Uses and Applications M. Naura & J. Walker RHS Lead Region

Application Scales

Habitat Quality & Modification in England & Wales Uses: Global overview, Leaps, Other local applications HQAHMI

National Distribution of Invasive Species Giant HogweedJapanese Knotweed Himalayan Balsam

Distribution of Poaching in England & Wales

Occurrence of Poaching in England & Wales n Findings – Poaching effects 3.5% of all rough/unimproved pasture & 5.1% of all improved grassland.  1710km of riverbank countrywide n Uses of Application – Background data for Sustainable River Management Project:  methods for reducing stock erosion

Boulder Introduction for Fisheries Enhancement n Increasing demand for habitat improvements for fisheries n Boulders (and scour pools) = cover and shade for adult fish n Problems – Suitability in terms of n site conservation n landscape value

Exposed Boulder Information for Ribble Catchment l Extensive l Present l Absent

Conclusions & Solutions n Exposed boulders concentrated in headwaters n Some occurrence in lower reaches but small (typically approx. 250mm) n Revised proposals – limited number of boulders introduced – sized to remain below Q95 water level

Proposed Introduction of Riffles at the River Weaver n Fisheries wish to improve fish habitat n Lack of riffles on the Weaver n Good water quality –paucity of habitat is limiting populations?

Substrate Type % Gravel and/or Cobble l 0-10 l l l l l l

Conclusions n Weaver has few natural riffles n Predominantly sand-bed river system n Recommend against introduction n Suggest alternative sites that are more suitable

Catchment scale application The Sankey Now Project n Aims –Natural asset register –State of the environment –Management priorities

RHS site distribution in the Sankey catchment n=125

Management impact n = 125 n = 4569

Determining a Sub-set of Similar Reference Sites Low altitude/Low slopeHigh altitude/High slope High energy Low energy

n = 125 n = 277n = 4569

Gen. Info: Landuse in the Sankey Catchment l Wooded l Agricultural l Semi-rural l Urban

Specific Application River Rehabilitation

n ISSUE –Habitat Modification n RESPONSE –River restoration n form, processes –River rehabilitation n mimic natural form –Habitat enhancement n cosmetic improvements STRATEGY ?

Criteria for selection n Low Existing Geomorphological Diversity n Moderate-High Stream Power n High Existing Modification

Criteria Used to Assess Rehabilitation Potential

Geomorphological Diversity l 0 l 1-4 l 5-9 l l l 20-30

Stream Power n Minimal n Very low n Low n Moderate n High n Very high

Habitat Modification l Pristine l Semi-natural l Predominately unmodified l Obviously modified l Significantly modified l Heavily/extensive modification

Applying the Work to the Field n Fisheries interest in riffle rehabilitation n Extra criteria –GQA 0f 2 or less n Bedform rehabilitation –Weight modification to concentrate on bed works and geomorphological diversity on lack of riffles/runs

Sites with Rehabilitation Potential l RHS Sites l Potential general rehabilitation sPotential rehabilitation for fisheries

Black Brook Site Prior to Rehabilitation

Black Brook Site Post- Rehabilitation (Artist’s Impression)

Work in Progress at the Black Brook Site

RHS Contribution to the Mersey Flood Alleviation Scheme n Flood Defence Aim –assess existing defences provide increased levels of service n Our aim –promote integrated river basin management –reduce environmental impacts of the scheme

Typical Section of Mersey in S. Manchester 100% Resectioned & bermed, straightened, widened, predominant glide, silty substrate

Problems at the site n Fine sediment problem – channel accumulation - loss of capacity – accumulation on berms and at bank toe - stability of embankments n Lack of Habitat Diversity – Homogenous bank habitat, limited flow type diversity, few in-channel features, regular heavy maintenance

Removing Fine Sediments From Banks and Berms

The Role of RHS n Fine sediment problem – Catchment audit to identify sediment sources – Suggest catchment management techniques to reduce inputs. n Flooding problem –Identify potential flood storage areas upstream

Sampling strategy n Random sample of 20% of classified river n Geomorphological inter-reach survey

Inter-reach fluvial audit n Quantity and type of erosion and deposition n Causes (natural or artificial) of erosion or deposition n Additional potential for wetland restoration?

Benefits n Flood Defence –Reduction of maintenance needs –Reduction of scheme design n Conservation –Reduction of environmental impact –Potential wetland restoration è Moving towards integrated river basin management

Erosion

Deposition

Grazing in the Upper Mersey

Assessing the County of Sussex for Watervole Habitat n S. Region Conservation staff requested details of occurrence and distribution of factors which comprise good watervole habitat n Factors were defined by S. Region, and mapped by the Lead Region Team

Recommendations

Habitat Suitability Variables n Suitability defined according to factors: – Slow flowing water – Steep/soft banks – Not heavily shaded – Extensive marginal vegetation – Land use is not heavily grazed – Simple banktop vegetation

Distribution of Habitat Variables l 0 variables l 1 variable l 2 variables l 3 variables l 4 variables

Findings n Unfortunately few sites with most or all of the required habitat variables n However S. Region Conservation staff confirmed that of the 6 sites with 3 or 4 variables present 4 had recorded watervole sightings

Project Developments n The information produced will now be used to consider – Habitat improvement work – Potential watervole introductions n Problem for reintroduction, and for RHS analysis - occurrence of Mink n Technique applicable to any species – similar habitat review for water shrews (national application)

Coarse Fisheries Application n Aim: to develop predictive tools to better target North East fisheries rolling programme –Identification of community types –Identification of community habitats –Prediction of community types according to n habitat features (RHS) n map-derived variables

Pilot Study on The River Nidd n Continuous fisheries and RHS surveys n Analysis of fish community distribution n Predictive models

Distribution of R. Nidd Coarse Fish Communities

Substrate Distribution on the Nidd

Coarse Fish Community Distribution in Yorkshire Rivers

Prediction of Coarse Fish Community Distribution According to Altitude and Distance from Source

Predicted Community Types in Yorkshire Rivers

Conclusion n Fish community distribution can be predicted from site data (RHS) n Fish community distribution can be predicted from Map data ø Prediction of species distribution?

The Native Crayfish n Endangered species whose distribution is limited by –competition by introduced alien species –fungal disease: the crayfish plague n Aim: –to predict habitat suitability for crayfish using RHS

Sample of combined RHS/Crayfish surveys

Use of RHS to Predict the Occurrence of the Native Crayfish n Pairing of existing RHS sites with crayfish data – Average distance between sites = 1.7km n Selection of a subset of variables –First selection - Chi-square & Mann-Whitney – Second selection using logistic regression

Crayfish Features with Positive and Negative Influences n MODEL SUCCESS: 95%

Three ecological dimensions n COVER –Exposed boulders n FOOD –Riffles –Tree shading, overhanging boughs n EROSION –Poached banks –Gravel/sand banks –Eroding cliffs –Reinforced toe

Discriminant Analysis on Crayfish Occurrence According to Transformed Altitude, Slope and Distance from Source

Model relevance and applicability

Site Based Analysis - The River Keekle n Headwaters of Keekle - planning application for open cast coal mine n Regional conservation designations, but habitat value of the site in a national context ?

Occurrence of Key RHS Habitat Features at the Keekle

Summary n Information provided important information to support Area Ecologists with their concerns over the proposals n The area affected by the proposed scheme was reduced by 50% n The RHS data will be used to monitor the restoration scheme

The Future n Expanding Catchment Evaluation – Integrated River Basin Management Project – Includes flood defence, waste management and water resources, recreation issues –GIS management tool n Monitoring n Comparison with baseline survey n Educational CDROM for all schools in Britain n Prototype developed

RHS LEAD REGION

Current situation n The RHS Lead Region –answers queries –inputs data –manages database –develops applications according to demand –provides training –promotes RHS

Work programme n Data input –1500 sites by IFE –3868 sites by Lead Region –861 new sites –600 canals è time: 30mn/site; cost: £4/site n RHS manual n Database development n Queries n SERCON

User requirements n Data input within 1 month n Development of database and maptools n Applying RHS to Agency routine work n Analysis of data n Interpretation of data n Help with sampling strategy

Database development n RHS database on Access 97 n Link database and maptools n Development database functions: –query –reports –automation of score calculation (HMS, HQA) n Link with other databases –RCS –SERCON

Implementing RHS n RHS has extensive national, regional, catchment and site based application n RHS is a multi-functional tool that can be used for delivering integrated river basin management

Potential problems and needs n Wide field of application –Research (fisheries, biology) –Flood Defence –Planning –Conservation è STRATEGY FOR IMPLEMENTATION è PRIORITY SETTING è RECHARGE SYSTEM

Targeting implementation n Few new applications were developed from queries n Best applications such as LEAP audit require extra surveying and time for analyses and the production of outputs è Need to lead the implementation process è CTG/Implementation group? è Development of policies?

Integrated river basin management n LEAP survey –20% RHS coverage –Inter-reach survey –Add-on n fluvial audit add-on n Sercon add-on n Landscape add-on

Outputs n Leap audit –context analysis n Identification of issues –Conservation –Fisheries –Flood defence –Planning n Setting targets for future management –use of GIS

Constraints n TIME n WORKLOAD n RESOURCES

That’s all Folks !