Mountain torrents comprise zones of sediment erosion, transport and accumulation and constitute one of the most common geomorphological units of the Alpine region. During the second half of the 19~(th) century the dynamics of these torrent basins were modified: the dichotomy created by new approaches of environmental engineering. The rise of ’Wildbachverbauung’(torrent engineering) led to the concept of storing as much sediment as possible in prior zones of erosion and transport. After less than one century, the former geornorphological setting was replaced by engineered torrent systems. In contrast to natural systems a zone of reduced erosion is followed by a step-like sequence of small dams and storage basins and led to an eroded fan area, which is protected from further erosion by an additional series of small dams and protective measures. Mountain torrent engineering was based on the claim that zones of erosion are “ill”developed parts of torrent basins which have to be “cured”in order to create “healthy”nature. These arguments oppose historic approaches. Flood and sediment problems in the Lainbach basin in Upper Bavaria south of Munich were treated by the administration of the monastery in Benediktbeuern with more rational and closer co-operation to nature and far less bolstered budgets than nowadays. Nobody wrote about “diseases”of mountain torrents. Instead, hazards and danger were taken for granted and damages were mitigated in the cheapest ways possible. Limited by actual financial constraints, these historic approaches are of high interest for future development of cheaper and more sustainable strategies of sediment and flood control in mountain torrents. Mountain torrents comprise zones of sediment erosion, transport and accumulation and constitute one of the most common geomorphological units of the Alpine region. During the second half of the 19 ~ (th) century the dynamics of these torrent basins were modified: the dichotomy created by new approaches of environmental engineering. The rise of ’Wildbachverbauung’ (torrent engineering) led to the concept of storing as much sediment as possible in prior zones of erosion and transport. After less than one century, the former geornorphological setting was replaced by engineered torrent In contrast to natural systems a zone of reduced erosion is followed by a step-like sequence of small dams and storage basins and led to an eroded fan area, which is protected from further erosion by an additional series of small dams and protective measures Mountain torrent engineering was based on the claim that zones o flood and sediment problems in the Lainbach basin in Upper Bavaria south of Munich were treated by the administration of the monastery in Benediktbeuern with more rational and closer co-operation to nature and far less bolstered budgets than nowadays. no wrote about “diseases ” of mountain torrents. for granted and damages were mitigated in the cheapest ways possible. Limited by actual financial constraints, these historic approaches are of high interest for future development of cheaper and more sustainable strategies of sediment and flood control in mountain torrents.