The restoration of small rivers on the example of the hydrological network of Moldova is analyzed. Methodically, the studies included a general analysis of the channel forms characteristic of small rivers in Moldova, an analysis of the hydraulic regime and experimental studies of the fields of average velocities and turbulence of small rivers. We have found that the restoration of small rivers should include the following methods: 1) Calculation of the stability of cross sections for regulatory purposes. This method takes into account the data on the capacity of the channel (Qo), the slope of the river bottom (Id), the roughness coefficient (n) when the channel is completely filled, the Grishanin parameter (M), the limiting angle of the stable slope of soils in water (B), the characteristics of solid runoff; 2) Calculation of the planned form of the meandering riverbed. For this method, four approaches have been applied to restore the channels: the first approach is based on restoring the planned form before human intervention. The implementation of the second approach is based on the dependence of the morphometric characteristics on empirical dependencies connecting the morphometric characteristics of the meanders with the hydraulic and hydrological parameters of the flow. The third approach involves the formation of a meandering channel, without first giving it a meandering shape. The fourth, systematic approach, is based on the analysis of meanders and geomorphological assessment of the disturbed territory; 3) Designing the route of the restored channel. This procedure, by using the main sinus function, was necessary to estimate the midline of the valley floor (from the map). When calculating the ordinates for this dependence, the values of (λ) and (Ym) are used. The survey analysis carried out gives grounds to draw a conclusion about the beginning of the creation of scientific foundations for the restoration of the main parameters of the channel and the hydrological regime of straightened small rivers in Moldova. These should include environmental and other requirements, analytical and empirical methods for calculating stable cross-sections for channel regulation, calculation of the planned form of a meandering river channel, and designing the route of the restored channel.