Indicators of Healthy Rivers - Literature review Example

Heading: Indicators of healthy Rivers Your name: Course name: Professors’ name: Date Introduction It is a hard to define a healthy river, in spite of the few ideas existing of what it actually is. It can be explained as a river that has similarities of an undisturbed river of the similar kind in its natural condition. This is described in terms of the river’s ecological functioning, biological diversity, and water quality. Because of numerous human activities, rivers have been tampered with, especially in Australia. Some of the indicators of a healthy river include presence of diverse plants and animal species; sediments and nutrients, macro invertebrates, natural flow, high water quality, and ability to transport nutrients and sediments. What is river health? According to State Government of Victoria (2011), this is a term applied in describing a river’s ecological status. Health does not just refer to animals and plants living in a river, or the water quality in it (Australian Government, 2002). This also relies on the diversity of animals and plant species, habitats, and success of connections and protection of environmental processes (Brierley & Fryirs (2008, pp. 126-130). In terms of habitat and life diversity, rivers aid great variety of life that provides a broad range of habitats between land and aquatic ecosystems. Some of the river habitants include lakes, estuaries, floodplains, riverbank vegetation, and river channels. Each of the habitats has a complex collection of smaller habitats with distinct physical conditions. For instance, river channels comprise of rocks, debris, riffles, pools, river benches and banks. On the other hand, floodplains can contain intermittent lakes, billabongs, swamps, debris piles, chain-of-bonds, and channel systems. Besides, river bank vegetation may include shrubs, trees, and grasses. Therefore, healthy rivers are characterized by the availability of these diverse habitats, as well as their proper maintenance (State Government of Victoria, 2011). In terms of linkages, Stefanus and Leuven (2006, pp. 365-368) say that maintenance of connections implies ensuring that a river is within the total landscape, which is seen as a channel through the land. Any disturbance of the associations along a river, amid the bank and a river and floodplains, and amid groundwater sources and a river, will adversely influence a river’s health. On the other hand, ecological processes functioning in a river is significant in the maintenance of its biodiversity and health. These include making sure that there is adequate nutrients and energy in the river for its food chain sustenance. It also involves maintenance of plant and animal populations through regeneration or production, migration, dispersal, emigration and immigration. Moreover, State Government of Victoria (2011) shows that ecological processes entail maintenance of natural interactions amid species like host-parasite, predator-prey, and competition associations. Therefore, a healthy river refers to an environment, which is resilient and sustainable, maintaining its ecological function and structure with time whilst continuing to satisfy societal expectations and needs. Generally, a healthy river must have the potential to support all ecological processes that ought to happen; all organisms that must be there; and all services and goods valued by people. Indicators of healthy rivers To start with, Stefanus and Leuven (2006, pp. 365-368) indicate that a healthy river is determined by the water’s flow in the river. A river is healthy is it has a natural flow, which ranges in frequency, magnitude, timing, duration, and rate of change. A natural flow system is a crucial constituent of a healthy river as the water flow offers the base on which entire river activities are developed. The fish, plants, and wildlife in a particular river have advanced to adjust to the river’s distinctive rhythms (Stuart, 2012). For instance, Murrumbidgee and Murray Rivers in Australia are examples of healthy rivers due to early restoration efforts by various communities and agencies. Secondly, Stefanus and Leuven (2006, pp. 365-368) maintain that a healthy river is determined by its ability to transport nutrients and sediments. In a healthy river, some of the most significant components include presence of gravel, rocks, silt, sand, and organic debris. This is because they create sandbars, floodplains, riparian zones. The presence of these sediments and nutrients in river nourishes its channels and bed. Besides, a healthy river ecosystem in equilibrium inhibits excessive scouring or extreme erosion of the riverbed and riverbank (Stefanus & Leuven, 2006, pp. 365-368). In addition, Stuart (2012) says that a healthy river in an area demonstrates strong and diverse plant communities. Indigenous plant species offer significant home for riverine animals like fish in the river hence boosting its health. Moreover, the diverse and strong species in the river control water temperatures, and bar any excessive erosion in the riverbanks. Besides, Bailey, et al. (2007, pp. 908-917) asserts that the availability of these distinct plant communities can facilitate the removal of impurities from the water in the river. For instance, in Victoria region, there are waterbeds and rivers that are strongly healthy. This is because of the availability of nutrient fauna and flora grows in plenty. What is more, this factor enhances health of rivers through the decay of vegetation, as it is a crucial source of habitat and nutrients. For instance, in Murray River in Australia has different species of frogs, such as, Yellow-spotted Bell Frog, Green and Golden Bell Frog, Northern Corroboree Frog and Booroolong Frog. Moreover, Jungwirth, Muhar, and Schmutz (2002, pp. 867-887) note that healthy rivers are indicated by diverse and productive habitat that can sustain several animal species. Because of the natural movement o sediment across the river develops pools, riffles, backwater channels, side channels offering both rearing and spawning home for numerous fish species. The river health is also shown by the high quality of its water. This implies that water quality is one of the key determinants of healthy rivers in a certain region. Fellows et al. (2006, pp. 71-87) argues that healthy river possesses has temperature levels, salinity, hardness, turbidity, acidity, alkalinity, and dissolved oxygen content. These features are all found in the typical variety for the river and species. Besides, Bunn, Davies and Mosisch (1999, pp. 333-345) hold that a healthy river contains reduced levels of toxics and pollutions like nitrogen, pesticides, phosphate, heavy metals, and fecal coliform. As Australian Government (2002) reports, healthy rivers are demonstrated by numerous macro invertebrates. These water insects are vital in that they provide primary food for several riverine species. Therefore, diversity and abundance of insect species is one of the powerful indicators of river health. What is more, river health is depicted by the availability of diverse wildlife and fish species (Kennard, Arthington, Pusey & Harch, 2005, pp. 174-193). Whereas there is a distinct number of wildlife and fish species will differ with every river, this diversity of riverine species is usually a sign of strong river’s health. Furthermore, Udy et.al. (2006, pp. 81-102) says that river’s health is indicated by the existence of a community, which safeguards it by community planning and wise management. For instance, community groups function to make sure that latest advancements are river-friendly, or arrange river clean-up events, as well as engaging in other member is a healthy river’s indispensable feature. For instance, Australian top universities, such as, The University of Western Australia and Griffith University, have collaborated with International Water Centre (IWC) to offer training and education , consulting services, and applied research, to enhance capacity and boost whole-of-water cycle mechanisms to management of water across the globe. Additionally, Radio 2KY, Parramatta City Council, Clean-up, and Sportfish have collaborated in the organization to maintain healthy rivers in the region (International Water Center, 2010). Reference conditions According to Economou (2002, pp. 3-57), a reference condition refers to selected conditions or measurements of minimally damaged water bodies that characterizes a water body kind in a given region. The term is used in various contexts that range from the purest to the best existing water body condition, in either spatial or historical context, and can have environmental objectives, or may also integrate a wide range of social, political, and economic concerns. Some of the terms that can be used to refer to the conditions include undisturbed, unaltered, unimpaired, undegraded, unperturbed, least affected and nearly undisturbed. Economou (2002, pp. 3-57) further says that reference conditions are used to offer a baseline used to measure the anthropogenic activities’ impacts. It is also used to illustrate the potential of a biological community that is significant in the setting of guidelines for restoration plans. Kennard, Harch, Pusey and Arthington (2006, pp. 151-170) maintain that reference conditions are also used to explain the difference of temporal and spatial inconsistency that distinguishes healthy environments. Moreover, it can be used in the detection and explanation of ecological developments associated with permanent climatic changes. In terms of rivers, Economou (2002, pp. 3-57) asserts that it is hard to find a river with reference conditions; that is those lacking any kind of human effects. Some of the general sets of features that should verify rivers in reference conditions include bank and bed character; vegetation and land-use in the riparian or flood-plain zone; freedom of sideways movement, and sediment free flow of sediment and water in the river channel (Rapport, 1998, pp. 397-402). Conclusion A healthy river must have the potential to support all ecological processes that ought to happen; all organisms that must be there; and all services and goods valued by people. Reference conditions, on the other hand, refer to the selected conditions or measurements of minimally damaged water bodies that characterizes a water body kind in a given region. It is almost impossible to locate a healthy river in a region like in Australia. Nevertheless, some of the indicators of a healthy river include presence of diverse plants and animal species; sediments and nutrients, macro invertebrates, natural flow, high water quality, and ability to transport nutrients and sediments. References Australian Government (2002). Australia-Wide Assessment of River Health: Queensland AusRivAS Sampling and Processing Manual. Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Mines. Retrieved on April 21 2012, from http://www.environment.gov.au/water/publications/environmental/rivers/nrhp/manual- qld/index.html Bailey, R.C., et al. (2007). Integrating stream bioassessment and landscape ecology as a tool for land use planning. Freshwater Biology, 52(5), 908-917. Brierley, G.J. & Fryirs, K.A. (2008). River futures: an integrative scientific approach to river repair. Washington, DC Tucson, Ariz: Island Press Society for Ecological Restoration International. pp. 126-130. Bunn, S.E., Davies, P.M., & Mosisch, T.D. (1999). "Ecosystem measures of river health and their response to riparian and catchment degradation." Freshwater Biology, 41(3), 333- 345. Economou, A.N. (2002). Defining Reference Conditions (D3). Development, Evaluation & Implementation of a Standardized Fish-based Assessment Method for the Ecological Status of European Rivers - A Contribution to the Water Framework Directive (FAME). National Centre for Marine Research, EL. Pp. 3-57. http://fame.boku.ac.at/downloads/D3_reference_conditions.pdf Fellows, C., et al. (2006). Benthic Metabolism as an indicator of stream ecosystem health. Hydrobiologia, 572(1), 71-87. International Water Center, IWC. (2010). Regional Water Knowledge Hub for Healthy Rivers and Aquatic Ecosystems. Asia-Pacific Water Forum. Retrieved on April 21 2012, from http://www.apwf-knowledgehubs.net/h12_healthy_rivers_and_aquatic_ecosystems.php Jungwirth, M., Muhar, S., & Schmutz, S. (2002). Re-establishing and assessing ecological integrity in riverine landscapes. Freshwater Biology, 47(2), 867-887. Kennard, M.J., Arthington, A.H., Pusey, B.J. & Harch, B.D. (2005). Are alien fish a reliable indicator of river health? Freshwater Biology, 50(1), 174-193. Kennard, M., Harch, B., Pusey, B. & Arthington, H.A. (2006). Accurately defining the reference condition for summary biotic metrics: A comparison of four approaches. Hydrobiologia, 572(1): 151-170. Rapport, D.J., et al. (1998). Assessing ecosystem health. Trends in Ecology and Evolution, 13(10), 397- 402. Udy, J., et.al. (2006). Measures of nutrient processes as indicators of stream ecosystem health. Hydrobiologia, 572(1), 89-102. State Government of Victoria (2011). Water in the Environment. water.vic.gov.au. Retrieved on April 21 2012, from http://www.water.vic.gov.au/environment/rivers/river-health Stefanus, R. & Leuven, W.H. (2006). Living rivers trends and challenges in science and management. Dordrecht: Springer. Pp. 365-368. Stuart, M. (2012). How Healthy Rivers Work. lkhart River Restoration Association Inc. Retrieved on April 21 2012, from http://www.elkhartriverrestorationassociation.org/river- education/how-healthy-rivers-work/ Read More