Introduction

Unfortunately our riverbanks have suffered a high level of disturbance over the last 200 years, and are heavily degraded as a result of activities such as clearing and grazing.  In many cases, riverbanks are now being “eaten away” at a far greater rate than in the past. It is this widespread riverbank erosion that is causing the most concern, particularly for people who own land adjacent to riverbanks.

Apart from the problem of erosion, riverbanks are also being degraded by weed invasion. Weeds reduce the habitat value of riverbanks for native plants and animals. In many cases, weeds with shallow root systems do not act to stabilise the bank and protect it from erosion.

Guidelines for Assessing and Monitoring Riverbank Health enables you to assess riverbank health by observing two main components:

1. The condition of the riverbank vegetation

2. The condition of the riverbank erosion level

  What's in the guidelines ?

This rapid assessment method is designed to be an early warning system for riverbank health. It is described as “rapid” because it only takes a few hours of your time to complete. A number of checklists are included in this assessment guideline, falling into three main groups.

A.  Initial Checklist (1)

• Riverbank site description (in conjunction with mapping the site)

B.  Vegetation Assessment Checklists (2-5)

• Weed invasion 

• Potential for natural regeneration 

• Native vegetation 

C.  Riverbank Erosion Checklists (6-7)

• Shallow water plants 

D.  Riverbank Erosion Checklists (6-7)

• Erosion risk

• Current erosion condition

Each checklist is accompanied by a “how to use” page to guide you through the process necessary to complete the assessment. Table 2 at the end of this document will help you to make an overall judgement of the health of your riverbank based on the results of your assessment.

Suggested management recommendations are also included at the bottom of some of the checklists, highlighting management actions to improve the condition of your riverbank, depending on your particular situation.