Hydraulic character within river habitats

Velocity is an importqnt component within stream ecosystems and consequently the use of hydraulically defined habitat units (ie surface flow types) in river management is becoming widespread. Surface flow types are partly defined by 'mean' columns velocities, yet in upland gravel bed river systems 'mean' column velocities bear little relation to the more biologivally relevant bed velocities. Little is known about the velocity/turbulence profiles or hyrdraulic character of surface flow types in such systems. This study aims to determine the relationship between surface flow types and velocity/turbulence column profiles through a series of field and flume measurements. This work will enable managers to better target environmental flows in gravel bed rivers to maximise outcomes