GEOMORPHOLOGY AND RIVER MANAGEMENT - Massey University

The University of Auckland New Zealand
Relations to place: How scientific
understandings of landscapes
present an integrating platform
for river management
5 March 2013
Gary J. Brierley
School of Environment, University of Auckland
Support from Kirstie Fryirs, colleagues and postgraduate students is
gratefully acknowledged

The University of Auckland New Zealand 5 March 2013
Mindsets
Faculty of Engineering, University of Wyoming:
Strive on – the control of nature is won, not given

The University of Auckland New Zealand 5 March 2013
Lessons from history:
Dujiangyan
Work with nature …
c250BC Governor Li Bing: channeling and dividing the Min River
Flood prevention and irrigation source on the Chengdu Plain for more than
2000 years
Importance of sediment maintenance!

The University of Auckland New Zealand 5 March 2013
New Orleans (August 2005)
“If I had $10 to spend on a levee, I would put
$8 on people and $2 on dirt.”
Robert Bea, Civil Engineer,
University of California at Berkeley
New Scientist, 28 April 2007, p10 .

The University of Auckland New Zealand 5 March 2013
Beyond Technofix
Kissimee River, Florida, US
Boutique restoration (Higgs, 2003)

The University of Auckland New Zealand 5 March 2013
Transitions in practice … are they real?

Large cross-disciplinary
rehabilitation project with state
government and industry
support
The University of Auckland New Zealand 5 March 2013
Challenge of finding common
ground and perspectives
Conceptual model emerged at
the end of the project

The University of Auckland New Zealand 5 March 2013
CROSS-DISCIPLINARITY:
FILTERS OF KNOWLEDGE
Geomorphology
Hydrology
Aquatic ecology
Integrative river science
“Potamology”
Differing knowledge structures:
Precision, accuracy, error, uncertainty, replicability

The University of Auckland New Zealand 5 March 2013
Key geomorphic
principles
Work with nature: Respect diversity
Cross-scalar (nested hierarchy) – site, reach, catchment, ecoregion
Open-ended appreciation of the diversity of river forms and
processes (Channel and floodplain features)
Transferability of understandings: comparing like with like;
Heterogeneity and homogeneity
Process-based: Know your catchment
Behavioural regime; capacity for adjustment; fragility/sensitivity
Landscape organization: Patterns and connectivity of process
zones
Evolutionary trajectory, rather than reference condition or ‘endpoint’
Modelling of sediment flux
Proactive management: Looking forwards, informed by the past

The University of Auckland New Zealand 5 March 2013
The River Styles
framework
Coherent catchment-framed package of
geomorphic information
Stage 1: River character and behaviour
Stage 2: River evolution and geomorphic
condition
Stage 3: River recovery potential
Stage 4: Management applications
Catchment-scale vision
Target conditions (Defining
rehabilitation goals)
Prioritisation
A ‘learning tool’ … a way of thinking about
river systems
See: www.riverstyles.com

The University of Auckland New Zealand 5 March 2013
Visioning at the
catchment scale
Determining and working towards the best-attainable
catchment-wide river structure and function given the
boundary conditions under which the river operates
What is achievable?
o Contemporary diversity and patterns of river types, and their
condition, are framed in relation to their evolutionary trajectory,
providing a biophysical platform to determine what is realistically
achievable within a definable timeframe (50-100 years)
o Scientific platform to link with socio-economic & cultural values
o Consider the range of possible outcomes:
o What happens if you leave it alone (the ‘do nothing’ option)?
o Objectives must be measurable – what are criteria for
success/failure?

The University of Auckland New Zealand 5 March 2013
Catchment-framed prioritization
of river conservation and
rehabilitation programs
Conservation first: Look after the
good bits and unique attributes
Target key problems in a strategic
(proactive) manner – identify and
rectify problems (causes, not
symptoms)
Minimize off-site impacts - Link
reaches to enhance prospects for
sustainable success (e.g.
consideration of sand slugs, head
cuts, etc)
Conservation reaches
Strategic reaches
Connected reaches with high
recovery potential
Isolated reaches with high
recovery potential
Reaches with moderate recovery potential
Reaches with low
recovery potential

The University of Auckland New Zealand 5 March 2013
Using recovery principles to prioritize
management in Huruhuru catchment
west Auckland

Resource Condition Measurement
Adaptive Management
Natural Resource Management Plan
Catchment Action Plan
Implementation &
Monitoring
Catchment Action
Plan
Valley Specific
Riparian Zone
Interventions
- Riparian Revegetation
- Stability Controls
- Riparian Fencing
River Condition Index
Shared Valley
Specific Spatial
Products )
In Stream Value and
Risk
- Environmental Assets
Water Sharing Plan
Implementation &
Monitoring
Water Sharing
Plan
Valley Specific Water
Management
- Water Trading
- Pool Protection
- Environmental Flow
Provisions
Alignment of
Water and
Catchment
Management
Plans in
NSW
(Brierley et
al, 2011)

Regional-scale
prioritisation
of river
management
activities
(Brierley et al,
2011)

The University of Auckland New Zealand 5 March 2013
The New Zealand
situation
Limited uptake of geomorphic understandings to guide
management activities (McFarlane et al., 2011)
Limited application of geomorphic process concerns in river
restoration indicator toolkit activities (Parkyn et al., 2010)
Undue emphasis upon River Environment Classification
(REC) … “It isn’t real until it’s virtual’
Standardized (simplified) monitoring and reporting
procedures in the face of emergent place-based
technologies
Doesn’t this fly in the face of Vision Mātauranga and locallybased
community concerns (and relation to place)?

The University of Auckland New Zealand 5 March 2013
Situated knowledges …
Importance of context: linking scientific understandings
with local knowledges (multiple perspectives & mindsets)
Ethnogeomorphology: Simultaneously biophysical and
cultural landscapes
What is biophysically achievable?
What is socially acceptable?
Maximizing effective use of emerging technologies
The skills agenda: Role of professional short courses &
‘expert’ knowledge

The University of Auckland New Zealand 5 March 2013
SUMMARY
Pivotal role of process-based geo-eco-hydrology in river
planning and management
Importance of catchment-scale thinking: Know Your
Catchment
Identify what we are trying to protect, and why
Don’t fight the site: Respect diversity & work with change
Proactive, future focus: Concern for evolutionary trajectory and
threatening processes (especially threshold-induced changes)
Effective use of emerging tools and technologies
Desk-top analyses, measurement techniques and modelling
applications, alongside field interpretations
Learning approaches
Biophysical and cultural landscapes
Local knowledge and Professional short courses