Catchment News

Hydromorphology: What is it?

Hydromorphology considers the physical character and water content of water bodies. Good hydromorphological conditions support aquatic ecosystems (i.e. hydromorphological elements such as water flow and substrate provide physical habitat for biota such as fish, invertebrates and aquatic macrophytes). While hydromorphological impacts are not as severe compared to other European countries, it is an area that requires more attention in Ireland.

As the second cycle of the Water Framework Directive approaches, an assessment is needed to identify hydromorphological pressures impacting Irish water bodies. Pressures can include abstraction, impoundment (i.e. dams and weirs), channelisation and embankments.  My main role in the EPA Catchment Science and Management unit is to help develop a hydromorphological risk assessment approach for rivers, lakes, transitional and coastal water bodies.

The EPA approach to hydromorphological risk assessment

The risk assessment is a three stage approach with each stage screening water bodies in order to prioritise further investigation at the final stage.

  1. Preliminary Risk Screening: this will incorporate information on water bodies with known hydromorphological issues based on expert opinion, along with evaluating national monitoring data in order to identify any indications of other pressures other than eutrophication. This will help identify water quality issues that need to be addressed first; it is vital to tackle water quality pressures prior to implementing hydromorphological measures. These water bodies, along with water bodies with known impacts caused by hydromorphological pressures, will be given high priority for the next stage.
  2. Initial Hydromorphological Characterisation: this will involve a GIS based desktop assessment to identify the screened water bodies that may be impacted by various hydromorphological pressures.
  3. Further hydromorphological characterisation: this can include actions such as field assessments to finally assign a risk category to the water body. This will allow the identification of appropriate mitigation and rehabilitation measures. Screening water bodies throughout the process will allow for a streamlined focused approach.
Hydromorphology - Barriers to Connectivity
Hydromorphology – Barriers to Connectivity

In recent years, a lot of hydromorphological work has been carried out in Ireland. The OPW and IFI’s Environmental River Enhancement Programme (EREP) is a good example of this work. Existing hydromorphological information, such as EREP, needs to be built into the risk assessment.  In addition, the approach will lead the way to building a comprehensive, standardised national hydromorphological dataset for future work. Worldwide, there is still a poor understanding of the quantitative links between hydromorphological degradation and ecological response. As eco-hydromorphology is constantly evolving, the approach will be reviewed as the science develops further.

Article by Emma Quinlan, EPA Catchments Unit

Hydromorphology - Channelisation
Hydromorphology – Channelisation

2020 Update – Dealing with physical damage to rivers: the Morphological Quality Index (MQI) index and restoration

On 17 and 18 June 2020 the EPA held its National Water Event as an online conference. The 2020 theme was ‘Restoring our waters’.

This presentation was given by Emma Quinlan and provides an update on the national hydromorphology work programme and the Morphological Quality Index.

Who is involved?

Quite simply, everyone in Ireland has a role to play. This can be from something as simple as making sure you don’t pollute your local stream, or a local community working together to establish a Rivers Trust to enhance the rivers and lakes in their area, to a Government Department or Agency helping a Minister implement a new policy to help protect and enhance all our water bodies.

This website has been developed and is maintained by the Environmental Protection Agency, and is a collaboration between the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Local Authority Waters Programme.

LAWCO

Local Authority Waters Programme

The Local Authority Waters Programme coordinates the efforts of local authorities and other public bodies in the implementation of the River Basin Management Plan, and supports local community and stakeholder involvement in managing our natural waters, for everyone’s benefit.

EPA

Environmental Protection Agency

The EPA is responsible for coordinating the monitoring, assessment and reporting on the status of our 4,842 water bodies, looking at trends and changes, determining which waterbodies are at risk and what could be causing this, and drafting environmental objectives for each.

DECLG

Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The Department is responsible for making sure that the right policies, regulations and resources are in place to implement the Water Framework Directive, and developing a River Basin Management Plan and Programme of Measures to protect and restore our waters.