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Are national barrier inventories fit for stream connectivity restoration needs? A test of two catchments

Sun, J.; Galib, S.M.; Lucas, M.C.

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Authors

J. Sun

S.M. Galib



Abstract

Catchment‐scale river reconnection programmes require barrier inventories for restoration planning, yet barrier inventories are variable in extent and quality internationally. To test the degree to which barrier databases, in this case for England, are fit for purpose, we made a comparison of the national database (mostly originating from desk‐study) for two catchments, the Wear and the Tees, against detailed walkover surveys. We surveyed 701 km (32.8%) of stream length, stratified by stream order, altitude and subcatchment and recorded natural and artificial barriers. Only 22.7% of barriers identified in the walkover survey were present in the national database, including low‐head (<5 m) artificial structures (32.3% representation), artificial barriers ≥5 m (14.3% representation) and culverts (0% representation). About 18.9% of artificial barriers in the national database were found, during a field survey, to have been breached naturally. Mean densities of artificial barriers were 0.68 barriers km−1 and 0.45 barriers km−1 in the Wear and Tees, respectively, significantly higher than in the national database. Stream connectivity restoration in England may be hampered by the incomplete national barrier inventory; we recommend careful checks of barrier inventories as they are developed internationally.

Citation

Sun, J., Galib, S., & Lucas, M. (2020). Are national barrier inventories fit for stream connectivity restoration needs? A test of two catchments. Water and Environment Journal, 34(S1), 791-803. https://doi.org/10.1111/wej.12578

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Apr 13, 2020
Online Publication Date May 4, 2020
Publication Date 2020
Deposit Date May 20, 2020
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Water and Environment Journal
Print ISSN 1747-6585
Publisher Wiley
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 34
Issue S1
Pages 791-803
DOI https://doi.org/10.1111/wej.12578

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