RiverFlow 2004 is the Second International Conference on Fluvial Hydraulics, organized as speciality conferences under the auspices of the International Association of Hydraulic Engineering and Research (IAHR) within its Fluvial Hydraulics and Eco Hydraulics Sections. RiverFlow conferences are a significant forum of discussion for many researchers involved in river modelling and observation. The intense landuse of the last century and the lack of adequate sustainable development policies, threaten river flow. Water is of vital importance in human life, and it is imperative that we have a better understanding of river processes and an adequate management of fluvial areas. These papers cover a range of topics in this area including fluvial processes, river hazards and hydraulics for river management, representing both theoretical and practical approaches to this increasingly important subject.