“Connectivity” in urban rivers: Conflict and convergence between ecology and design

“Connectivity” is a key concept for riparian and landscape ecologists and hydrologists, who use it as a measure of natural integrity in a river ecosystem. Urban designers and politicians use the same term to promote human access to riverfronts. Effective riverfront restoration requires reconciliation of these opposing definitions. A solution is to draw upon abstract and symbolic sources, or “cognitive connectivity,” to raise awareness of the complexity of urban river ecosystems and to provide cues for appropriate use of those systems. Examples of effective cognitive connectivity include restoration plans with strong pedagogical components, water museums, and artistic interventions that reveal ecological processes (eco-revelatory design). The use of visual and conceptual connectivity offers hope for harnessing human creative energy in the interest of ecosystem integrity.