River Habitat Survey Manual

2003 Form

1997 Form

NOTES

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A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

P

O

P

Q

R

Section A

Background map-based information – no longer part of field-survey, so not on 2003 form.

A

Field survey details – minor changes of detail only. It is now important to record grid-references at spot-checks 1, 6 and the end of site for map-based data gathering and GIS applications.

B

Predominant valley form – minor changes: e.g. addition of U-shape valley; presence/absence of floodplain recorded.

C

Number of riffles, pools and point bars – no change.

D

Artificial features – moved to front page from back, and types refined.

E

Physical attributes – 3 additional bank materials: tipped debris (TD) [includes old category of ‘builders waste, as well as other discarded materials], fabric (FA), bio-engineering (BI); one additional marginal and bank feature: natural berm (NB); Flow-type: No water abbreviation changed from NO to DR

to give unique 2-letter abbreviation; Earth (EA) added as bed material for

seasonally dry channels; two additional channel features: Exposed bedrock

(EB) and Vegetated rock (VR); capability to record numbers of channels at

braided sites.

F

Banktop land-use and vegetation structure – Same method of recording, but seven new categories of land-use to enable, for example, separation of

‘natural’ woodlands from plantations, and ‘natural’ open water from artificial

open water.

G

Channel vegetation types – no change, but clearer guidance on data entry in column 11.

H

Land-use within 50m of banktop – same additions of categories as F.

I

Bank profiles – natural berm added.

J

Extent of trees and associated features – no change except clearer guidance, by way of *asterisks, for recording discrete features that may not extend along 1% of the site, but require recording if present.

K

Extent of channel and bank features – significant changes. All descriptive flow types (e.g. rapids, runs) replaced by flow types (e.g. broken standing waves, rippled); eroding/stable cliffs, vegetated bedrock/boulders, unvegetated/vegetated point bars and discrete gravel deposits additions to 2003 form. Use of *asterisks for some features, as in J.

L

Channel dimensions – no significant change, but now requires flow-type to be noted if measurements not taken at a riffle.

O

Features of special interest – more categories. Includes: splitting of braided and side channels; slight changes in terminology (e.g. wet woodland(s)

for carr); new categories <5m high waterfalls, natural cascades, very large

boulders, floodplain boulder deposits, backwaters.

N

Choked channel – no change in recording.

Q

Notable nuisance plant species – ability to record on the bankface and in the 50m corridor separately. Use of *asterisks to remind surveyors that just a single occurrence of an alien species should be recorded.

R

Overall characteristics – only minor additions in guidance notes.

S

Alders – no change, but use of *asterisks to remind surveyors that just a single alder, or a single diseased one, should be recorded.

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Field survey quality control – new guidance for checking entries are completed before leaving the site.