SECTION E: PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES – CHANNEL MODIFICATION(S)

All recording of modifications should be confined to alterations made to the river bed, not the banks. If you are sure, beyond reasonable doubt, that there are no obvious signs of channel modification, record ‘NO’ (none); if in doubt, record ‘NK’ (not known).

Boxes are NOT emboldened, so more than one entry per box is permissible.


Not known (NK)

When unsure, record ‘NK’. Seek further information from maps and flood defence records if unsure. For guidance on identifying individual types of modification, see below.

None (NO)

No obvious modification to the channel bed.

Culverted (CV)

As for ‘Culvert’ described earlier in Section D – ‘Culverts.

Resectioned (RS)

Obvious over-deepening of the channel bed resulting from lowering of the river bed, affecting both long- and cross- section profiles, as well as artificially increasing the channel depth relative to its width. See ‘Bank Resectioned’ described earlier in Section E – ‘Bank Modifications’. In Britain and Ireland channel deepening on its own is rare, so look for other signs as listed in Section E. 

Reinforced (RI)

Artificial reinforcement of the channel bed with material such as concrete, brick or gabion baskets (see Channel substrate - artificial). 

Dam/weir/sluice (DA)

Permanent in-channel structures installed to control river flows/levels. The presence of such structures at spot- checks may be rare, but their presence within an cRHS site, and their ‘impounding impacts’, will be noted in Section D, and described in Section P.

Ford (FO)

Permanent, shallow, artificial fording place: can be made from concrete, metalled road surface, rubble infill or natural consolidated river bed material (in Section D the ‘category’ of fords occurring within the site will be noted.)