Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/8455
Title: An approach for assessing the physical condition of rivers at the catchment scale
Contributor(s): Harris, CD (author); Thoms, Martin  (author)orcid ; Rayburg, S (author); Parsons, Melissa  (author)orcid 
Publication Date: 2008
Handle Link: https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/8455
Abstract: Contemporary approaches for assessing the condition of river systems focus primarily on biological information. Increasingly, natural resource managers are becoming interested in the physical condition of river systems. Rivers are naturally complex physical systems that change in time and space, and therefore challenge many traditional scientific approaches for assessing their character. One solution to this problem is the use of hierarchy theory which provides a graded organizational structure to interpret river complexity. However, most geomorphic characterizations of rivers fail to acknowledge the importance of the nested organisation of river systems and scale, thus often misinterpret form-process links. This study outlines a typology for a geomorphic characterization of rivers that can be used to assess their physical condition. It focuses on a specific level within the geomorphic river hierarchy. For this study, a set of criteria are outlined for developing a quantitative river classification scheme. This involves the use of fifteen geomorphic variables in a desktop based taxonomic river typing scheme. Variables are extracted from digital data, using both an automated GIS module developed specifically for such an exercise and combined with manually extracted data. These physical data are analysed using a series of multivariate analyses. The applicability of the approach is demonstrated in the Namoi catchment, NSW, at the basin scale. The physical condition of the river network is based on the community of river types and is assessed by considering the richness, composition and diversity of river types. The applicability of the approach for river management is also outlined.
Publication Type: Conference Publication
Conference Details: Water Down Under 2008: Incorporating the 31st Hydrology and Water Resources Symposium and the 4th International Conference on Water Resources and Environment Research, Adelaide, Australia, 14th - 17th April, 2008
Source of Publication: Proceedings of Water Down Under 2008, p. 1879-1889
Publisher: Engineers Australia
Place of Publication: Modbury, Australia
Fields of Research (FoR) 2008: 040601 Geomorphology and Regolith and Landscape Evolution
Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2008: 960506 Ecosystem Assessment and Management of Fresh, Ground and Surface Water Environments
Peer Reviewed: Yes
HERDC Category Description: E1 Refereed Scholarly Conference Publication
Publisher/associated links: http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/33573023
Appears in Collections:Conference Publication
School of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences

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