ABSTRACT
The ecological character of a river is the product of the seasonal and long-term climate, and the topography, geology, and derived soils of its catchment. Urban river restoration has received considerable investment worldwide as the global attention shifts to dealing with climate change; building resilience into our cities and enhancing natural infrastructure in urban areas. The Anacostia River, which drains the northeast of Washington, DC, USA, is one of the two iconic rivers in the United States capital; the other being the Potomac River. The industrialization of Glasgow was not kind to its main river, the River Clyde. Water quality in the river, which flows through the core of Glasgow, dropped so low that the fish died out and a stench from the river pervaded the air. The Nairobi River is part of suite of upland plain rivers that form the headwaters for the Athi River, one of six major river basins in Kenya.
