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

5. Application Scales

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

7. National Distribution of Invasive Species Giant HogweedJapanese Knotweed Himalayan Balsam

8. Distribution of Poaching in England & Wales

9. 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

10. 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

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

12. 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

13. 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?

14. Substrate Type % Gravel and/or Cobble l 0-10 l 10-20 l 20-30 l 30-40 l 40-60 l 60-80 l 80-100

16. 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

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

18. RHS site distribution in the Sankey catchment n=125

19. Management impact n = 125 n = 4569

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

21. n = 125 n = 277n = 4569

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

23. Specific Application River Rehabilitation

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

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

26. Criteria Used to Assess Rehabilitation Potential

27. Geomorphological Diversity l 0 l 1-4 l 5-9 l 10-14 l 15-19 l 20-30

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

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

30. 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

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

32. Black Brook Site Prior to Rehabilitation

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

34. Work in Progress at the Black Brook Site

39. 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

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

41. 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

42. Removing Fine Sediments From Banks and Berms

43. 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

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

45. 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?

46. 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

47. Erosion

48. Deposition

49. Grazing in the Upper Mersey

50. 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

51. Recommendations

52. 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

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

54. 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

55. 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)

56. 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

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

58. Distribution of R. Nidd Coarse Fish Communities

59. Substrate Distribution on the Nidd

61. Coarse Fish Community Distribution in Yorkshire Rivers

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

63. Predicted Community Types in Yorkshire Rivers

64. 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?

65. 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

66. Sample of combined RHS/Crayfish surveys

67. 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

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

69. 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

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

71. Model relevance and applicability

72. 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 ?

73. Occurrence of Key RHS Habitat Features at the Keekle

74. 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

75. 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

76. RHS LEAD REGION

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

78. 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

79. 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

80. 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

81. 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

82. 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

83. 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?

84. 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

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

86. Constraints n TIME n WORKLOAD n RESOURCES

87. That’s all Folks !