River Restoration Manual
This series ofguidelines provides a guide to the nature, rehabilitation and long-termmanagement of waterways in Western Australia. The chapters of the seriescollectively form the River Restoration Manual. The manual is based on theteachings of the successful river restoration courses, which have been run forriver managers in the past (between 1996 and 2010).
These guidelines areintended to be used by river restoration group coordinators and other peoplewho are actively involved with river restoration. For more general informationon waterways management topics, the relevant Water notes are recommended.
The manual currently consists of 18 sections which can be downloaded individually (from links in right hand column).
Introduction
Introduction - Providesan introduction to the contents of the Manual, how to use it and why. It alsoprovides a brief account of the nature of the rivers of south-west WA, typicalproblems and the need for restoration.
Catchment Processes
Catchment Processes - Stream and CatchmentHydrology - Describesand explains climate, the water cycle, how water Catchment Hydrology runsoff a catchment and how we can measure this.
Stream Channel Processes
Fluvial Geomorphology - Discusses how theforces in flowing water shape a stream channel - how banks erode, how meandersform and the influences of the stream bed and its vegetation. Explains thebasic physics and mathematics of water movement in a stream channel.
Recognising Channel and Floodplain Forms - Describes local to sub-catchment scalechannel and floodplain forms, identifies the factors that influence theseforms, and comments on why forms change over time. It provides suggestions onhow to recognise sedimentary forms in your river, any changes in form, and howto apply this knowledge to improve river health
Stream Channel and Floodplain Erosion - Discusses the connection between thepower of flowing water, its natural tendency to follow awinding path, and some of the specific erosion features we see along ourrivers. It covers bed, bank and floodplain erosion and explains thecharacteristics of bends in streams and how erosion plays a natural part intheir development. Understanding erosion and sedimentation processes helps usmanage rivers better.
Stream Channel Analysis
Stream Channel Analysis-- Discusses surveying, collection of data and assessment of river channels,calculation of flow velocity and discharge and stream power to understand theform of a stream channel and the force of the water that shapes it.
Stream Ecology
Stream Ecology - Providesan introduction to some of the important ecosystem processes that 'drive' thestructure of stream communities and highlights some of the pressures thatthreaten stream ecosystems in WA.
Revegetation
Revegetation of Riparian zones in south-west WA - Outlines the riparian zone and the processinvolved to revegetate it with native species. It gives a brief background ofthe general structure and importance of the riparian zone before moving ontosite planning, weed control, species selection, plant establishment thenfinally monitoring and maintenance of the site.
Revegetatoin case studies from south-west WA - The case studies outline the processes,management, cost and general success of previous revegetation projects.
Using rushland sedges in revegetation - Describes the common species of rushes, sedges,bulrushes and submergents of the south-west of WA, the aim of revegetation, revegetationtechniques and weed control.
Stream Stabilisation
Stream Stabilisation - Outlines techniques to control theriverbed, stabilise channel alignment, protect stream banks and rebuildhabitat. Provides guidelines on managing erosion and sedimentation problems andpractical techniques to integrate channel stabilisation engineering andecological restoration.
Planning and Management
Foreshore condition assessment in urban and semi-rural areas of south-west WA - Outlines a simple stream assessmentmethod (modified from Pen and Scott 1995) for use in semi-rural and urbanareas. It includes the assessment of instream habitat, foreshore vegetation,presence of dominant species (native plants and weed species), channel stability,areas suffering or prone to bank erosion and disturbance to the riparian zoneas a result of the surrounding intensive landuse.
Foreshore condiiont assessment in farming areas of south-west WA - Outlines a simple stream assessment method (modified from Pen and Scott1995) for use in farming areas of south-west Australia. The methodology looksat the overall foreshore health - and grades the foreshore at variousstages from pristine with good vegetation to a ditch or drain with weedinfestation or no vegetation.
Planning for waterways management: An overview - Provides an outline of theprinciples by which planning for waterways management should occur and is thebackground to more detailed documents.
Guidelines for preparing a regional strategy for naturual resource management - Discussesregional planning, integrated catchment management, natural resourcemanagement, development of regional strategies, components of regionalstrategies and the incorporation of waterways management issues.
Guidelines for preparing a Waterways Management Program/Catchment Plan - Recommendsa planning process, content and structure for waterways planning documents thatfocus at the catchment scale. Principally aimed atWaterways Management Authorities developing Waterways Management Programs, butthe approaches and structures that are recommended are equally relevant to the developmentof catchment management plans.
Guidelines for preparing a River Action Plan - A guide to preparing a River Action Plan for community groupsand people involved in on-ground river restoration activities. It assists theprocess of planning river restoration activities at the local level byoutlining the major steps and actions required to develop a River Action Plan.
Determining foreshore reserves - Describes how to determine the extent of a foreshore reserve usingbiophysical criteria and the step by step process that will define and protectit. Also provides two case studies of the Hill River and the lower Collie andBrunswick Rivers.