The ‘shifting baseline syndrome’ asserts that what we
measure against in environmental assessments is dependent upon the
condition/state of ecosystems at a particular timeframe of reference. Although
initially conceived in relation to measures of biodiversity, here we show how
this concept can be used to frame shifting terms of reference that define geomorphic
constraints upon what is realistically achievable in river rehabilitation. We
contrast applications of shifting baselines in relation to two approaches to
shaping river futures. First, re-restoration is viewed as an extension of
engineering-based command and control perspectives that strive to ‘fix’ a river
in place by locking it into a particular image based upon historical reference
conditions. Second, ecosystem approaches to river rehabilitation use
understandings of evolutionary trajectories to determine and work towards the
best achievable condition for any given river system, allowing the river to
self-heal whenever possible. We explore the use of the river evolution diagram
(developed as part of the River Styles framework) as an approach to scope
prospective river futures. Implications for monitoring and adaptive management are
highlighted.