Fiumara: a kind of high hazard river

Fiumara is a kind of gravel-bed river, very steep and short, which flow through the southern Italy mountain chains, in Sicilia and Calabria regions. These streams drain mountain areas only, and are subject to a Mediterranean climate. They have a great transport and erosion capacity because of their flow regime, dominated by episodic flash floods alternated with long periods of inactivity during which their beds become completely dry. During this last century, the natural equilibrium of these particular alluvial environments has undergone notable modifications caused also by human activities. The effects of such works are investigated in terms of river dynamics, and some local examples are reported and discussed; some suggestions are made for recovery measures too