Triggerd primarily byill effects of polluted air, soil and water
resources on living species, public concern for environmental quality
has been growing during the past four decades or so. One manifestation
of this concern is found in occurrence of public debates as well as in
the demand for full environmental impact assessment before a
water-resources project is approved. Engineering soundness and economic
feasibility are no longer sufficient criteria for construction of
hydraulic works. As a result, environmental considerations have become
very much a part of hydraulic analyses. In response to growing
environmental concerns, the field of hydraulics has expanded and a new
branch, called Environmental Hydraulics, has emerged. The focus of this
branch is on hydraulic analyses of those environmental issues that are
important for protection, restoration, and managementof environmental
quality. The motivation for this book grew out of the desire to provide
a hydraulic discussion of some of the key environmental issues.It is
hoped that the book would serve to stimulate others to write more
comprehensive texts on this subject of growing importance.