REFORM - WP2

Multi-scale framework and indicators of hydromorphological processes and forms IV. Partial case study applications

tom.buijse@deltares.nl — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 10:49:09 +0000

Part 4 of Deliverable 2.1 "Multi-scale framework and indicators of hydromorphological processes and forms" provides four partial applications of the framework described in Part 1 to case study catchments (River Tweed, UK; River Loire, France; River Tagliamento, Italy; Rivers Lech and Lafnitz, Austria). These case studies are mainly confined to the delineation and characterisation phases of the framework, but they incorporate additional environmental settings to the complete case studies provided in Part 3.

Background and Introduction to Deliverable 2.1.

Work Package 2 of REFORM focuses on hydromorphological and ecological processes and interactions within river systems with a particular emphasis on naturally functioning systems. It provides a context for research on the impacts of hydromorphological changes in Work Package 3 and for assessments of the effects of river restoration in Work Package 4.

Deliverable 2.1 of Work Package 2 proposes a hierarchical framework to support river managers in exploring the causes of hydromorphological management problems and devising sustainable solutions. The deliverable has four parts. Part 1 provides a full description of the hierarchical framework and describes ways in which each element of it can be applied to European rivers and their catchments. Part 2 includes thematic annexes which provide more detailed information on some specific aspects of the framework described in Part 1. Part 3 includes catchment case studies which present the application of the entire framework described in Part 1 to a set of European catchments located in different biogeographical zones. Part 4 (this volume) includes catchment case studies which present a partial application of the framework described in Part 1 to a further set of European catchments.

D2.1 Part 4 Partial Catchment Case Studies FINAL.pdf

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D2.1 Multi-scale framework and indicators of hydromorphological processes and forms

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Policy Brief:

Multi-scale framework and indicators of hydromorphological processes and forms III. Full case study applications

tom.buijse@deltares.nl — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 10:38:56 +0000

Part 3 of Deliverable 2.1 "Multi-scale framework and indicators of hydromorphological processes and forms" provides a set of full case study applications of the framework described in Part 1 that are designed to guide users of the framework through the various stages of its application. The five case studies are set within different biogeographical regions of Europe.

Case Study 1 is a fully worked example which applies the entire framework to the catchment of the River Frome, UK. The aim of this case study is to fully illustrate every stage and aspect of the framework, including discussion of how surrogate data and indices were developed when the preferred data types were not available, and a description (in chapter 9) of how analyses were conducted in ArcGIS.

Case studies 2 to 5 are also fully developed examples of the framework of the Upper Esla River (Duero basin, NW Spain), the River Narew (Poland), the Magra and Cecina rivers (Italy) and the River Drau (Austria). They provide examples of its application to different European biogeographical environments, often using different, locally-available data sets, models and methods.

Applications of the hierarchical framework to other regions of Europe are provided in Deliverable 2.1 Part 4. These case studies provide partial applications of the framework, mainly covering the delineation and characterisation phases.

Background and Introduction to Deliverable 2.1.

Deliverable 2.1 of Work Package 2 proposes a hierarchical framework to support river managers in exploring the causes of hydromorphological management problems and devising sustainable solutions. The deliverable has four parts. Part 1 provides a full description of the hierarchical framework and describes ways in which each element of it can be applied to European rivers and their catchments. Part 2 includes thematic annexes which provide more detailed information on some specific aspects of the framework described in Part 1. Part 3 (this volume) includes catchment case studies which present the application of the entire framework described in Part 1 to a set of European catchments located in different biogeographical zones. Part 4 includes catchment case studies which present a partial application of the framework described in Part 1 to a further set of European catchments.

D2.1 Part 3 Full Catchment Case Studies FINAL.pdf

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D2.1 Multi-scale framework and indicators of hydromorphological processes and forms

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Report

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Policy Brief:

Multi-scale framework and indicators of hydromorphological processes and forms II. Thematic Annexes

tom.buijse@deltares.nl — Wed, 29 Oct 2014 16:32:10 +0000

Part 2 of Deliverable 2.1 ' Multi-scale framework and indicators of hydromorphological processes and forms' provides fuller details concerning some specific topics outlined in Part 1.

A method for automating delineation of river reaches is described and tested (Annex A). Information on the natural riparian and aquatic plant communities of Europe is tabulated (Annex B). Flow regime analysis (Annex C) is explored in far greater detail than in part 1, with indicators fully defined and several different methods described. Quantifying the calibre and structure of river sediments is a challenging task, so Annex D goes into this topic in depth, providing the information required for sampling regimes to be designed. In Annex E, some additional information on the classification of rivers and floodplains is provided.

Following a brief description of sediment budgets (Annex F), a more extended description of empirically defined threshold conditions between rivers of different type (Annex G), and a description of a range of sediment transport formulae (Annex H), Annex I presents a series of modelling applications that have been developed for network, reach and habitat scale applications. These are presented in the form of applications of particular models to individual European rivers, many of which are the focus of catchment case studies in Parts 3 and 4 of Deliverable 2.1.

Deliverable 2.1 Part 2 concludes with a review of how remote sensing can contribute to assessment of particular features, processes and characteristics that are required during the application of the hierarchical framework.

Background and Introduction to Deliverable 2.1.

Deliverable 2.1 of Work Package 2 proposes a hierarchical framework to support river managers in exploring the causes of hydromorphological management problems and devising sustainable solutions. The deliverable has four parts. Part 1 provides a full description of the hierarchical framework and describes ways in which each element of it can be applied to European rivers and their catchments. Part 2 (this volume) includes thematic annexes which provide more detailed information on some specific aspects of the framework described in Part 1. Part 3 includes catchment case studies which present the application of the entire framework described in Part 1 to a set of European catchments located in different biogeographical zones. Part 4 includes catchment case studies which present a partial application of the framework described in Part 1 to a further set of European catchments.

D2.1 Part 2 Thematic Annexes FINAL.pdf

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D2.1 Multi-scale framework and indicators of hydromorphological processes and forms

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Report

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Policy Brief:

Multi-scale framework and indicators of hydromorphological processes and forms I. Main report

tom.buijse@deltares.nl — Wed, 29 Oct 2014 16:21:15 +0000

Deliverable 2.1 of Work Package 2 proposes a hierarchical framework to support river managers in exploring the causes of hydromorphological management problems and devising sustainable solutions. The deliverable has four parts. Part 1 (this volume) provides a full description of the hierarchical framework and describes ways in which each element of it can be applied to European rivers and their catchments. Part 2 includes thematic annexes which provide more detailed information on some specific aspects of the framework described in Part 1. Part 3 includes catchment case studies which present the application of the entire framework described in Part 1 to a set of European catchments located in different biogeographical zones. Part 4 includes catchment case studies which present a partial application of the framework described in Part 1 to a further set of European catchments.

In assessing hydromorphology, to date there has been too strong a reliance on the reach scale, on the river channel and its current condition, and on focusing on specific river reaches in order to assess rivers, diagnose river problems and design intervention, rehabilitation and restoration measures.

The research objective for Deliverable 2.1 is to develop a process-based, multi-scale, hierarchical framework to support river managers in assessing the hydromorphological character of rivers, exploring the causes of hydromorphological problems, and devising sustainable management solutions.

The rationale for developing the framework lies in the fact that the hydromorphological character of river reaches depends not only upon interventions and processes within the reach but also within the upstream and sometimes the downstream catchment. In addition, the character of river reaches often responds in a delayed way to processes and interventions within the catchment. As a result, understanding hydromorphology at the reach scale requires understanding of both current and past processes and interventions not only within the reach but also at larger spatial scales.

Founded on frameworks proposed in the scientific literature, the REFORM framework is open-ended and user-oriented, allowing users to incorporate any suitable information and tools that may be locally available, but at the same time indicating the minimum level of information required across time and space scales, and some of the simple tools and Pan-European data sets that are available to provide this information when suitable local or national data sets and tools are not available.

For sustainable solutions to river management problems, it is crucial to develop understanding of the functioning of the reach in the context of the character and changes in the spatial units (segment, landscape unit, catchment, biogeographical region) within which the reach is located. It is also crucial to understand that the character of reaches depends heavily on the nature of the riparian zone and, where present, the floodplain, and also the degree to which the river is able to interact with its riparian zone and floodplain. By incorporating information of these types, the present and past character of the reach can be interpreted in the context of present and past changes that have occurred at the reach and all larger spatial scales, and that have cascaded down from the catchment to influence the reach. It also allows interpretation of how changes in the floodplain and riparian zone interact with changes within the river channel. The ways in which reaches of different type within a catchment have responded to changes / interventions in the past provides crucial information for forecasting how reaches may change in the future, whether the catchment continues to be used and to function as at present or to be subjected to different scenarios of change. The REFORM framework allows users to incorporate all of these multi-scale spatial and temporal aspects into river assessment and management.

D2.1 Part 1 Main Report FINAL.pdf

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D2.1 Multi-scale framework and indicators of hydromorphological processes and forms

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Report

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Policy Brief:

Influence of Natural Hydromorphological Dynamics on Biota and Ecosystem Function, Part 1 (Riparian and Aquatic vegetation)

tom.buijse@deltares.nl — Fri, 15 Aug 2014 07:58:22 +0000

WP2 focuses on hydromorphological and ecological processes and interactions within river systems with a particular emphasis on naturally functioning systems. D2.1 proposes a hierarchical framework to support river managers in exploring the causes of river management problems and devising sustainable solutions. D2.2 builds on this framework by exploring published research and available data sets to more formally encompass the biota. This report (Part 1 of Deliverable 2.2) is concerned with riparian and aquatic vegetation. It encompasses the following sections: natural vegetation and hydromorphological of European rivers; a conceptual model of vegetation-hydromorphology interactions; application of the conceptual model to European rivers.

Summary of Deliverable 2.2 Part 1.

Research Objective.Riparian vegetation is not included as a biological quality element in the Water Framework Directive, and yet research conducted over the last 20 years has clearly demonstrated that riparian vegetation has a fundamental influence on the hydromorphology of rivers and their floodplains, with a geographically more widespread impact than aquatic vegetation. This report assembles evidence from published sources and available data sets to demonstrate how vegetation interacts with hydromorphology to constrain numerous aspects of river morphology and dynamics, so providing a vital component of any river management and restoration efforts.

Methods and Results.Chapter 2 proposes a conceptual model of vegetation-hydromorphology interactions (section 2.2) that provides the underpinning for the whole of chapter 3. The literature and available data sets are exploited to place the conceptual model firmly within the context of the broader ecology of riparian and aquatic vegetation (section 2.1), and to present the modelling approaches that are currently available for exploring these vegetation-hydromorphology interactions (section 2.3).

The conceptual model assumes a naturally-functioning river-floodplain system and considers three scales of influence. First, the model considers how regional physical processes place constraints on the species composition of river corridor vegetation, particularly emphasising the biogeographical zone within which the river’s catchment is located. Second, the model considers how vegetation is further constrained by longitudinal, lateral and vertical gradients in hydromorphological processes within the river corridors of a catchment, particularly by gradients of moisture availability and fluvial disturbances. Five zones of vegetation-fluvial process interaction within a river corridor are defined: perennially inundated (zone 1); fluvial disturbance dominated - predominantly coarse sediment erosion and deposition (zone 2); fluvial disturbance dominated - predominantly fine sediment deposition (zone 3); inundation dominated (zone 4); soil moisture regime dominated (zone 5). Third, a critical zone of vegetation-hydromorphology interactions is defined, which bridges zones 1 to 3, and within which vegetation heavily influences the construction of landforms (e.g. river banks, islands) at the interface between the physical-process-dominated areas of the river channel and the vegetation-dominated areas of the surrounding floodplain or hillslopes.

The model is explored in a European context in chapter 3. First riparian and aquatic species of the ‘natural vegetation’ within different biogeographical zones of Europe are assembled. Second, a traits data base is assembled for 459 aquatic and riparian plant species that are found in association with European rivers, and two trait-based typologies are devised reflecting (a) the sediment stabilisation and (b) the sediment accumulation and channel conveyance / blockage potential of the analysed species. This is a major first step in developing methods for interpreting the hydromorphological relevance of native riparian and aquatic plant species across Europe. Lastly, the applicability of the conceptual model to a sample of European rivers is tested in section 3.3. It is applied to rivers located in contrasting biogeographical zones and subject to different human pressures, highlighting for the first time how different plant species and groups act as river ecosystem engineers in different river systems.

Conclusions and Recommendations.This report presents new science concepts and analyses that clearly demonstrate the importance of vegetation as a key physical control of river form and dynamics and a crucial component of river restoration. It shows how interactions between plants and hydromorphology take on different characteristics in different biogeographical settings, leading to different spatial patterns of features and temporal dynamics within zones 1 to 5 of the river corridor, and different styles of landform development within the critical interface between fluvial processes and vegetation in zones 1 to 3. Case studies illustrate how the conceptual model provides a useful multi-scale framework for understanding and interpreting vegetation-hydromorphology interactions and so supporting sustainable river restoration design and management. However, some research gaps need to be filled to permit the work to be translated into a set of simple river management tools:

1. The example applications of the conceptual model have synthesised pre-existing literature and field observations that were collected for many different scientific or management purpose. These provide a ‘proof of concept’ and a firm basis for recommending that new purpose-designed field research is needed to ensure the robustness and wide applicability of the model.

2. A thorough review of available modelling tools has demonstrated that the main aspects of plant-hydromorphology interactions have received attention, although many research gaps remain. However, more importantly, most existing models address narrow aspects of these interactions. More integrated modelling approaches are needed to support river and floodplain management.

Research is needed to assemble more comprehensive native riparian and aquatic species lists for European biogeographical zones from which a larger set of informative species traits can extend plant trait-based hydromorphological modelling.

2.2 Natural HyMo Biota Ecol Function part 1 FINAL.pdf

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D2.2 Influence of natural hydromorphological dynamics on biota and ecosystem services

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Report

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Policy Brief:

Influence of Natural Hydromorphological Dynamics on Biota and Ecosystem Function, Part 2 (benthic invertebrates, fish, floods & droughts)

tom.buijse@deltares.nl — Fri, 15 Aug 2014 07:34:27 +0000

WP2 focuses on hydromorphological and ecological processes and interactions within naturally functioning river systems. D2.1 proposes a hierarchical framework to support river managers in exploring the causes of river management problems and devising sustainable solutions. D2.2 builds on this framework by exploring published research and available data sets to more formally encompass the biota. This report (Part 2 of Deliverable 2.2) considers interactions between hydromorphology and macroinvertebrates and fish, and the role of floods and droughts as biota-shaping phenomena. Lastly, part 2 presents conclusions from the whole of Deliverable 2.2.

Summary of Deliverable 2.2 Part 2.

Research Objective.

The research developed in this report builds upon the Hierarchical Framework developed in Deliverable 2.1 to investigate links between ecology and hydromorphology at multiple scales considering its relevance for the better understanding of river fauna (macroinvertebrates and fish) functioning as well as incorporating extreme hydrological events as biota-shaping phenomena.

Methods and Results.

We have chosen the literature reviews in order to combine knowledge from multiple studies in a given topic, and to summarize the latest evidence. In sections 4.1, 4.2 and 5.1 we adopt a narrative form. In setions 5.2 we undertake a systematic review, using an explicit method to perform a comprehensive literature search and critical appraisal of the individual studies. As a result we are able to prove the usefulness and research gaps when employing the multi-scale framework as a basic tool for developing understanding of river ecosystem organization.

Conclusions and Recommendations.

The evidence extracted from the literature in relation to fish and macroinvertebrates in Chapter 4 demonstrates that their composition and functioning corresponds to the Hierarchical Framework of spatial scales. However, it is clear that some levels of this hierarchical structure are more relevant than others for understanding the mechanisms of biological response to environmental change. It is also evident from the literature review and data analysis presented in Chapter 5 that both floods and droughts are phenomena that shape the structure and composition of aquatic communities. To some extent the impact of these events is moderated by the morphological characteristics of the affected river channels and their floodplains, particularly reflecting the importance of the higher complexity of naturally-functioning rivers, especially multi-thread and floodplain river systems. There is a general pattern of biological response indicating that both types of events lead to changes in aquatic community structure, limiting the organisms that are less adapted to the disturbance and promoting those with better adaptations. However, responses to events of different type, magnitude, intensity and duration are highly variable.

Looking for the research gaps, we have found that the use of the Hierarchical Framework of spatial scales, linking macrobenthic structure and fish behaviour with functional Hydromorphology, is an important tool for understanding river ecosystem organization. However, a fuller understanding could be developed if purpose-specific data sets were collected, which incorporate the full range of scales and hydromorphological phenomena into investigations of the presence and dynamics of the fauna. A particularly profitable endeavour would be to align typical hydrological, hydraulic and geomorphic units along typical river types to analyse their correspondence with the fish-based river typology (FRI). Moreover, the literature review (section 5.1) and the meta-analysis (section 5.2) suggest that a key research area remains in developing a more robust and deeper understanding of the mechanisms of biological responses to environmental changes and extreme events across different, specific, time and space scales.

In terms of practical recommendations we have shown how interactions between plants and hydromorphology take on different characteristics in different biogeographical settings, leading to different spatial distributions and temporal dynamics. These long-overlooked dynamics need serious research and management attention. Riparian vegetation needs to be more formally incorporated into the Water Framework Directive and as a fundamental component of river management and restoration design.

We have also proved that moving beyond the reach scale to consider the broader spatial and temporal controls on hydromorphology, ecology and their interrelationships should be also a key component in the preparation of restoration plans.

2.2 Natural HyMo Biota Ecol Function part 2 final.pdf

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D2.2 Influence of natural hydromorphological dynamics on biota and ecosystem services

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Policy Brief:

Valuing the ecosystem services provided by European river corridors – an analytical framework

tom.buijse@deltares.nl — Tue, 26 Nov 2013 15:43:42 +0000

An analytical framework is developed for estimating ecosystem services delivered by restored and non-restored river corridors, i.e. the active river channel and its accompanying valley floor. The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment approach towards ecosystem services is adopted with a focus on final services, i.e. only those services are quantified that provide a net benefit to societal beneficiaries. A long list of services potentially provided by European rivers is provided and linked qualitatively to a river style typology developed in D2.1 by Gurnell and colleagues.

An analytical framework is developed for the estimation of ecosystem services delivered by restored and non-restored river corridors, i.e. the active river channel and its accompanying valley floor. The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment approach towards ecosystem services is adopted, but with a focus on final services, i.e. only those services are quantified that provide a net benefit to societal beneficiaries. A long list of services potentially provided by European rivers is provided and linked qualitatively to a river style typology developed in D2.1 by Gurnell and colleagues to present the major services potentially provided by European rivers and their floodplains.

The appropriate spatial scale for a quantification of services provided is defined as that of a reach, hence the method should cover extents of ~ 10 km and grains of ~ 100 m. From the reach, aggregation upwards to segments and catchments is feasible. The consolidated land cover classification of CORINE can serve to provide the mappable units but requires additional fine-grained detail to specify the different habitats (or landscape elements, as specified in EUNIS) present in a reach as a mapped unit. The analytical framework starts from the mapped mosaic of habitat units within a reach and lists the potentially delivered services by each habitat. Subsequently, the exercise is re-iterated to assess whether a service is only provided at a larger scale by a combination of landscape elements, or the full length and width of the floodplain and stream that can only be appreciated as a landscape. Then services are summed across the reach, generally as fluxes in biophysical units, and brought under the same denominator of economic value using benefit transfer functions. For several cultural services that have no market, direct field surveys using questionnaires are proposed. Such economic valuation methodologies for different services are briefly justified and procedures are outlined.

2.3 Analytical framework ecosystem services.pdf

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D2.3 Framework to analyse ecosystem services provided by European river systems

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