Water/NSW_River_Styles (FeatureServer)

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Service Description: <div><span style=''font-size:16px;''>Rivers in New South Wales display a broad range of physical forms and processes. Their form, or character, is a result of many factors including their position in the landscape, geology, land use (both current and historical), runoff and streamflow (amount and variability), sediment dynamics and vegetation. Understanding the processes and responses, or behaviour, of these systems, allows us develop ways to support and improve riverine health. Healthy rivers are critical for the plants and animals that live there, but also have important cultural, social and economic value.</span></div><div><span style=''font-size:16px;''><br /></span></div><div><span style=''font-size:16px;''>River Styles is a framework developed at Macquarie University that describes the physical characteristics and diversity of rivers and assesses geomorphic stream condition. It considers their capacity to adjust, sensitivity to change due to disturbance, and the pressures (natural and human) that affect their geomorphic condition. It further considers whether a river reach is likely to improve its geomorphic condition over a reasonable timeframe (normally decades) if left alone and provides guidance to help with the prioritisation of river management activities on a conservation-first basis. </span></div><div><span style=''font-size:16px;''><br /></span></div><div><span style=''font-size:16px;''>The four stages in the River Styles Framework, cover the description of river morphology, interpretation of behaviour, assessment of condition, prediction of river recovery potential and prioritisation of river management.</span></div><div><span style=''font-size:16px;''><br /></span></div><div><span style=''font-size:16px;''>Stage 1 is used to identify River Styles and interpret their forms, processes, behaviour, patterns in catchments, and controls on their character and behaviour. </span></div><div><span style=''font-size:16px;''><br /></span></div><div><span style=''font-size:16px;''>Stage 2 is used to interpret geomorphic condition in the context of river evolution. The data can be used to describe the extent to which the river has been altered relative to an expected reference condition and to identify causes of deterioration or improvement. </span></div><div><span style=''font-size:16px;''><br /></span></div><div><span style=''font-size:16px;''>Stage 3 places each reach within its catchment context to analyse river recovery potential, based on the connectivity of reaches within that catchment. The data can be used to identify trajectories of geomorphic recovery and likely timeframes for recovery. </span></div><div><span style=''font-size:16px;''><br /></span></div><div><span style=''font-size:16px;''>Stage 4 provides an approach to vision-setting and prioritisation for river management.</span></div><div><span style=''font-size:16px;''><br /></span></div><div><span style=''font-size:16px;''><b>River Styles (Stage 1)</b></span></div><div><span style=''font-size:16px;''><br /></span></div><div><span style=''font-size:16px;''><b>Lateral and bed confinement imposed on the channel</b> [CONFINEMENT_LEVEL] - the presence and proportions of non-erosive margins that prevent river migration and/or change in channel form. This field may also include whether the channel is continuous or discontinuous.</span></div><div><span style=''font-size:16px;''><br /></span></div><div><span style=''font-size:16px;''><b>Valley margin or planform control type</b> [MARGIN_CONTROL] - the types of controls that prevent or limit river migration, bed incision or channel length. These may also describe riverine fragility. This field is only required for confined and partly confined reaches.</span></div><div><span style=''font-size:16px;''><br /></span></div><div><span style=''font-size:16px;''><b>Channel planform (pattern seen from above</b> [PLANFORM_DESCRIPTOR] - planform is a way of seeing a river; a plan of the river channel from above, showing its location, position on any floodplain, meandering pattern, branching, anabranching, paleo-channels, flood channels break out or re-entry points. This field is only required for partly confined and laterally unconfined, continuous channels.</span></div><div><span style=''font-size:16px;''><br /></span></div><div><span style=''font-size:16px;''><b>Additional planform constraints</b> [PLANFORM_CONSTRAINT] - additional constraint applied to the river planform via secondary confining features. An example would be a terrace creating an additional constraint on the ability of the channel to migrate. This field is only required for partly confined, planform-controlled reaches, but may contain information that adds information to other margin control types.</span></div><div><span style=''font-size:16px;''><br /></span></div><div><span style=''font-size:16px;''><b>Distinctive or primary geomorphic descriptor</b> [DISTINCTIVE_DESCRIPTOR] - the dominant or key defining geomorphic unit. For example, occasional floodplain pockets along a bedrock margin-controlled reach, or chain of ponds in a laterally unconfined, discontinuous channel reach. </span></div><div><span style=''font-size:16px;''><br /></span></div><div><span style=''font-size:16px;''><b>Additional geomorphic descriptor</b> [GEOMORPHIC_DESCRIPTOR] - an additional descriptor to provide more information or context, or split reaches. For example, to differential a meander cut off or flood channel from the primary channel.</span></div><div><span style=''font-size:16px;''><br /></span></div><div><span style=''font-size:16px;''><b>Dominant channel bed material or sediment size</b> [BED_MATERIAL_TEXTURE] - the broad class of bed materials on which the river works, and which describes the sediment class for assessment of mobilisation and transport. For discontinuous channels, it is the valley fill texture. Examples include bedrock, boulder, cobble, gravel, sand, fine-grained.</span></div><div><span style=''font-size:16px;''><br /></span></div><div><span style=''font-size:16px;''><b>River Style</b> [RIVER_STYLE_FULL_NAME] - merges the controls and descriptions to create specific River Styles. It divides rivers into classes based on the hierarchy of geo-attributes. It includes a description of the valley confinement, any margin or planform controls, channel sinuosity (e.g., meandering) and continuity, floodplains (if any), and bed material. For example, a Partly confined, planform controlled, meandering, discontinuous floodplain, gravel bed River Style is usually found in sections of mid catchment landscapes. Whereas a Laterally unconfined, discontinuous channel, valley fill, fine grained River Style is more likely to be found in low slope headwater areas. River Styles may also be described as Anthropogenic, identifying a reach that has been highly modified, such as a reservoir or urban stream. </span></div><div><span style=''font-size:16px;''><br /></span></div><div><span style=''font-size:16px;''><b>River Style (abbreviated)</b> [RIVER_STYLE_ABBREVIATED_NAME] - abbreviated text form of the River Style</span></div><div><span style=''font-size:16px;''><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style=''font-size:16px;''><b>River Styles Group</b> [RIVER_STYLES_GROUP] - simplified name for the River Styles. Groups similar River Styles, for example, the abbreviated names PC_PC_LSin_DcFp_Fbed, PC_PC_LSin_EbkCS_DcFp_Fbed and PC_PC_LSin_FnCS_DcFp_Fbed, would be under Planform controlled, low sinuosity, fine-grained bed.</span></div><div><span style=''font-size:16px;''><br /></span></div><div><span style=''font-size:16px;''><b>Fragility or sensitivity to disturbance</b> [FRAGILITY] - the likelihood of a river channel to change shape, location, or condition when disturbed. This is a natural and inherent part of rivers and is not a measure of health.</span></div><div><span style=''font-size:16px;''><br /></span></div><div><span style=''font-size:16px;''><b>Geomorphic stream condition (Stage 2)</b></span></div><div><span style=''font-size:16px;''><br /></span></div><div><span style=''font-size:16px;''>Geomorphic stream condition at time of assessment. It indicates whether the physical form and function of the reach is appropriate and expected for the Style of river and the environmental/landscape setting in which it is found. <b>Good </b>condition reaches have the expected geomorphic character (physical form and features, including vegetation) and behaviour (response to disturbances and adjustments) for a particular River Style. <b>Moderate </b>condition reaches are noticeably impacted, typically through human disturbance. <b>Poor </b>condition reaches have accelerated degrading processes and lack geomorphic character expected of a reach.</span></div><div><span style=''font-size:16px;''><br /></span></div><div><span style=''font-size:16px;''><b>Recovery potential (Stage 3)</b></span></div><div><span style=''font-size:16px;''><br /></span></div><div><span style=''font-size:16px;''>Potential to recover from its current condition - the likelihood that a river reach will improve its geomorphic condition over management timeframes. Recovery potential is then used for prioritising river management actions. </span></div><div><span style=''font-size:16px;''><br /></span></div><div><span style=''font-size:16px;''><b>Priority (Stage 4)</b></span></div><div><span style=''font-size:16px;''><br /></span></div><div><span style=''font-size:16px;''>River reaches are prioritised for management or intervention according to condition, recovery potential and spatial relationships to other reaches which may affect, or be affected by, processes operating in adjacent reaches.</span></div><div><span style=''font-size:16px;''><br /></span></div><div><span style=''font-size:16px;''><b>Intact</b></span></div><div><span style=''font-size:16px;''>• Geomorphic condition - Good </span></div><div><span style=''font-size:16px;''>• Rate of recovery or presently occurring - No recovery occurring or required. Has not been recently disturbed or has fully recovered from past disturbances. </span></div><div><span style=''font-size:16px;''>• Sediment, seed or large wood input - Appropriate for the River Style. </span></div><div><span style=''font-size:16px;''><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style=''font-size:16px;''><b>High Priority</b></span></div><div><span style=''font-size:16px;''>• Geomorphic condition - Moderate </span></div><div><span style=''font-size:16px;''>• Rate of recovery or presently occurring - Quickly if existing pressures are removed and connected to good condition upstream reaches. Or at moderate rate if disconnected to good condition upstream reaches. </span></div><div><span style=''font-size:16px;''>• Sediment, seed or large wood input - May have sediment, seed or large instream wood (if required) input depending on upstream reaches. Excess sediment supply - Small sediment slugs. </span></div><div><span style=''font-size:16px;''><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style=''font-size:16px;''><b>Moderate Priority</b></span></div><div><span style=''font-size:16px;''>• Geomorphic condition - Moderate to poor </span></div><div><span style=''font-size:16px;''>• Rate of recovery or presently occurring - Presently occurring. Slow to moderate rate if existing pressures are removed. </span></div><div><span style=''font-size:16px;''>• Sediment, seed or large wood input - Little sediment, seed or large instream wood (if required) input. Excess sediment supply - Moderate sediment slugs </span></div><div><span style=''font-size:16px;''><br /></span></div><div><span style=''font-size:16px;''><b>Low Priority</b></span></div><div><span style=''font-size:16px;''>• Geomorphic condition - Poor </span></div><div><span style=''font-size:16px;''>• Rate of recovery or presently occurring - Very slow. No or very little recovery occurring. Often degradation still occurring. Has recently changed or is on the verge of changing to a different style category. </span></div><div><span style=''font-size:16px;''>• Sediment, seed or large wood input - No sediment, seed, or large instream wood (if required) input. Excess sediment supply - Large and continuous.</span></div>

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Geomorphic Stream Condition, Recovery Potential and Priority (0)
River Styles (1)
Label (2)

Description: Rivers in New South Wales display a broad range of physical forms and processes. Their form, or character, is a result of many factors including their position in the landscape, geology, land use (both current and historical), runoff and streamflow (amount and variability), sediment dynamics and vegetation. Understanding the processes and responses, or behaviour, of these systems, allows us develop ways to support and improve riverine health. Healthy rivers are critical for the plants and animals that live there, but also have important cultural, social and economic value.River Styles is a framework developed at Macquarie University that describes the physical characteristics and diversity of rivers and assesses geomorphic stream condition. It considers their capacity to adjust, sensitivity to change due to disturbance, and the pressures (natural and human) that affect their geomorphic condition. It further considers whether a river reach is likely to improve its geomorphic condition over a reasonable timeframe (normally decades) if left alone and provides guidance to help with the prioritisation of river management activities on a conservation-first basis. The four stages in the River Styles Framework, cover the description of river morphology, interpretation of behaviour, assessment of condition, prediction of river recovery potential and prioritisation of river management.Stage 1 is used to identify River Styles and interpret their forms, processes, behaviour, patterns in catchments, and controls on their character and behaviour. Stage 2 is used to interpret geomorphic condition in the context of river evolution. The data can be used to describe the extent to which the river has been altered relative to an expected reference condition and to identify causes of deterioration or improvement. Stage 3 places each reach within its catchment context to analyse river recovery potential, based on the connectivity of reaches within that catchment. The data can be used to identify trajectories of geomorphic recovery and likely timeframes for recovery. Stage 4 provides an approach to vision-setting and prioritisation for river management.River Styles (Stage 1)Lateral and bed confinement imposed on the channel [CONFINEMENT_LEVEL] - the presence and proportions of non-erosive margins that prevent river migration and/or change in channel form. This field may also include whether the channel is continuous or discontinuous.Valley margin or planform control type [MARGIN_CONTROL] - the types of controls that prevent or limit river migration, bed incision or channel length. These may also describe riverine fragility. This field is only required for confined and partly confined reaches.Channel planform (pattern seen from above [PLANFORM_DESCRIPTOR] - planform is a way of seeing a river; a plan of the river channel from above, showing its location, position on any floodplain, meandering pattern, branching, anabranching, paleo-channels, flood channels break out or re-entry points. This field is only required for partly confined and laterally unconfined, continuous channels.Additional planform constraints [PLANFORM_CONSTRAINT] - additional constraint applied to the river planform via secondary confining features. An example would be a terrace creating an additional constraint on the ability of the channel to migrate. This field is only required for partly confined, planform-controlled reaches, but may contain information that adds information to other margin control types.Distinctive or primary geomorphic descriptor [DISTINCTIVE_DESCRIPTOR] - the dominant or key defining geomorphic unit. For example, occasional floodplain pockets along a bedrock margin-controlled reach, or chain of ponds in a laterally unconfined, discontinuous channel reach. Additional geomorphic descriptor [GEOMORPHIC_DESCRIPTOR] - an additional descriptor to provide more information or context, or split reaches. For example, to differential a meander cut off or flood channel from the primary channel.Dominant channel bed material or sediment size [BED_MATERIAL_TEXTURE] - the broad class of bed materials on which the river works, and which describes the sediment class for assessment of mobilisation and transport. For discontinuous channels, it is the valley fill texture. Examples include bedrock, boulder, cobble, gravel, sand, fine-grained.River Style [RIVER_STYLE_FULL_NAME] - merges the controls and descriptions to create specific River Styles. It divides rivers into classes based on the hierarchy of geo-attributes. It includes a description of the valley confinement, any margin or planform controls, channel sinuosity (e.g., meandering) and continuity, floodplains (if any), and bed material. For example, a Partly confined, planform controlled, meandering, discontinuous floodplain, gravel bed River Style is usually found in sections of mid catchment landscapes. Whereas a Laterally unconfined, discontinuous channel, valley fill, fine grained River Style is more likely to be found in low slope headwater areas. River Styles may also be described as Anthropogenic, identifying a reach that has been highly modified, such as a reservoir or urban stream. River Style (abbreviated) [RIVER_STYLE_ABBREVIATED_NAME] - abbreviated text form of the River StyleRiver Styles Group [RIVER_STYLES_GROUP] - simplified name for the River Styles. Groups similar River Styles, for example, the abbreviated names PC_PC_LSin_DcFp_Fbed, PC_PC_LSin_EbkCS_DcFp_Fbed and PC_PC_LSin_FnCS_DcFp_Fbed, would be under Planform controlled, low sinuosity, fine-grained bed.Fragility or sensitivity to disturbance [FRAGILITY] - the likelihood of a river channel to change shape, location, or condition when disturbed. This is a natural and inherent part of rivers and is not a measure of health.Geomorphic stream condition (Stage 2)Geomorphic stream condition at time of assessment. It indicates whether the physical form and function of the reach is appropriate and expected for the Style of river and the environmental/landscape setting in which it is found. Good condition reaches have the expected geomorphic character (physical form and features, including vegetation) and behaviour (response to disturbances and adjustments) for a particular River Style. Moderate condition reaches are noticeably impacted, typically through human disturbance. Poor condition reaches have accelerated degrading processes and lack geomorphic character expected of a reach.Recovery potential (Stage 3)Potential to recover from its current condition - the likelihood that a river reach will improve its geomorphic condition over management timeframes. Recovery potential is then used for prioritising river management actions. Priority (Stage 4)River reaches are prioritised for management or intervention according to condition, recovery potential and spatial relationships to other reaches which may affect, or be affected by, processes operating in adjacent reaches.Intact• Geomorphic condition - Good • Rate of recovery or presently occurring - No recovery occurring or required. Has not been recently disturbed or has fully recovered from past disturbances. • Sediment, seed or large wood input - Appropriate for the River Style. High Priority• Geomorphic condition - Moderate • Rate of recovery or presently occurring - Quickly if existing pressures are removed and connected to good condition upstream reaches. Or at moderate rate if disconnected to good condition upstream reaches. • Sediment, seed or large wood input - May have sediment, seed or large instream wood (if required) input depending on upstream reaches. Excess sediment supply - Small sediment slugs. Moderate Priority• Geomorphic condition - Moderate to poor • Rate of recovery or presently occurring - Presently occurring. Slow to moderate rate if existing pressures are removed. • Sediment, seed or large wood input - Little sediment, seed or large instream wood (if required) input. Excess sediment supply - Moderate sediment slugs Low Priority• Geomorphic condition - Poor • Rate of recovery or presently occurring - Very slow. No or very little recovery occurring. Often degradation still occurring. Has recently changed or is on the verge of changing to a different style category. • Sediment, seed or large wood input - No sediment, seed, or large instream wood (if required) input. Excess sediment supply - Large and continuous.

Service Item Id: dfc598ce2a4044b696a5fc0915a4101c

Copyright Text: NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water - Water Group; River Styles Framework - Macquarie University 2026.

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