---
category: literaturenote
citekey: gurnellurbanriversurveymanual2007
title: Urban River Survey Manual
authors: "Gurnell, Angela; Shuker, Lucy; Wharton, Geraldene"
year: 2007
date: 2007-00-00 2007
publication: "Centre for Environmental Assessment, Management & Policy (kcl. ac. uk/ceamp)"
zotero_key: QCDAD6XD
zotero_storage: BE9UK6EU
collections: magistritöö / kohalikud teed
folder: 001_artiklid
firstAuthor: "Gurnell, Angela"
status: converted
---
# **URBAN RIVER SURVEY MANUAL 2016**

![](_page_0_Picture_1.jpeg)

Angela Gurnell, Lucy Shuker, Geraldene Wharton

![](_page_0_Picture_3.jpeg)

1

### **ACKNOWLEDGMENTS**

The Urban River Survey (URS) was originally developed as part of the PhD thesis of Dr Angela Boitsidis (nee Davenport) (University of Birmingham 2001) under the supervision of Professor Angela Gurnell.

In 2003 the URS method and manual were modified by Angela Boitsidis and Angela Gurnell as part of the SMURF project (LIFE02 ENV/UK/000144).

The present (2016) version of the manual is a complete revision undertaken mainly by Angela Gurnell and Lucy Shuker under funding from Queen Mary, University of London and a ESRC-NERC funded research studentship awarded to Lucy Shuker with some additional contributions from Geraldene Wharton.

Any comments on lack of clarity or suggestions for improvements should be directed to a.m.gurnell@qmul.ac.uk

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE SURVEY METHOD IS BASED ON THE ENVIRONMENT AGENCY'S RIVER HABITAT SURVEY AND SO THIS MANUAL IS BEST USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE RHS MANUAL.

**We thank the Environment Agency for permission to reproduce some diagrams from the River Habitat Survey in Britain and Ireland, Field Survey Guidance Manual, 2003 version.** 

**We also thank Ruth Hanniffy of the Environment Agency for her collaboration in compiling this manual.** 

Cover photograph: Lucy Shuker

## **CONTENTS**

| SECTION 1:  | Introduction to the Urban River Survey    | 4  |
|-------------|-------------------------------------------|----|
| SECTION 2:  | Survey details                            | 5  |
| SECTION 3:  | Site Information                          | 5  |
| SECTION 4:  | URS Stretch Engineering                   | 6  |
| SECTION 5:  | Channel Dimensions                        | 7  |
| SECTION 6:  | Spot-check Measurements                   | 8  |
| SECTION 7:  | Cumulative Measurements                   | 14 |
|             |                                           |    |
| APPENDIX A: | Urban River Survey Forms                  | 22 |
| APPENDIX B: | Urban River Survey Codes                  | 27 |
| APPENDIX C: | Engineering Descriptions and Photographs  | 31 |
| APPENDIX D: | Seven Non-native 'Nuisance' Plant Species | 39 |
|             | APPENDIX E: Health and Safety             | 43 |

### **1. INTRODUCTION TO THE URBAN RIVER SURVEY**

 This manual provides a modification of the RHS methodology which is specifically designed for urban rivers – the Urban River Survey (URS).

- 1.1 **Health and Safety** is extremely important when working on rivers. You must conform with all Health and Safety related guidance from your organisation and you must ensure that you undertake a full risk assessment conforming to your organisation's requirements BEFORE you go into the field. The survey is designed to be undertaken by one surveyor and there may be occasions where you are undertaking the survey alone. On these occasions you will need to ensure that you comply with your organisation's lone working regulations. As an indication of the types of health and safety precautions that you should consider, Appendix E reproduces EA documentation from the RHS (2003) Manual).
- 1.2 **Biosecurity.** You should also ensure that you take appropriate measures to reduce the risk of spreading diseases, parasites and invasive non-native species. Please refer to the biosecurity advice provided by the following campaigns:

NNSS **Be Plantwise** : (http://www.nonnativespecies.org//beplantwise/index.cfm) and **Check, Clean, Dry** (http://www.nonnativespecies.org//checkcleandry/index.cfm)

- 1.3 The river habitat survey (RHS) was developed by the Environment Agency in 1997 to provide a simple, rapid assessment of physical habitat along 500m stretches of river. The derived data were used to develop a working classification of UK natural rivers. However, the RHS does not give a full description of urban rivers, which typically show high levels of channel and habitat modification as well as other forms of degradation, and as a result a generally lower extent and diversity of physical habitats. The URS provides greater detail on the style and extent of engineering modification as well as physical habitats in order to more strongly differentiate between stretches of urban river. Since many different types of channel engineering are often seen on urban rivers and these have a fundamental influence on river habitats, the URS survey is applied to stretches of a single engineering type of up to 500m in length.
- 1.4 For the URS, a **stretch** is defined as a length of river normally 500m and a minimum of 300m in length that is subject to any **one engineering type**. An engineering type is a unique combination of channel planform, cross profile and level of reinforcement (section 4 and Appendix C).
- 1.5 The Urban River Survey involves the completion of a four page form (Appendix A). Some sections of the form are optional (shaded in yellow), whereas others are essential since they underpin the estimation of a variety of indices. There are also

three pages of summary definitions of the measurement codes (Appendix B) needed to complete the four page form. Where similar data to the RHS are being collected, the RHS definitions have been retained.

- 1.6 To undertake the URS, the surveyor needs:
  - a copy of the URS 4 page survey form for each stretch to be surveyed,
  - a waterproof clip board
  - a digital camera
  - a hand-held GPS (WSG84 co-ordinates)
  - a range-finder, expanding metal or surveying tape, or some other means of linear measurement is also helpful for estimating channel dimensions.
  - a ranging pole
  - appropriate weatherproof clothing and footwear
- 1.7 The survey should be undertaken by walking the stretch three times.
  - The first pass checks (i) the length of the stretch so that the spacing of the 10 spot checks can be estimated, (ii) makes an initial assessment of the engineering type (URS sheet 1), and (iii) identifies a suitable site for estimating channel dimensions.
  - The second pass is used to complete the spot checks (URS sheet 2) and the engineering type and channel dimensions sections (URS sheet 1).
  - The third pass is used to complete the cumulative measurements (URS sheets 3 and 4). The survey may commence from the upstream or downstream end of the stretch and should be marked accordingly on Page 2 of the form. The following sections provide the information required to complete the subsections of the URS form (Appendix A).

## **2. SURVEY DETAILS**

2.1 Enter the **WFD water body ID** (if known)*,* the **river name** given on 1:50,000 scale maps, or more detailed scale if available. Unnamed headwater tributaries should be categorised as such, but refer to the named mainstream watercourse (e.g. tributary of River Quaggy). For the **stretch name/number**, surveyors should enter their own unique reference number/name as appropriate for the site. Also enter the **date** and **time** of the survey, and the **name of the surveyor**.

## 3. **SITE INFORMATION**

3.1 **Stretch length***:* For the purpose of URS, stretches of river between 300m (minimum) and 500m in length are located in the field following identification of the limits of a single engineering type. The stretch length to the nearest 50m is determined by the surveyor (paces) and completed at the end of the survey when the actual length of the stretch has been estimated. The *GPS* readings (or estimates of the *NGR*) at the upstream and downstream end of the stretch also aid estimation of the stretch length. Wherever possible, the stretch length should be 500m.

- 3.2 **Site surveyed from left or right bank?** For wide and deep rivers, surveys might only be able to be carried out from one bank only, although for best results each bank would need to be walked. This is linked to spot checks by recording whether **spot check 1 is at the upstream or downstream end of the stretch.**
- 3.3 At least one **photograph** should be taken of the surveyed stretch, preferably at the site where channel dimensions are estimated. Insert photo references that are informative (e.g. stretch name / number plus nearest spot check number).
- 3.4 The optional sections (**Distance from Source, Slope (m/km), Solid geology code, Drift geology code**) can be completed after the field survey. If you wish to estimate these properties for your surveys, distance from source can best be estimated from the Environment Agency's Detailed River Network (DRN) or the Ordnance Survey's Mastermap but the blue lines on 1:25000 scale Ordnance Survey topographic maps will also give an adequate estimate. Geology codes are obtained from British Geological Survey maps (http://www.bgs.ac.uk/geoindex/)
- 3.5 The sections of the form concerning **bed visibility** and **adverse conditions** are completed by the surveyor on the day of the assessment. Whenever possible the river survey should be conducted during normal baseflow conditions. However, sometimes this is not possible and so these two fields indicate that some of the later measurements may not be as accurate as they would be under baseflow and in the absence of other specific adverse conditions. Bed visibility is crucial to recording bed materials and features and is recorded as yes or no. If no, then there are adverse conditions because of 'murky, polluted water' or 'high suspended sediment load'. Note that water clarity is also recorded on page 3 of the survey sheets under 'extent of pollution'. Other commonly occurring adverse conditions are high or flood flows, limited access, high levels of riparian vegetation, and windy or poor light conditions.

## **4. URS STRETCH ENGINEERING**

4.1 **The engineering type** is representative of the surveyed stretch and is derived from a combination of the predominant planform, cross profile and level of reinforcement of

- the surveyed stretch. Each of the categories of planform, cross profile and level of reinforcement is described in detail with photographic examples in Appendix C.
- 4.2 **Planform.** There are four planform types: Semi-Natural (SN); Engineered–straight (ST); Engineered–sinuous (ME); Recovering (RC).
- 4.3 **Cross Profile.** There are six channel cross profile types: Semi-natural (SN); Cleaned (CL); Restored (RE); Resectioned (RS); Enlarged (EN); Two-Stage (TS).
- 4.4 **Reinforcement.** The characteristic / predominant level of reinforcement along a URS reach is defined as one of six categories (none, bed only, one bank only, bed and one bank only, both banks only, both banks and bed). Predominant bank reinforcement is recorded where reinforcement to any vertical extent up the bank (full, upper bank or lower bank) characterises all or most of the bank length in the surveyed reach.

Table 1: Planform, Cross profile and Reinforcement Types and Codes

| Planform                                                                                                                            | Cross-Profile                                                                                                                                              | Level of Reinforcement                 |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|
| Engineered Straight, ST<br>(engineered to a straight planform)                                                                      | Enlarged, EN<br>(cross section made substantially<br>wider and/or deeper than a naturally<br>adjusted channel would be at the<br>same site)                | No reinforcement, NONE                 |
| Engineered Sinuous, ME<br>(engineered to a sinuous planform)                                                                        | Two-stage, TS<br>(cross section includes a flood<br>channel with an inset smaller channel<br>to accommodate non-flood flows)                               | Bed reinforced, BED                    |
| Recovering, RC (engineered<br>straight or sinuous but showing<br>significant planform readjustment<br>induced by fluvial processes) | Resectioned, RS (cross section<br>reshaped to a more efficient<br>trapezoidal form)                                                                        | One Bank reinforced, ONE               |
| Semi-natural, SN<br>(no obvious sign of engineering of<br>the planform)                                                             | Cleaned, CL<br>(flow resistance reduced through<br>removal of roughness elements such<br>as trees and shrubs and minor<br>morphological irregularities)    | Bed and one bank reinforced,<br>BEDONE |
|                                                                                                                                     | Restored, RE<br>(cross profile form designed as part of<br>a restoration scheme)                                                                           | Both banks reinforced, TWO             |
|                                                                                                                                     | Semi-natural, SN<br>(cross profile form shows no obvious<br>signs of engineered modification /<br>has completely recovered from<br>historical engineering) | Full reinforcement, FULL               |

## **5. CHANNEL DIMENSIONS**

 Recording of the channel dimensions should be undertaken **once** in the surveyed stretch, and should be located at a riffle if one is present, or at a suitable shallow section of the river. Measurement accuracy is improved by using a ranging pole or other method of measurement. Channel dimension measurements are taken according to the RHS methodology as shown in Figure 1 below. Sometimes the river bed will be inaccessible or the water will be too deep or dangerous to measure directly. In these cases visually estimate the water depth if possible.

![](_page_7_Figure_3.jpeg)

**Figure 1: Channel dimensions (source: RHS 2003 manual)** 

- 5.1 **Water width** (nearest m) is the distance across the wetted part of the channel. Use a ranging rod to make crossing the watercourse safer and to aid measurement. , and use the rod to help measure the width. If it is impossible to wade safely across the river, and you do not have a range-finder, a reasonably accurate estimate can be made by sticking a ranging pole on the bank, and walking along the bank until the pole appears to be the same distance away as the far bank; pace the distance to the pole to estimate the channel width.
- 5.2 **Bankfull width** (nearest m) is the horizontal distance across the channel at the level where the river first spills out of the channel on to the floodplain.
- 5.3 **Left and right bank height** (nearest m) Banktop height is the vertical distance from water level, to the first major break in slope above which cultivation or development is possible
- 5.4 **Embanked height** (nearest m). Where present, record the extra height created by the embanked material, including setback embankments.
- 5.5 **Water depth** (nearest 10 cm) is the average depth of the channel. An average of 3 depths measured using the ranging pole is adequate. Estimate the depth if possible, where access is not feasible

## **6. SPOT-CHECK MEASUREMENTS**

6.1 **NOTE: Many of the spot-check measurements coincide with those collected during RHS surveys.** Summary definitions are provided here for convenience, but more detail can be obtained from the RHS handbook. 10 spot-check measurements are taken at equally spaced distances (e.g. every 50m for a 500m stretch). The spot check measurements are usually taken from the bank. The location of each spot check should be recorded using a GPS. Some of the measurements taken at each spot-check differ somewhat from the RHS manual but the general layout of the spot check measurements corresponds the RHS methodology as shown in the diagram below. **Sweep up (SW) measurements** differ from the RHS methodology. Any other feature seen throughout the reach that has not been recorded previously in the spot-checks is recorded in the sweep up column. (e.g. rarer macrophyte types such as SLL or RFL).

![](_page_8_Picture_1.jpeg)

**Figure 2: Dimensions for spot checks (source: RHS 2003 manual)** 

## 6.2 **Physical Attributes (observed within a 1m wide transects across the channel, Figure 2)**

- 6.2.1 **Bank Material** (code check list provided in Appendix B): The bank material should only be recorded as artificial (AR) if it completely conceals the natural bank materials, since bank protection is recorded separately. If any part of the natural bank materials are exposed then the predominant type should be recorded as bedrock (BE), boulders (BO - >256mm diameter, *> head size*), cobbles (CO – 64-256mm, *> fist size*), gravel/sand (GS - <64mm to >2mm, grains are smaller than CO but clearly visible to the naked eye and the particles are very loose), clay (CL - cohesive very fine material, sticky when moist, particles not visible to the naked eye), earth (EA - crumbly material of mixed fine particle size including particles < 2mm).
- 6.2.2 **Bank Protection** (code check list provided in Appendix B): Where two protection types are present on the same bank, record the predominant type. Bank protection

types are concrete (CC – cemented reinforcement providing a solid reinforcement with no gaps), concrete and brick (CB – comprised of blocks of bricks and mortar separated above, below or laterally by concreted areas), brick / laid stone (BR – areas of brick or stone held together by mortar to produce a solid wall or bank facing), builders waste (BW – loose hard core tipped at the bank toe or across much/all of the bank face); sheet piling (SP – interlocking steel sheets, including corrugated iron, protecting the bank face), wood piling (WP – vertical or horizontal wood planks protecting the bank face – often confined to the bank toe), rip-rap (RR – boulders: normally quarried, roughly square stones, often similar size, purposely tipped or laid along the bankface and often confined to the bank toe - includes un-cemented blockstone and boulders compacted into the bank with soil between), gabions (GA – stones in wire baskets), planted reeds (RE – only record when obviously, from regular spacing along bank toe, deliberately planted), willow spiling / faggot bundles (WS – cut stakes of willow driven into the bank toe or face, often linked by woven willow to create a living fence that roots into the bank / bundles of sticks or twigs), biotex / coir (BC – any woven fabric spread across the bank face to protect the underlying bank materials from erosion), washed out (WO - bank protection materials that have been eroded or have collapsed into the channel so that they no longer protect the banks).

6.2.3 **Marginal and Bank Features** (code check list provided in Appendix B): eroding cliff (EC – Bank face profile is *predominantly* vertical, near vertical, or undercut, with a minimum height of 0.5m and largely bare of vegetation (<50% cover of mosses, ferns, other vegetation)), stable cliff (SC – similar to eroding cliff but with higher vegetation cover (>50%), and no obvious signs of erosion), unvegetated point bar (PB – unconsolidated river bed material transported from upstream and deposited at the bank toe in a distinctive bar feature on the inside of river bends. Point bars are exposed at low flow and are unvegetated if <50% of their surface has vegetation cover), vegetated point bar (VP – identical to PB but with >50% of surface covered by vegetation), unvegetated side bar (SB – as PB but found along channel margins at locations other than the inside of bends), vegetated side bar (VS – as SB but with >50% of surface covered by vegetation), natural berm (NB – are the vegetated features which result from stabilisation and extension of PB, VPB, SB, VS features over time. A key difference between a 'bar' and a 'natural berm' is the former is made up of similar material to the channel substrate and has a gradual slope into the water whereas the latter often has a distinct steep face at the water edge and includes a transition towards terrestrial plant species).

- 6.2.4 **Channel Substrate** (code check list provided in Appendix B): The dominant substrate type is recorded. Artificial immobile substrates usually consist of concrete, concrete/brick or laid stone and are recorded as AR. It is important that both mobile and immobile substrates are recorded when they occur together, so record whichever dominates at each spot check to gain a representative picture. The definitions of bedrock (BE), boulder (BO), cobble (CO), are the same as for bank materials (section 6.2.1). Other mobile substrate types are artificial (AR – non-natural bed material such as concrete, bricks, tipped waste - but if the artificial materials have been ground down by the river so that they are of similar shape and size to any natural particles located near them, then they can be counted as natural and assessed simply by their size), gravel/pebble (GP – particles smaller than CO but clearly visible from several metres), sand (SA – small particles, <2mm and >0.06mm, visible to the naked eye from 1m), silt (SI - very small loose particles (<0.06mm) not visible to the naked eye - only record when >5mm thick and completely conceals any underlying coarser material), clay (CL – a very fine, sticky, cohesive bed material), peat (PE – very rare in an urban catchment - only record if the river bed is formed of organic matter derived from decayed vegetation under water-logged conditions).
- 6.2.5 **Flow (Patch) Type** (code check list provided in Appendix B): Flow types are identified from patterns and flow directions on areas / patches of the water surface and sometimes the additional influence of particles on the river bed. The predominant flow type is recorded at each spot check. Free fall (FF - generally associated with water falls and artificial vertical structures - vertically-falling water separates from the 'back-wall' of the vertical structure), chute (CH – mainly associated with cascades - .curving flow with substantial water contact with the substrate), broken-standing wave (BW - mostly associated with rapids but occasionally with riffles – recognised by white-water tumbling waves with an appearance that water is trying to flow upstream), unbroken standing wave (UW – mostly associated with major riffles but can be found on rapids - 'babbling' water with a disturbed 'dragon-back' surface, which has upstream facing wavelets that have not broken. White water may occur as crest waves, but not as breaking waves), chaotic flow (CF - . a chaotic mixture of three or more of the BW, UW, CH, FF flow types with no predominant one obvious), rippled (RP – mostly associated with runs - no waves, flow direction generally downstream with disturbed rippled surface), upwelling (UP – water surface heaving as upwelling water breaks the surface, has the appearance of boiling water), smooth (SM – mostly associated with glides, smooth downstream movement of water), no perceptible flow

- (NP usually associated with pools marginal deadwater areas and areas ponded behind obstructions such as weirs - no obvious downstream movement of water), dry (DR – dry channel).
- 6.2.6 **Channel Features** (code check list provided in Appendix B): Exposed bedrock (EB bedrock protruding above the water surface at low flow), exposed boulders (RO – boulders protruding above the water surface at low flow), vegetated rock (VR – exposed bedrock or boulders supporting established vegetation such as herbs, reeds, grasses, shrubs), unvegetated mid-channel bar (MB – accumulation of unconsolidated river bed material exposed above the water surface but surrounded by water at low flow with <50% area covered by vegetation), vegetated mid-channel bar (VB – as for MB but with >50% area covered by vegetation), island (MI – well vegetated midchannel sedimentary feature, colonised by mature vegetation usually including shrubs or trees, with island surface at same level as bank tops), trash (TR – rubbish such as shopping trolleys, traffic cones, loose bricks, etc.)

## **6.3 Bank top land use and vegetation structure (observed within a 10 m wide transects across the channel, Figure 2)**

6.3.1 **Land use** (code check list provided in Appendix B): Land use within 5m of the bank top is recorded using the following, self-explanatory, codes: URBAN: Residential (Re): Commercial (Cm); Industrial (In); Mixed Industrial/Commercial (Ic); Transport infrastructure (roads, railways) (Tr); Foot Path (Fp); Sewage Treatment Works (Sw); Landfill/Refuse (Ld); Scrap / waste recycling yards (Sy); Derelict/brownfield/abandoned land (Dr);

AGRICULTURE: Cultivated cropland (Cr); Pasture (Pa); Orchard (Or); Closed feeding - Intensive (indoor) stock production (Fe); Allotments (Al);

WOODLAND: Coniferous woodland (Co); Deciduous and mixed woodland (Dd); Open woodland (with grassland) (Ow);

OPEN SPACE: Open parkland and community grassland (Op); Rough grassland or herbs (Rg); Formal parkland / gardens (Fm); Recreational land (playing fields) (Rc); Cemeteries / crematoria (Ce); Recreational land (playing fields) (Rc); Cemeteries/crematoria (Ce); Heathland (He); Scrub (e.g. brambles, gorse, rhododendron and other woody shrubs) (Sc);

WATER SPACE: Lake/pond (La); Reservoir (Rv); Canal (Ca); Reclaimed (flooded) quarry (Qu); Junction with tributary stream/river (Tb); Marina / working harbour (Ma);

WETLAND: Wetland (Wl); OTHER: Other (Ot – a record type).

6.3.1 **Bank Face and Top Vegetation Structure**: This is recorded as defined in the RHS Manual and illustrated in Figure 3.

**Figure 3: Codes for bank face and bank top vegetation structure (source: RHS 2003 manual)** 

## **6.4 Channel vegetation (observed within a 10 m wide transects across the channel, Figure 2)**

6.4.1 The channel vegetation types are the same as recorded in the RHS and percentage cover is recorded as either 1% (present) or to the nearest 5%. Brief definitions are: **none** (<1% vegetation cover, or none is visible), **liverworts/mosses/lichens** (includes submerged vegetation or in the splash zone), **emergent broad-leaved herbs** (broadleaved plants rooted on the river bed or at the water's edge with foliage above the water surface), **emergent reeds/sedges/rushes/grasses/horsetails** (narrow-leaved plants rooted on the river bed or at the water's edge with foliage above the water surface), **floating-leaved** (rooted) (plants rooted on the river bed but with either broad or linear floating leaves), **free-floating** (plants floating on, or just under, the water surface, and not rooted to the river bed), **amphibious** (plants rooted at the edge of the river, or on the bank, but shoots or leaves trail across the water), **submerged broadleaved** (rooted submerged plants with underwater leaves no more than three times longer than broad - some part of the plant, or some leaves, may reach the surface but the majority are submerged), **submerged linear-leaved** (rooted submerged plants with narrow, unbranched, laminar leaves that are either totally submerged or just have their tips or upper parts floating on the surface), **submerged fine-leaved** (rooted submerged plants with fine, branched, leaves), **filamentous algae**. Channel vegetation types

- observed in between spot-checks can also be recorded in the 'sweep-up' column to right of spot-checks 1-10
- 6.4.2 Optional records include **channel choked with macrophytes**, which implies that no moving water is visible. In this case record the predominant macrophyte type (as described in 6.4.1) or species. **Macrophyte species** present can also be recorded for the entire stretch in the box provided.

## **7. CUMULATIVE MEASUREMENTS**

Cumulative measurements provide an overall assessment of the character of the surveyed stretch and are recorded with a variety of measurement scales to suit their importance in the urban context

## **7.1 Bank Profile and Protection**

**7.1.1 Bank Profile.** Bank profiles are recorded in three categories: natural / unmodified, artificial (reinforcement), artificial (bank profile). In each case there is a 'none' class to ensure that percentages (nearest 5%) relating to all classes within any of the three categories sum to 100% over the reach. **It is also possible for banks sections to fall into more than one of the three categories. For example a bank might have a natural lower profile (e.g. undercut) but have a resectioned upper profile and also be reinforced in the upper part of the bank.** Figure 4 illustrates the classes within each of the three categories (note – poached refers to heavy trampling by animals or humans).

![](_page_13_Figure_6.jpeg)

### **Figure 4: Bank profile classes and codes**

- **7.1.2 Bank Protection** is recorded in the same categories as for the spot checks (for definitions see section 6.2.2) which should be recorded in terms of the length of bank affected to the nearest 5%. It is feasible for the total protection along a bank to sum to more than 100% if different protection types are applied to different parts of the bank profile (e.g. toe is protected using a different material from the bank face). The none class should provide a percentage of banks with no protection at any level of the bank profile.
- **7.2 (Geomorphological) Dynamics** are important because they provide an indication of whether the river channel is (i) undergoing change and the nature of that change; (ii) is in 'dynamic' equilibrium; or (iii) is in a 'moribund' or fossilised /immobile state. Geomorphological dynamics are also important for the ecological condition of the river channel because they drive habitat turnover and thus they reset habitats used by some species (e.g. bare gravel bars, eroding bank faces) and ensure that a full range of young to mature habitats are maintained.

Channel dynamics are assessed as a proportion (%) of the stretch length as none, negligible (<5%), local (5-20%), extensive (20-30%), very extensive (>30%):

**One bank eroding** (i.e. showing vertical, vertical + toe, or undercut bank profiles on one bank – section 7.1)

**Opposite banks eroding** (i.e. showing vertical, vertical + toe, or undercut bank profiles on both opposing banks – section 7.1).

**Opposite banks depositing** (i.e. showing vegetated bars or berms on both opposing banks – section 6.2.3).

**Berms on one or both banks totalling more than 25% channel width** (one bank or both opposing banks with berm > 25% channel width - berm defined in section 6.2.3).

Channel dynamic features are assessed on an absent, present (<33% stretch affected), extensive (>33% stretch affected) scale relative to the stretch length or the extent of the features (e.g. bridge piers) that are involved.

**Buried soil within bank profile** (relatively organic-rich layers are present within the bank profiles and are overlain by sediment with a distinctly lower organic content)

**Burial of river bed with fine sediment** (the river bed sediment is buried by a finer sediment layer – usually the burial of a gravel bed by sand or silt that can be assessed by pushing a probe into the fine sediment to assess whether there is a coarser layer underneath)

**Burial of base of structures** (structures such as bridge piers, jetties show distinct signs of burial, usually by fine sediment but coarser bed material can also be deposited by floods to raise the river bed)

**Burial of base of established vegetation** (usually best indicated by the clear burial of the base of tree trunks)

**River channel narrow relative to bridge openings** (indicated where bridges have several openings and the outer openings are becoming closed or partly-closed by the accumulation of sediment)

**Bed sediment exposed within bank profile** (sediments of similar size and texture to the bed material (e.g. gravel layers that are coarser than the upper bank profile) are exposed in the river banks above current bed level).

**Trees with exposed roots or collapsing / leaning into the channel on both (opposing) banks** (bankside trees are heavily undercut to expose their root structures and/or are collapsing and/or are leaning into channel)

**Exposure of foundations of structures** (e.g. foundations of bridge or jetty piers) **Heavily compacted and armoured bed** (the river bed sediments are strongly compacted (individual particles are not easily removed) and armoured (there is a distinctly coarser layer of particles at the bed surface than immediately underneath).

### **7.3 Artificial Influences**

**7.3.1 Artificial Features** are recorded in the same way as for the RHS, and are illustrated in Figure 5 (page 17) according to type and impact. For bridges complete the number of each type (rail, road, foot/cycle, other).

- **7.3.2 Nuisance Species.** The abundance along the surveyed stretch of the seven species listed in this category is recorded (i.e. Himalayan balsam, Japanese knotweed, Giant hogweed, Floating pennywort, Australian swamp stonecrop, Parrot's feather, Creeping water primrose). These are the seven non-native species identified by the Environment Agency (2010) in their document entitled 'managing invasive non-native plants'. Here 'Individuals' means isolated plants occupying <1% cover, 'Isolated clumps' indicates distinct clumps of plants but with low cover (<5%), 'Frequent' indicates a cover of between 5 and 33%, and 'Extensive' indicates a cover of >33%. The percentage cover should be related to available bank area (Himalayan balsam, Japanese knotweed, Giant hogweed) or available channel area (the other 4 species). Record other nuisance species in the space provided. Photographs of each species are included in Appendix D to aid identification.
- **7.3.3 Recent Management.** Recording is optional and relates to obvious, recent activities in the listed classes. Briefly describe other activities as appropriate. Record whether each listed activity is absent (A - none), present (P - <33% cover) or extensive (E - >33% cover) along the length of the stretch.

![](_page_16_Figure_2.jpeg)

**Figure 5: Types of artificial features and their impact level (minor, intermediate, major) (source: RHS 2003 manual)** 

### **7.4 Extent of Pollution**

- **7.4.1 Pollution Indicators** are recorded on the APE (absent none; present <33%, extensive > 33%) scoring system according to the length of the stretch affected. **Water odour** typically refers to the sewage effluent odours, but also includes industrial chemical aromas such as ammonia. **Sediment odour** describes the characteristic 'rotten egg' odour due to the presence of hydrogen sulphide emitted by anoxic sediments, and can easily be tested by inserting a ranging pole through the channel sediments. **Oil** can be extensive in urban channels and is characteristically seen floating on the water surface but may also be released from toxic sediments when their surface is disturbed (e.g. during testing for sediment odour). **Surface scum** consists of foams caused by the presence of phosphate detergents during surface mixing. It is usually seen by sewage outfalls but may also refer to floating mats of small particles of debris and thin foams formed in slow flowing waters. **Gross pollution** includes larger items of urban trash including shopping trolleys, mechanical parts, and anthropogenic litter. If you identify a pollution incident while undertaking the survey it should be reported to the Environment Agency's hotline 0800 80 70 60.
- **7.4.2 Pollution Sources. Input pipes** are counted and include sewage outfalls, industrial effluent pipes and surface runoff pipes. **Leach points** are also counted and include natural leaching and small land drains <10cm with signs of active seepage
- **7.4.3 Water Clarity** is assessed for the whole stretch as either Good (i.e. clear), Average (fairly clear or patchy), or Poor (difficult to see the channel bed).

### **7.5 Habitat Features and Flow Types**

**7.5.1 Habitat Features** are discrete features that are recorded as a count for the entire stretch. Definitions of bedrock (BE) and rock/boulder (RO) are given in section 6.2.1. Definitions of island (MI), unvegetated mid-channel bar (MB), vegetated mid-channel bar (VM), unvegetated point bar (PB), vegetated point bar (VP), unvegetated side bar (SB), vegetated side bar (VS) are given in sections 6.2.3 and 6.2.6. Definitions of riffle (RI) and Pool (PO) are given in section 7.5.2. The remaining categories relate to organic matter or areas of still water. A discrete organic matter deposit (OM) is comprised of wood pieces less than 1m length and 10cm diameter, twigs, leaves, and smaller organic material and forms a distinct patch within the river channel. Wood debris (WD) is one or more pieces of wood greater than 1 m length and 10 cm diameter forming a discrete deposit. A wood jam (WJ) is similar to WD but extends across the entire channel. Marginal backwater (MBW), connected backwater (CBW), and disconnected backwater (DBW) are areas of imperceptible flow located in the positions shown in Figure 6.

![](_page_18_Picture_1.jpeg)

**Figure 6: Backwater types** 

**7.5.2 Flow (habitat) types** are recorded according to the percentage (nearest 5%) of the water area affected by each type. They represent areas of the channel predominantly affected the flow (patch) types described in 6.2.5. Brief definitions of each type are as follows: cascade (CC - Distinct series of 'stepped' flow features occurring over boulder substrate or bedrock outcrops), boil (BL – area of channel where discrete areas of the water surface heave as upwelling water breaks the surface), rapid (RP – area with water surface dominated by broken standing waves), riffle (RI – area of channel dominated by unbroken standing waves), run (RU – area of channel with no waves, flow direction generally downstream with disturbed rippled surface), glide (GL – area of channel dominated by smooth downstream movement of water), pool (PO – discrete area of imperceptible flow over a low area in the channel bed), marginal deadwater (MD – discrete area of imperceptible flow associated with marginal and connected backwaters, see figure 6), ponded (PR – area of slow to imperceptible flow upstream of a channel obstruction such as a weir).

### **7.6 Special Features**

- **7.6.1 Tree features** are recorded on the APE (absent none; present <33% , extensive > 33%) scoring system according to the length of the stretch affected. Record 'present' even if cover is only 1%. **Channel shading** and **overhanging boughs** are recorded according to their cover of the low flow channel area. **Exposed bankside roots, underwater roots, fallen trees** and **large wood debris** (wood pieces and accumulations containing at least one piece longer than 1m and with a diameter greater than 10 cm) are recorded according to their presence on / along either bank along the length of the stretch.
- **7.6.2 Tree distribution** is recorded separately for each bank according to a range of selfexplanatory classes (Figure 7)

![](_page_19_Figure_3.jpeg)

**Figure 7: Tree distribution categories (source: RHS 2003 manual)** 

7.6.3 **Special Features** are extremely rare in urban river corridors. They are fully described in the RHS manual but the following are brief summaries: **Side channels** are discrete additional channels to the main channel, separated from the latter by a vegetated area and they may be dry in periods of low-flow; **fens** are comprised of wetland vegetation, often growing over peat, where the water-table is at, or just below, the surface (water is derived from both rainfall and drainage of surrounding land); **marsh / bogs** are

comprised of vegetation growing on wet peat where the water table is at, or just below, the surface and the water source is primarily direct rainfall; **carr** is wet woodland comprised of riparian tree species such as willows and alders, usually with an understorey of wetland herbs, reeds and mosses; **water meadows** are floodplain meadows, primarily associated with chalk streams, and traditionally flooded via constructed feeder channels; **floating mats / reed beds** form a distinct floating 'ledge' or shelf of vegetation extending into the channel.

- 7.6.4 **Evidence for Protected Species** This optional section provides the opportunity to record physical signs or suitable habitat for a list of protected species. These should also be highlighted in the key points of the High Level Assessment of Habitat and biodiversity.
- **7.6.5 Ecological characteristics.** This optional section allows the surveyor to circle any species observed during the survey and to add additional species and observations in the box provided.

## **APPENDIX A**

## **Urban River Survey Forms**

## **APPENDIX B**

## **Urban River Survey Codes**

![](_page_28_Figure_12.jpeg)

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## **APPENDIX C**

## **Engineering Descriptions and Photographs**

Not all of the types of engineering will be found on any one urban river. Following are descriptions and pictures of the most common types seen in the built environment:

### **1. Planform**

- 1.1 Semi-Natural (SN): River follows an irregular course showing no significant evidence or influence of engineering modification of planform (Plate C1).
- 1.2 Engineered straight (ST): The river's course has been modified (engineered) to a straight planform (i.e. very low sinuosity to completely straight planform: Plate C2).
- 1.3 Engineered sinuous (ME): The river's course has been modified (engineered) to a sinuous (meandering) planform, such as is often employed in major restoration schemes. (Plate C3).
- 1.4 Recovering (RC): The river's course has been modified by engineering (straight or sinuous) but the channel's plan (bank positions) is recovering to a more natural plan form through significant erosion or deposition of sediment that is causing changes in the bank position (Plate C4).

## **2. Channel Cross Section**

- 2.1 Semi-natural (SN): River cross section shows no significant evidence of engineering modification (either through lack of engineering or complete recovery from engineering) (Plate C5).
- 2.2 Cleaned (CL): River cross section shows no significant evidence of engineering modification but has a neat clean appearance as a result of cutting/pruning of vegetation and removal / reduction of other rough obstructions (Plate C6).
- 2.3 Restored (RE): River cross section has been modified (engineered) to a profile with a more natural appearance, usually as part of a restoration scheme (Plate C7).

- 2.4 Resectioned (RS): River cross section has been modified to a smooth trapezoidal profile (usually to improve flood conveyance) but is not obviously enlarged (Plate C8)
- 2.5 Enlarged (EN): River cross section has been enlarged (over widened and/or over deepened), may be accompanied by resectioning or 'canalisation'. At normal/low flows, overwidened channels have very shallow water, often only occupying part of the channel. Over widened and/or over deepened channels. are especially obvious where concrete channels have been created (Plates C9 & C10).
- 2.6 Two-Stage (TS): Characteristic step appearance to the bank where the narrower bottom section contains the average to low river flows, and the widened upper section contains the flood flows. Three stage channels are not uncommon in urban channels and should be placed in this category (Plate C11).

## **3. Reinforcement**

The characteristic / predominant level of reinforcement along a URS reach is defined as one of six categories (none, bed only, one bank only, bed and one bank only, both banks only, both banks and bed). Predominant bank reinforcment is recorded where reinforcement to any vertical extent up the bank (full, upper bank or lower bank) characterises all or most of the bank length in the surveyed reach.

The most commonly found levels of reinforcement are ONE BANK (C12), TWO BANKS (C13), FULL (C14)

**Plate C1:** Semi-Natural Planform

![](_page_33_Picture_1.jpeg)

**Plate C2:** Engineered-Sinuous Planform

![](_page_33_Picture_3.jpeg)

**Plate C3:** Engineered-Straight Planform

![](_page_33_Picture_5.jpeg)

**Plate C4:** Recovering Planform

![](_page_34_Picture_1.jpeg)

**Plate C5:** Semi Natural / Recovered Cross Section

![](_page_34_Picture_3.jpeg)

**Plate C6:** Cleaned Cross Section

![](_page_34_Picture_5.jpeg)

**Plate C7:** Restored Cross Section

![](_page_35_Picture_1.jpeg)

**Plate C8:** Resectioned Cross Section

![](_page_35_Picture_3.jpeg)

**Plate C9:** Enlarged (Overwidened) Cross Section

![](_page_35_Picture_5.jpeg)

**Plate C10:** Enlarged (over-deepened) Cross Section

![](_page_36_Picture_1.jpeg)

**Plate C11:** Two-Stage Cross Section

![](_page_36_Picture_3.jpeg)

**Plate C12:** One Bank Only Reinforced

![](_page_36_Picture_5.jpeg)

**Plate C13:** Both Banks Reinforced

![](_page_37_Picture_1.jpeg)

**Plate C14:** Fully Reinforced

![](_page_37_Picture_3.jpeg)

# **APPENDIX D SEVEN NON-NATIVE 'NUISANCE' PLANT SPECIES**

Photographs on the following pages were either provided by Christopher Cockel or the Environment Agency

For more information on these seven species, see Environment Agency (2010) Managing Invasive Non-native Plants,downloadable from www.environmentagency.gov.uk

![](_page_39_Picture_0.jpeg)

![](_page_39_Picture_2.jpeg)

![](_page_40_Picture_0.jpeg)

![](_page_40_Picture_2.jpeg)

![](_page_41_Figure_0.jpeg)

![](_page_41_Figure_1.jpeg)

# **APPENDIX E Health and Safety**

- 1. A URS should not be undertaken until an appropriate risk assessment form has been completed by the surveyor, and also, if the surveyor is to be working alone, appropriate 'lone working' procedures and paperwork also need to be completed in accordance with his/her organisation's requirements.
- 2. The URS should not be carried out during periods of high flow. Surveys should be delayed until the water level and clarity return to background levels.
- 3. Urban Rivers characteristically display a very rapid response to rainfall. It is important that local weather conditions are monitored to ensure that the survey is carried out safely.
- 4. Appropriate clothing MUST be worn at all times when surveying urban rivers. Strong waders are ideal, and protection from nettles etc with thick clothing or waterproofs is recommended.
- 5. Fly-tipping and other hazardous waste are prevalent on urban river banks. Thick rubber gloves and hard soled boots or waders are recommended to be worn at all times through the survey.
- 6. Where clarity of the water is very poor, extreme care should be used when measuring channel dimensions. A ranging pole is desirable for surveying urban channels, for assessing the channel depth before measuring, and for general safety. A range-finder should also be used if the channel is too wide or too deep to wade or if the banks are too steep or too high to ensure safety when measuring the channel
- 7. If a riffle is not present along the stretch, the shallowest part of the river should be used for measuring the channel dimensions. Where water clarity is poor, first use a ranging pole to gauge the water depth. N.B due to the engineering of urban rivers, shallow sections can flow at very fast rate and should be entered with caution.
- 8. The surveyor's organisation's code of practice for Health and Safety should be closely followed. The Environment Agency's Health and Safety Guidance and also their Lone Worker Code of Practice (Appendices 1 and 2 in the RHS 2003 manual) provides some useful advice in relation to Health and safety issues: this information is reproduced below

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