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The MoRPh Survey: A Modular River Physical Surveyfor Citizen Scientists

Field Guide

Angela Gurnell, Lucy Shuker, Geraldene Wharton, Judy England

2018 version

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The Modular River Physical or MoRPh survey has been developed for Citizen Scientists to support the Catchment Based Approach and river stewardship for Catchment Partnerships. The MoRPh survey is one part of the Modular River Survey (ModRS) suite of scaled assessment techniques that have been designed to promote understanding of the way rivers function across a hierarchy of spatial scales within river catchments.

This Field Guide: • is not a complete manual but is designed to be used in

the field to support the completion of the four sheets of the MoRPh Field Survey.

• provides images and brief supporting text to act as an aide memoire for field surveyors

• uses the same numbering system as the four field sheets to indicate where each part of the Field Guidance can support the completion of the four survey sheets.

• uses the same numbering system as the MoRPh Technical Reference Manual to indicate where more detailed information can be found on each element of the MoRPh survey.

• the numbering system starts with the MoRPh survey sheet number (1 to 4) and is then followed by the section number on each sheet. For example 3.2 refers to sheet 3 section 2.

• The field guide is organised into five parts:MoRPh CodesSetting up the surveyMaterialsNatural and Artificial Physical FeaturesVegetation

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MoRPh Codes Setting Up the Survey

Yellow arrows indicate the ‘MoRPh river width’, red dashed lines indicate the boundary between the bank face and the bank top. (photographs provided by the Environment Agency).‘

Module, Subreach, Reach Names / Numbers (SECTION 1.2)Surveyed modules (numbered) are located within a subreach (local name) which is located within a reach (river name). Number modules from upstream to downstream (1,2..10). 10 contiguous modules form a Subreach or MultiMorph survey.

Module length varies with river width. Where several contiguous MoRPh surveys are to be conducted, use a single module length based on the typical river width.

A B

C D

Section 2.1 Artificial / Managed ground cover types

Fp Pedestrianised footpath

Tr Transport infrastructure(road, railway, car park)

Ic Buildings (commercial / industrial)

Re Buildings (residential)

Sy Storage area

Ld Landfill area

Ar Arable agriculture / allotments

Pv Permanently vegetated agriculture(e.g. pasture / orchard)

Pr Permanently vegetated recreation (e.g. playing fields, parks, gardens)

Pw Plantation woodland

Ow Open water (e.g. canal, reservoir)

Section 3.1 Bank profile types

Natural / Unmodified

V Vertical

Vo Vertical with top overhang

Vu Undercut or Vertical with undercut

Vt Vertical with toe

St Steep (>45 degrees)

Gt Gentle (<45 degrees)

Cm Composite

Artificial (OBVIOUSLY MODIFIED)

Rs Reshaped

Ts Artificial two-stage

Em Embanked

Sm Set-back embankment

Pc Poached bank

Sections 3.2 / 3.3 / 4.1 / 4.3 Sediment sizes

AR Entirely artificial

BE Bedrock

BO Boulder

CO Cobble

GP Gravel-Pebble

SA Sand

SI Silt / Fine non-sticky sediments

CL Clay

OR Organic (leaves, twigs etc not fully decomposed)

PE Peat

EA Earth (i.e. mixed, mainly sand and finer)(for bank face material only)

NV Not visible

Section 4.2 / Flow types

FF Free fall

CH Chute

BW Broken standing waves

UW Unroken standing waves

UP Upwelling

CF Chaotic flow (mixture of>2 of FF, CH, BW, UW)

RP Rippled

SM Smooth

NP No perceptible flow

DR Dry

Section 3.2 / 4.1 Reinforcement types

CC Concrete

CB Concrete & brick / laid stone (cemented)

BR Brick / laid stone (cemented)

SP Sheet piling

WP Wood piling / panels

BW Builders waste / hard core (tipped)

RR Rip-rap (large laid stone, uncemented)

GA Gabions / rock rolls

WS Willow spiling

RE Planted reeds

BC Biotextiles / coir

WO Washed out reinforcement

Reach (HydroMoRPh survey)

Module (MoRPh survey)

Subreach (MultiMoRPh survey)

MoRPh river width

Low flow water width

Width of regularlyinundated bare

sediment,marginal/emergent

plants

Determining your Module Length

River width (m) (ii) Module length (m)

< 5 m 10 m

5 to < 10 m 20 m

10 to < 20 m 30 m

20 to < 30 m 40 m

≥ 30 m River channel too wide for this type of survey

Predominant river width is used to determine module length.

This is estimated as the typical water width plus any area of bare sediment or emergent aquatic plants at the edge of the water.

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Survey layout and channel dimensions (SECTION 1.3)

The MoRPh survey records information for:• the left and right bank top (10 m back from the bank edge) (Survey sheet 2)• the left and right bank face (includes margins of the water-filled channel)

(Survey sheet 3)• the channel bed (Survey sheet 4).

Channel dimensions are recorded at a representative site within the surveyed module, usually at a riffle or run, where the water is relatively shallow.

MaterialsBank face (SECTION 3.2) and channel bed (SECTION 4.1)

natural materials

Sediment size codes are used to record natural bank and bed materials. The following table provides some simple descriptions (in red) that can be used in the field. Note that EA is only used for bank materials.

Code Name Technical Description Simple Field Description

AR Artificial Only record if artificial materials (e.g. concrete) completely obscure the natural sediments across the entire bank face or river bed

BE Bedrock Bare bedrock exposed at the surface

BO Boulder Mineral particles, diameter > 256 mm

head size or larger

CO Cobble Mineral particles, diameter 64-256 mm

fist size to head size

GP Gravel-Pebble

Mineral particles, diameter 2-64 mm

Smaller than fist size but particles clearly visible to naked eye from several meters

SA Sand Mineral particles, diameter 0.0625-2 mm

very loose crumbly material, particles clearly visible to naked eye from within 1 m.

SI Silt (and finer non-sticky particles)

Mineral particles, diameter 0.00195-0.0625 mm

loose crumbly material but individual particles difficult to see with the naked eye

CL Clay Mineral particles, diameter < 0.00195 mm

sticky material made up of very small particles invisible to the naked eye)

OR Organic Dead plant material (leaves, twigs etc.) that is intact or only lightly decomposed

PE Peat More or less decomposed plant material that has accumulated in a water-saturated environment and in the absence of oxygen

EA Earth A mixture of mineral and organic particle sizes (mainly sand and finer) (only used for bank face material)

NV Not visible Only record if all natural sediments are present but obscured from view (e.g. by vegetation, when observed from the opposite river bank)

Low flow channel widthis between 5 and 10 m.

Therefore, module length is 20 m

width = 8 m

flow directionsurveyedchannelcross section

10 m

10 m

20 m

left bank top

left bank face

right bank face

right bank top

channel bed

Left bank Right bank

Left bank top / floodplain

Left bank face /channel margin Right bank face /

channel margin

Right bank top / floodplain

Channel bed

Left bank height

Right bank height

Bankfull width

Water width

Water depth

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4

45

5

6

6

MoRPh river width1

1

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Left bank Right bank

98Bank face (SECTION 3.2) and channel bed (SECTION 4.1)

reinforcementReinforcement type codes are used to record bank and bed reinforcement materials

CC - concrete (cemented reinforcement with no gaps), CB - concrete and brick, blocks or stone (areas of extensive concrete with areas of bricks/

stone/concrete blocks), BR - brick / laid stone / blocks (held together by mortar), SP - sheet piling (interlocking metal sheets, including corrugated iron), WP - wood piling (vertical or horizontal wood planks protecting the bank face), BW - builders waste (loose, tipped hard core), RR - rip-rap (uncemented stones/blockstones/boulders, often of similar size, purposely tipped/

laid along the bank), GA - gabions (stones in wire baskets), WS - willow spiling / faggot bundles (cut willow stakes driven into bank toe / face, often linked by

woven willow pieces, or bundles of sticks or twigs), RE - planted reeds (only record when obviously deliberately planted), BC - biotex / coir (woven fabric spread to protect the underlying bank materials from erosion), WO - washed out (bank protection materials that have collapsed into the river channel).

Natural and Artificial Physical FeaturesNatural / artificial bank profiles (SECTION 3.1)

Bank top water-related features (SECTION 2.3 AND 3.3)

Features 1, 2 and 4 are recorded in section 2.3 and feature 3 is recorded in section 3.3

CC

SP

RR

RE

CB

WP

GA

BC

BR

BW

WS

WO

Natural / Unmodified bank profile

Artificial bank profile

V: Vertical

Vo: Vertical with top overhang

Vu: Undercut or vertical + undercut

Vt: Vertical with toe

St: Steep (>45 degrees)

Gt: Gentle (<45 degrees)

Cm: Composite

Rs: Reshaped

Ts: Artificial two-stage

Em: Embanked

Sm: Set-back embankment

Pc: Poached bank

1

2

3

4

2 Pond connectedOne connection to main channel

at low flow.Water can flow in two directions.

4 Pond disconnectedOnly connected to

main channel duringhigh flow.

3 Marginal backwaterEmbayment in main channel margin.

Very slow water movement withsecondary circulation during

higher flows.

1 Side ChannelConnected to main channel

at both ends.Water flows in one direction.

1110 Bank face – channel margin, Natural physical features (SECTION 3.3)

A – Bare / unvegetated side bar (surface slopes towards the water, <50% vegetated)B – Vegetated side bar (surface slopes towards the water, >50% vegetated) C – Berm (near horizontal vegetated surface close to the low flow water level), D – Bench (near horizontal vegetated surface above the low flow water level) E – Stable cliff (near vertical, > 0.5 m high, > 50% vegetated), F – Eroding cliff (near vertical, > 0.5 m high, < 50% vegetated), G – Bank toe (bare / vegetated area of deposited sediment at base of bank)H – Animal nesting holes or burrows Not shown – Marginal backwater (local embayment at the water’s edge, see previous page; Confluence of tributary stream.

FF – Free fall (near vertical falling water that is not in direct contact with river bed) CH – Chute flow (steep water surface but water is mainly in contact with river bed)

(Source: www.freeimageslive.co.uk free_stock_image watercascade3897jpg). BW – Broken standing waves (waves at fixed position on the water surface with a

foaming / breaking crest), UW – Unbroken standing waves (waves at fixed position on the water surface without a

foaming / breaking crest), UP – Upwelling (water rising to the surface and spreading sideways in all directions), RP – Ripples (generally small waves that move gradually across the water surface), SM – Smooth (near featureless water surface but water clearly moving downstream)NP – no perceptible flow (water surface not clearly moving)DR – dry channel (no water in the channel).

Bank face – channel margin, Artificial physical features (SECTION 3.3)

Water surface flow types (SECTION 4.2)

Pipes and outfalls are counted if they appear capable of draining something into the river.

A

C

E

G

B

D

F

H

Major jetty: extends > 20% channel width (water cannot flow underneath)

Intermediate jetty:extends 10–20% channel width

Minor jetty:extends <10 channel width

Major deflector:extends >20% channel width(water cannot flow underneath,includes collapsed /breached weirs)

Intermediate deflector:extends 10–20%channel width

Minor deflector:extends <10 channel width

FF BWCH

UW UP RP

SM NP DR

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A – (i) exposed unvegetated boulders / rocks (i.e. < 50% vegetation cover) (ii) cascade (sequence of chutes and broken standing waves), B – (i) exposed vegetated boulders / rocks (> 50% vegetation cover) (ii) cascade (sequence of chutes and broken standing waves),C – Unvegetated mid channel bar (rounded shape, exposed feature, < 50% vegetation cover), , D – Vegetated mid channel bar bank (rounded shape, exposed feature, > 50% vegetation cover), E – Island (similar to D but more tabular shape with a higher upper surface that is close to the level

of the surrounding bank tops), F – Pool (locally deep area with smooth / rippled water surface), G – Riffle (area of locally shallow water over a coarse cobble / gravel river bed with (un)broken

standing waves),H – Step (near-vertical mix of free fall and chute flow less than 2 m high, usually in bedrock/boulder

rivers)I – Waterfall (near-vertical mix of mainly free fall with some chute flow over 2 m high, usually in

bedrock/boulder rivers).

A – large trash, B – weir sizes and definitions, C – culvert; D – bridge piers built into the river bed, E – bridge shadow.

Channel bed natural physical features (SECTION 4.3) Channel bed artificial physical features (SECTION 4.3)

A

C E

B

D

A B C

D E F

G H I

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VegetationTerrestrial vegetation structure (SECTIONS 2.2, 3.4)

A – Lichens, mosses, liverwortsB – Emergent broad-leaved (rooted into river bed)C – Emergent linear-leaved (rooted into river bed)D – Floating leaved (leaves on water surface, rooted

into river bed)E – Free floating (leaves on / below water surface, not

rooted into river bed)

A – Fallen tree (ONLY record on sheet 2 if a significant part is on bank top, sheet 3 if a significant part is on the bank face, and on sheet 4 if a significant part is in the channel)

B – Leaning tree (ONLY record on sheet 2 if on bank top or sheet 3 if on bank face),C – J-shaped tree (ONLY record on sheet 2 if on bank top or sheet 3 if on bank face), D – Tree branches trailing into channel (ONLY record on sheet 2 if from trees growing on bank

top and on sheet 3 if from trees growing on bank face), E, F – Large wood (i.e. wood piece(s) > 1 m long, > 10 cm diameter) (ONLY record on sheet 2

if (mainly) on the bank top, sheet 3 if on bank face, or sheet 4 if in the channel).

Tree habitat features (SECTIONS 2.2, 3.4, 4.4)

Aquatic vegetation types (SECTIONS 3.4 AND 4.4)

F – Amphibious (plant rooted in river margins, leaves trailing / floating on water surface)

G – Submerged broad-leaved (rooted into river bed)H – Submerged linear-leaved (rooted into river bed)I – Submerged fine-leaved (rooted into river bed)J – Filamentous algae (fine filaments covering the river

bed, submerged parts of plants)

A

A

C

C

E

E

G

I

B

B

D

D

F

F

H

J

mosseslichens

short / creepingherbs orgrasses

tall herbsor grasses

scrub orshrubs

saplings ortrees

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Non-native invasive plant species (SECTIONS 2.2, 3.4, 4.4)

A – Japanese knotweedB – Himalayan balsamC – Giant HogweedD – Floating pennywortE – Creeping water primroseF – Parrot’s featherG – Australian swamp stonecrop

A

D

B

E

C

F

G

Photograph Copyright 2009 Andrey Zharkikh. Licensed CC-BY-2.0. Source: https://flic.kr/p/c5z8zq

Photograph Copyright 2009 Andrey Zharkikh. Licensed CC-BY-2.0. Source: https://flic.kr/p/bJgbGk

Photograph: The Environment Agency.

Photograph: The Environment Agency.

Photograph: The Environment Agency.