Assessment of river hydromorphological quality for restoration purposes: an example of the application of RHQ method to a Polish Carpathian river

Artur Radecki-Pawlik,Hanna Hajdukiewicz,Joanna Zawiejska,Antoni Amirowicz,Bartłomiej Wyżga,Paweł Oglęcki

doi:10.1007/s11600-017-0044-7

Abstract

Planning and implementation of effective restoration projects require appropriate assessment of a river’s hydromorphological status. Two European standards on hydromorphological assessment of rivers and hydromorphological assessment methods used in Poland are reviewed in the context of their applicability for river restoration purposes. River Hydromorphological Quality assessment method is presented with a case study of the Biała River, Polish Carpathians, where this assessment was used as basis for a restoration project aimed to establish an erodible river corridor. The results of the assessment revealed significant differences in hydromorphological quality between unmanaged and channelized river cross-sections, indicating channel regulation as a major cause of the hydromorphological degradation of the Biała and confirming the choice of the erodible river corridor as an appropriate method of its restoration. The assessment indicated hydromorphological features of the river that were severely modified within the channelized reaches and which are likely to improve the most with the removal of bank protection and allowing free channel migration.

Highlights

Human activity affects the state of riverine ecosystems through direct impacts on river biocoenoses, changes in water quality or physical state of habitats
Utility of European standards and assessment methods for river restoration purposes Out of the two CEN standards which specified the methodology for hydromorphological assessment of rivers, the earlier EN 14614 standard (CEN 2004) is useful for planning and monitoring of restoration projects
This standard indicates the major features of the channel, river banks, riparian zone and floodplain that are key to the river hydromorphological quality

Summary

Introduction

Human activity affects the state of riverine ecosystems through direct impacts on river biocoenoses (e.g. introduction of alien and invasive species), changes in water quality or physical state of habitats. Negative effects of deteriorated water quality on river ecosystems resulting from increased input of biogenic substances and pollution from sewage, agriculture or industry (Meybeck 2003) have been extensively described in the literature. The necessity to improve the quality of river habitats only recently started to be noticed by water management authorities. The term hydromorphology was introduced to describe physical river characteristics and processes as they determine the condition of river ecosystem. Hydrological regime, river continuity and morphological conditions were indicated in the Water Framework Directive as the three key elements of hydromorphological river quality (European Commission 2000)

Objectives

Methods

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Discussion

Conclusion