This presentation was given at the 2019 Catchment Management Notwork meeting, which was held on the 11 October in Tullamore. All our local authorities and other bodies responsible for implementing the Water Framework Directive in Ireland attended to share knowledge and learn from each other.

1. CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT OF
IRISH RIVERS AND THE ROLE OF
HYDROMORPHOLOGY
Catchment Management Network Meeting
11th October 2019
Emma Quinlan
EPA Catchments Unit

2. ‘Hydromorphology’
 ‘study of the processes that operate in a water body…..
(e.g. water and sediment production/movement)
…..and the features that these processes produce’
 Processes create and maintain river features
 Physical conditions of a water body
 shape, boundary, content……….
Creates and maintains habitat!
Photo: E. Quinlan

3. Hydrological regime Quantity and dynamics of water flow
Connection to groundwater bodies
River continuity Longitudinal connectivity
Lateral connectivity
Morphology River depth and width variation
Structure and substrate of the river bed
Structure of the riparian zone
WFD & Hydromorphology (Rivers)
Characterisation and hydromorphology
…How does the river physically function?
…… How does it respond to pressures?
………… Is there a significant issue?

4. Cycle 2 Risk assessment outcomes:
Significant pressures (Hydromorphological)
Photo: Emma Quinlan
Photo: Emma Quinlan
Photo: Emma Quinlan
Photo: E. Quinlan
Photo: Emma Quinlan
Photo: E. Quinlan Photo: E. Quinlan Photo: E. Quinlan

5. Photo: Emma Quinlan
Photo: Emma Quinlan
Photo: Emma Quinlan
River Basin Management Plan for Ireland, 2018-2021: www.housing.gov.ie
Actions and outcomes (RBMP 2018-2021)

6. Steps 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
1. Improve knowledge of hydromorphology-ecology
relationships
2. Develop assessment tools (Rivers, Lakes, TRAC)
3. Assess hydromorphological condition
4. Review heavily modified designations
5. Develop key indicators and agree a monitoring programme
6. Identify appropriate restoration measures
7. Develop and agree a prioritised restoration programme
8. Develop environmental quality standards
9. Adapt tools for assessing impacts of proposed developments
Develop in 2nd cycle
Supported by the National Hydromorphology Working Group
EPA National Hydromorphology Work
Programme

7. Assessment of Hydromorphological Condition
(Rivers): Morphological Quality Index (MQI-Ireland)
National hydromorphological condition overview, 60,000km of river channel
Step 1: Segmentation/Reach identification
Step 2: Data capture
Step 3: Calculating Indicators
Step 4: Condition Assessment Score
Considering landscape unit, confinement, channel pattern
Collect/Digitise/Process pressure data
Considering longitudinal connectivity, lateral connectivity,
channel morphology, riparian condition
Calculate MQI score and assign hydromorphological class
2017-2019

8.  Example of one of 16 indicators –
preliminary results (reach scale)
 Automated approach to generate
indicators.
 Categorised by level of impact:
 High
 Medium
 Low
MQI Ireland: Indicators

9. 2km river reach (Clodiagh, Suir catchment)
MQI Ireland: Condition assessment
Photo: E. Quinlan
Currently reviewing tool output
MQI Indicator group
Pressure/ measure
examples
MQI results
*preliminary
Longitudinal connectivity Weir and bridge Low impact
Lateral connectivity
Development in the
floodplain
Low impact
Channel morphology
Drainage Scheme
 Ensure best
practice in channel
drainage
maintenance.
High impact
Riparian condition
Removal of riparian
vegetation
 Prevent removal of
riparian vegetation
on the bank.
Medium
Impact
Hydromorphological quality class Moderate

10. Lakes:
 Lake Morphological Impact Assessment
Tool (MImAS) since 2007
 GIS, remote sensing and groundtruthing
over last 3 years for 224 lakes
 19 pressure metrics relating to the water
levels, shoreline, structures and land use
Photo: W. Trodd
Transitional and Coastal:
 Hydromorphological Quality Index (HQI;
developed in-house)
 13 metrics
 4 GIS based
 e.g. shoreline alterations, barriers, geology
 9 from monitoring data
 e.g. changes to salinity, tidal/wave regime,
river flows
Assessment of Hydromorphological Condition:
Lake and TRAC tools

11. Progressing the National
Hydromorphology Work Programme
National Work Programme How will tools support the work programme?
1. Improve knowledge of hydromorphology-ecology
relationships
Multiple tools to explore linkages.
2. Develop assessment tools WFD characterisation providing a strong diagnostic
capability and baseline assessment3. Assess hydromorphological condition
4. Review heavily modified designations
Inform the revision of Heavily Modified Water Body
designation
5. Develop key hydromorphological indicators and agree a
monitoring programme
Support identification of hydromorphological indicators
and monitoring programmes
6. Identify appropriate restoration measures
Support identification of appropriate hydromorphological
measures - right measure in the right place7. Develop and agree a prioritised restoration programme
8. Develop environmental quality standards
Support development of environmental quality standards
and a regulatory framework
9. Adapt tools for assessing impacts of proposed
developments
As the basis for a decision support system

12.  A strategic look at Natural Water Retention Measures (NWRMs)
 Co-funded by EPA and OPW
 WP2 (Task 1): Review and evaluate past and current Irish NWRM
projects
https://nwrmireland.wordpress.com
Twitter: @NWRM_Ire
 Please help us to identify any
relevant projects in Ireland.
Questionnaire to be circulated