Rivers have always been the most important source of water for man. And not only were that, often in its natural state, through natural retention and bayou, the rivers have the best flood defense. It is also important to note that coastal vegetation has had a significant impact on the purification of water that is infiltrated from the waterways into the groundwater. Human development, population growth, urbanization, climate change have led to a significant drop in river health at the global level. In the zone of settlements, the rivers have undergone major morphological and hydraulic changes, which ultimately led to disturbances of the river’s ecological status and the loss of sociological role of the river in the urban environment. In this connection, this paper will give an overview of the most common mistakes made in river regulation over the past period. It will also highlight the ways and possibilities of reconstructing the river from the position of ecologically sustainable development and flood protection. It is reflected in the passive and active ways of restoring the river, and the importance of applying the principle of integral river management in the context of water recovery.