River Habitat Survey

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Uses and Applications

• Marc Naura Mark Diamond
• RHS Lead Region

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River Habitat Survey
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Aims

• A standard field methodology

objective
statistically robust
widely applicable
practicable target time, 1 hour
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Objective
No perceptible flow in deeper pool
Bar bar exposed under low flows
Unbroken standing waves observed as shallow flow
over riffle
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Statistically robust

• Between surveyor variability reduced
• simple choices
• tests on different river types

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Widely applicable
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RHS form Two main sections

• SPOT-CHECKS
• SWEEP-UP

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Features recorded

• EROSION
• eroding/stable cliffs
• DEPOSITION
• side/point/mid channel bars
• VEGETATION STRUCTURE
• channel banks
• FLOW
• 10 Flow types

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Other features

• BANK PROFILES
• natural undercut...gentle
• modified resectioned..embanked
• TREES
• extent associated features
• CHANNEL FEATURES
• waterfall,riffles/pools etc.
• boulders, exposed sediment
• LAND USE (50m)
• 13 land use categories

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Management features

• MANAGEMENT
• resectioning/reinforcement
• poaching (trampling)
• ROADS BRIDGES
• FLOW REGULATION
• weir/sluices/culverts

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Baseline survey network
From 1994 to 1996
England and Wales 4569 sites Scotland 779
sites Northern Ireland 266 sites
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Habitat modification score (HMS) categories 0
Pristine 0 - 2 Semi-natural 3 - 8
Predominantly unmodified 9 - 20 Obviously
modified 21 - 44 Significantly modified 45 or
more Severely modified Footnote semi-natural
includes pristine channels
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Exampleassessment of Lowland low energy site
with an HQA65
Distribution of HQA for nearest neighbour sites
on PCA map
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Application Scales
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Flood Defence Obectives
Fisheries Obectives
Flood Defence issue Channel capacity
Fisheries issue No fish
Catchment Issue Accelerated Erosion
Local authorities Issues
Anglers Issues
Local Authorities Agenda
Anglers Agenda
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Aims

• Prioritise management
• Integrate function management for Catchment
  Issues

• Identify catchment issues

• Define strategy tailored to catchment and
  management needs

• Treat problem at source

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Prioritise management
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Habitat Quality Modification in England Wales

• Uses Global overview, Leaps, Other local
  applications

HQA
HMI
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LEAP QUALITY ASSESSMENT
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Identify catchment issues
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Catchment scale applicationThe Sankey Now Project
n125
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Management impact
n 125
n 4569
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Determining a Sub-set of Similar Reference Sites
High energy
Low energy
Low altitude/Low slope
High altitude/High slope
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n 125
n 277
n 4569
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Gen. Info Landuse in the Sankey Catchment

• Wooded
• Agricultural
• Semi-rural
• Urban

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Define strategy tailored to catchment and
management needs
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• Fisheries interest in riffle rehabilitation
• first choice
• River Weaver

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Criteria Used to Assess Rehabilitation Potential
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Sites with Rehabilitation Potential

• RHS Sites
• Potential general rehabilitation
• Potential rehabilitation for fisheries

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Black BrookSite Prior toRehabilitation
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Work in Progress at the Black Brook Site
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Test catchment issues
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Silt deposition on the Nadder Catchment

• Erosion Indicators
• Depositional Features
• Fine Sediment Source Index

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Erosion Indicators
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Depositional Features
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Fine Sediment Sources
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Conclusion

• Catchment in a stabilising state
• Potential for erosion
• Fine sediments from land use run-off

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Fisheries Habitats

• Habitat suitability model for
• Salmon and Trout Fry
• Trout Parr
• Salmon Parr
• Salmonid spawning habitat

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Suitable Salmonid Habitats

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Potential Management Issues

• Land-use and riparian vegetation
• River connectivity

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Treat problem at source
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RHS Contribution to the Mersey Flood Alleviation
Scheme
100 Resectioned bermed, straightened,
widened, predominant glide, silty substrate
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Removing Fine Sediments From Banks and Berms
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Erosion
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Predicting species distribution
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Distribution of R. Nidd Coarse Fish Communities
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SubstrateDistributionon the Nidd
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Predicted Community Types in Yorkshire Rivers
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Developments

• RHS database 3.2
• Water Framework Directive
• RHS in Europe
• Educational CDROM
• Corporate plan
• setting habitat targets for 2002/2003

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River Habitat Survey Lead Region
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Service Level Agreement

• Input of datafree of charge!
• Queries
• Methodological advice
• Database management and training
• Development of applications
• Quality Assurance

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Quality control Our role

• 4 levels
• Visual check at receipt of form
• Logical checks on all sites and surveyors
• Random checks on forms photos
• Specific checks (site visit, hydrographs)
• Check on all trainers
• New surveyors
• thorough check of first 10 sites

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Future

• 2004-2006 National survey (4500 sites)
• Catchment survey for Habitat Quality Targets
• Catchment survey for Leaps
• RHS on the Internet