On 17 and 18 June 2020 the EPA held its National Water Event as an online conference. This year's theme was 'Restoring our waters'. This years event was free to attend. It was the EPA's largest water event ever, with over 1250 attending. To everyone who joined us: thanks for attending; thanks for your probing questions; thanks for your passion; thanks for caring about our waters. We can achieve more working together. Special thanks to all our presenters and the team who worked behind the scenes to make sure this years conference happened. For science and stories about water quality in Ireland, check out www.catchments.ie

1. ASSESSING THE DAMAGE TO THE
PHYSICAL CONDITION OF RIVERS
EPA National Water Event
18th June 2020
Emma Quinlan
EPA Catchments Unit

2. ‘Hydromorphology’
◼ ‘study of the processes that operate in water body…..
(e.g. water and sediment production/movement)
…..and the features that these processes produce’
◼ Foundation for which aquatic ecosystems can be supported
◼ Physical conditions of a water body
◼ Vital component of catchment management
Photo: E. Quinlan
Create and maintain habitat!!

3. Hydromorphology - what’s considered
Flow
Connectivity

4. Channel depth and width
Sediment
Hydromorphology - what’s considered

5. Riparian vegetation
Photo: E. Quinlan
Hydromorphology - what’s considered

6. WFD Cycle 2 Risk assessment outcomes:
Significant pressures (Physical modification)
Photo: Emma Quinlan
Photo: Emma Quinlan
Photo: Emma Quinlan
Photo: E. Quinlan
Photo: Emma Quinlan
Photo: E. Quinlan Photo: E. Quinlan Photo: E. Quinlan

7. WFD Cycle 3:
Characterisation and hydromorphology
Photo: Emma Quinlan
Photo: Emma Quinlan
Photo: Emma Quinlan
Photo: Emma Quinlan
… How does the river physically function?
…… How does it respond to pressures?
……………….………… Is there a significant issue?
Address at multiple scales. With multiple tools!

8. Steps 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
National Hydromorphology
Work Programme (2018-2021)
Supported by the
National Hydromorphology Working Group

9. River assessment tool: MQI-Ireland
◼ National hydromorphological
condition assessment of rivers
◼ Step 2 of National
Hydromorphology Work
Programme
◼ 60,000km of river channel

10. 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
Overview of MQI-Ireland
High impact
Medium impact
Low impact
2017-present

11. MQI Ireland: Indicators
1) Dam and
Reservoirs 2) Peat 3) Urban 4) Standard
Indicator
PC/UC C PC/UC PC/UC C PC / UC
Confine
d
Longitudinal
connectivity
A1M Upstream alteration of flows 10.0% 12.5% 0.0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
A2 Upstream alteration of sediment discharges 10.0% 12.5% 0.0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
F1 Longitudinal continuity in sediment and wood flux 5% 5% 5% 5% 5% 5% 5%
A4 Alteration of sediment discharge in the reach 5% 5% 5% 10% 10% 5% 5%
Lateral
connectivity
F3 River corridor connectivity 10% 10% 10% 15% 25% 10% 15%
F5 Absence of a potentially erodible corridor 5% 0% 10% 15% 0% 10% 0%
A6 Bank protection 5% 5% 10% 15% 30% 10% 15%
A7 Presence of embankments 5% 0% 15% 10% 0% 5% 0%
Channelmorphology
F7 Planform pattern and Variability of the cross section 7.5% 7.5% 0% 5.00% 5.00% 10% 15%
A8 Artificial changes of the river course 7.5% 10% 0% 5.00% 5.00% 15% 15%
A13 Historic modification (within cut/reclaimed peat) 5.0% 7.5% 40% 0% 0% 10% 10%
CA1 Adjustments in channel pattern 2.5% 2.5% 2.5% 2.5% 2.50% 2.5% 2.5%
CA2 Adjustments in channel width 7.5% 7.5% 2.5% 2.5% 2.50% 2.5% 2.5%
Riparian
condition
F12 Width of functional vegetation 7.5% 7.5% 0.0% 7.50% 7.50% 7.5% 7.5%
F13 Linear extension of functional vegetation 7.5% 7.5% 0.0% 7.50% 7.50% 7.5% 7.5%

12. 1) Dam and
Reservoirs 2) Peat 3) Urban 4) Standard
Indicator
PC/UC C PC/UC PC/UC C PC / UC
Confine
d
Longitudinal
connectivity
A1M Upstream alteration of flows 10.0% 12.5% 0.0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
A2 Upstream alteration of sediment discharges 10.0% 12.5% 0.0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
F1 Longitudinal continuity in sediment and wood flux 5% 5% 5% 5% 5% 5% 5%
A4 Alteration of sediment discharge in the reach 5% 5% 5% 10% 10% 5% 5%
Lateral
connectivity
F3 River corridor connectivity 10% 10% 10% 15% 25% 10% 15%
F5 Absence of a potentially erodible corridor 5% 0% 10% 15% 0% 10% 0%
A6 Bank protection 5% 5% 10% 15% 30% 10% 15%
A7 Presence of embankments 5% 0% 15% 10% 0% 5% 0%
Channelmorphology
F7 Planform pattern and Variability of the cross section 7.5% 7.5% 0% 5.00% 5.00% 10% 15%
A8 Artificial changes of the river course 7.5% 10% 0% 5.00% 5.00% 15% 15%
A13 Historic modification (within cut/reclaimed peat) 5.0% 7.5% 40% 0% 0% 10% 10%
CA1 Adjustments in channel pattern 2.5% 2.5% 2.5% 2.5% 2.50% 2.5% 2.5%
CA2 Adjustments in channel width 7.5% 7.5% 2.5% 2.5% 2.50% 2.5% 2.5%
Riparian
condition
F12 Width of functional vegetation 7.5% 7.5% 0.0% 7.50% 7.50% 7.5% 7.5%
F13 Linear extension of functional vegetation 7.5% 7.5% 0.0% 7.50% 7.50% 7.5% 7.5%
MQI Ireland: Indicators

13. MQI Ireland: Indicators
Indicator
Longitudinal
connectivity
A1M Upstream alteration of flows
A2 Upstream alteration of sediment discharges
F1 Longitudinal continuity in sediment and wood flux
A4 Alteration of sediment discharge in the reach
Lateral
connectivity
F3 River corridor connectivity
F5 Absence of a potentially erodible corridor
A6 Bank protection
A7 Presence of embankments
Channelmorphology
F7 Planform pattern and Variability of the cross section
A8 Artificial changes of the river course
A13 Historic modification (within cut/reclaimed peat)
CA1 Adjustments in channel pattern
CA2 Adjustments in channel width
Riparian
condition
F12 Width of functional vegetation
F13 Linear extension of functional vegetation

14. MQI-Ireland: Indicators
◼ Automated approach to generate indicators.
◼ Categorised by level of impact (%):
◼ High
◼ Medium
◼ Low
◼ Representing the degree of change from
natural hydromorphological condition
◼ Indicator scores based on continuous variables
◼ Aid scenario analysis!

15. 2km river reach (Suir catchment)
MQI Ireland: Condition assessment
Photo: E. Quinlan
Currently reviewing and refining tool output
MQI Indicator group
Pressure(s)
➢ Potential measure(s)
MQI results
*V1.09.01
Longitudinal connectivity Bridge Low impact
Lateral connectivity
Development in the
floodplain
Low impact
Channel morphology
Drainage Scheme
➢ Cease dredging.
➢ Ensure best practice
in channel drainage
maintenance.
High impact
Riparian condition
Removal of riparian
vegetation
➢ Re-establish/Prevent
removal of riparian
vegetation on the
bank.
Medium
Impact
Hydromorphological condition class Moderate

16. Progressing the National
Hydromorphology Work Programme
National Work Programme How will tools support the national work programme?
1. Improve knowledge of hydromorphology-ecology
relationships
Multiple tools to explore linkages.
2. Develop assessment tools Support 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 targeting and identification of appropriate
hydromorphological measures - right measure(s) 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

17. Thank you