From Concrete to Nature: Navigating Paradigm Shifts in River Management Through a Sustainability Lens

ABSTRACT “Sustainable river management” (SRM) and “paradigm shifts in river management” (PSRM) are frequently employed in the field of river management, widely recognized by both researchers and policymakers. However, past studies often present these concepts as implicitly understood, typically addressing one in isolation without exploring the interrelationship between the two or their combined potential as a comprehensive analytical tool for practical river management. This paper aims to elucidate the connection between SRM and PSRM, proposing an integrated framework to enhance the analysis of river management practices. Using Taiwan's Keelung River as a case study, the findings reveal that the river's management history can be divided into four paradigms: “structural emergency measures,” “dominant structural measures,” “integrated water management,” and ultimately, SRM. Each paradigm reflects the negotiations, compromises, and coordination efforts of stakeholders at that time, with enduring influence on the Keelung River today. While historically effective, the long‐standing preference for flood control through levee construction now struggles to address the challenges posed by short‐duration extreme rainfall and emerging environmental and ecological management needs, testing the adaptive capacities of both central and local governments.