
in channel narrowing and bed lowering coupled with pattern changes.
Over the last 10-15 years, these rivers have undergone some important
modifications in their evolutionary trends. More specifically, the Trigno
River and the reaches of the Fortore River located upstream the Occhito
dam are interested by moderate channel recovery, while the Volturno
and Biferno rivers and the Fortore reaches located downstream the dam
are affected by slight channel recovery or no significant changes in
morphology. Key driving factors of these recent evolutionary trends
seem to be the occurrence of major flood events and the degree of
channel mobility that is conditioned by channel works and riparian
woody vegetation.