Water quality. Guidance standard on determining the degree of modification of river hydromorphology

BS EN 15843:2010 Water quality. Guidance standard on determining the degree of modification of river hydromorphology

BS EN 15843 is a European Standard which provides guidance on characterizing modifications to hydromorpholical features. For more information on hydromophilogical features, see BS EN 14614.

BS EN 15843 enables consistent comparisons of hydromorphology between rivers within a country and between different countries in Europe, providing a method for broad-based characterization across a wide spectrum of hydromorphological modification of river channels, banks, riparian zones and floodplains.

Its primary aim is to assess "departure from naturalness" as a result of human pressures on river hydromorphology, and it suggests suitable sources of information which may contribute to characterizing the modification of hydromorphological features. In doing so, it does not replace methods that have been developed for local assessment and reporting.

Both BS EN 15843 and BS EN 14614 focus more on morphology than on hydrology and continuity, and on lateral and longitudinal continuity rather than on vertical continuity which is difficult to measure.

Decisions on river management for individual reaches or catchments require expert local knowledge and vary according to river type.

Contents of BS EN 15843:

Foreword

Introduction

1 Scope

2 Normative references

3 Terms and definitions

4 Principle

5 Determining the hydromorphological modifications of rivers

6 Interpreting and reporting hydromorphological modifications

Annex A (normative) Characterization of river modification based on hydromorphological features

Annex B (informative) Some key points in the development of this European Standard