Things we can do now that we could not do before: Developing and using a cross-scalar, state-wide database to support geomorphologically-informed river management

A fundamental premise of river management is that practitioners understand the resource they are working with. In river management this requires that baseline information is available on the structure, function, health and trajectory of rivers. Such information provides the basis to contextualise, t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	PloS one Vol. 16; no. 1; p. e0244719
Main Authors:	Fryirs, Kirstie, Hancock, Fergus, Healey, Michael, Mould, Simon, Dobbs, Lucy, Riches, Marcus, Raine, Allan, Brierley, Gary
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	United States Public Library of Science 22-01-2021 Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Subjects:	Adaptive management Artificial intelligence Australia Biology and Life Sciences Computer and Information Sciences Conservation of Natural Resources - methods Data analysis Databases, Factual Decision support systems Earth Earth Sciences Ecology and Environmental Sciences Ecosystem Editing Environmental science Environments Fisheries Fishery industry Funding Geodatabases Geological Phenomena Geomorphology Geomorphology of rivers Management Methodology Recovery Reviews River management Rivers Rivers - chemistry Social Sciences Visualization Water Australia
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Summary:	A fundamental premise of river management is that practitioners understand the resource they are working with. In river management this requires that baseline information is available on the structure, function, health and trajectory of rivers. Such information provides the basis to contextualise, to plan, to be proactive, to prioritise, to set visions, to set goals and to undertake objective, pragmatic, transparent and evidence-based decision making. In this paper we present the State-wide NSW River Styles database, the largest and most comprehensive dataset of geomorphic river type, condition and recovery potential available in Australia. The database is an Open Access product covering over 216,600 km of stream length in an area of 802,000 km2. The availability of the database presents unprecedented opportunities to systematically consider river management issues at local, catchment, regional and state-wide scales, and appropriately contextualise applications in relation to programs at other scales (e.g. internationally)-something that cannot be achieved independent from, or without, such a database. We present summary findings from the database and demonstrate through use of examples how the database has been used in geomorphologically-informed river management. We also provide a cautionary note on the limitations of the database and expert advice on lessons learnt during its development to aid others who are undertaking similar analyses.
Bibliography:	Competing Interests: KF and GB are co-developers of the River Styles Framework. River Styles foundation research has been supported through competitive grant schemes and university grants. Consultancy-based River Styles short courses taught by KF and GB are administered by Macquarie University. River Styles contract research is administered by Macquarie University and University of Auckland. River Styles as a trade mark expired in May 2020. FH, SM, MH, AR and MR declare no conflicts of interest.
ISSN:	1932-6203 1932-6203
DOI:	10.1371/journal.pone.0244719