River Condition Assessments
We have a river condition assessment team of experienced professionals who solely design river restoration and river enhancement schemes.
Do you need to calculate the biodiversity net gain of a development project which affects a river or stream? Or are you a consenting body or landowner that needs to calculate biodiversity losses and gains for riverine habitats? A River Condition Assessment (RCA) is a crucial step in the process.
What is River Condition Assessment (RCA)?
River Condition Assessment (RCA) evaluates the condition of rivers and streams, helping with planning projects and often accompanying assessments for biodiversity net gain (BNG). The key elements of any River Condition Assessment are the Modular River Physical (MoRPh) survey and River Type desk-based study. Understanding the condition of a river helps to understand the restoration techniques required and achieve biodiversity net gain.
Why is River Condition Assessment important?
Biodiversity net gain (BNG) is calculated using the Biodiversity Metric accounting tool, the metric that underpins the government’s Environment Bill provisions for mandatory BNG on all new developments in England from November 2023.
The River Condition Assessment is one component of the Biodiversity Metric. River condition assessment (RCA) includes two components: a Modular River Physical (MoRPh) field survey and a River Type desk-based study. The MoRPh survey collects information on sediments, vegetation, morphological and water-related features; and the extent and severity of physical modification within the channel, channel margins, banks and riparian zone. The two components are combined to assess the river condition, and the values generated are then input into the Biodiversity Metric 3.0 spreadsheet, along with distinctiveness and strategic significance, to calculate biodiversity net gain.
The River Condition Assessment (RCA) method can also be used for other types of post-intervention investigations such as river restoration.
The Problems
Mandatory Delivery
Biodiversity net gain (BNG) is already required by several planning authorities and will be mandated across England in January 2024. If a project red line boundary contains a river or stream – even if it is not directly impacted by the proposed works – there will be a requirement to deliver mandatory river and stream biodiversity net gain (BNG). Many ecology consultancies do not have the skills and experience in rivers and streams to be able to assess and propose cost-effective solutions for improvements that will give developers the net gain % increase required for planning.
Alternatively, you might be looking to improve a section of river in order to sell off-site biodiversity credits and are not sure where to start. There is likely to be a developing market in off-site river and stream biodiversity credits, and you will need specialist support to leverage this.
The Solutions
Experience
At FiveRivers, we have a river condition assessment team of experienced professionals who solely design river restoration and river enhancement schemes. We already regularly identify the biodiversity condition of river habitats and recommend appropriate improvements that will lead to an increase in biodiversity. We are able to analyse the indicators highlighted through a river condition assessment (RCA) and advise on intervention measures that will lead to improved biodiversity on site.
Even without the need as a biodiversity net gain survey methodology, river condition assessments (RCA) can still provide a useful means to highlight restoration options, and as a pre and post restoration monitoring tool. We have several qualified river condition assessment staff and offer full river condition assessment and biodiversity metric services. We can also support with area-based assessment using UKHab in order to provide full site biodiversity assessments.
Contact us
Talk to an expert in River Condition Assessments
Luke Roberts
Construction Manager
Get in touch by either phone or email to speak with Luke and discuss your needs. Alternatively click the button below to complete our contact form.
Telephone: 01722 783 041
Email: sales@five-rivers.com
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