River Habitat Survey - Survey Details and Summary Results

This record is for Approval for Access product AfA434. "River Habitat Survey (RHS) is the Environment Agency standard for collecting data on the physical character and quality of river habitats across the UK. This dataset provides survey details and summary results for river habitat surveys carried out from 1994 to present. This dataset is a subset of AfA286 River Habitat Survey. Since 1994 approximately 19,000 surveys have been carried out in England. The bulk of surveys were carried out between 1994 to 1997 and 2006 to 2008. Surveys are still carried out for specific drivers, for example assessing habitat availability and Water Framework Directive. For further information on the survey methodology the RHS manual can be downloaded from www.gov.uk. Surveys conducted prior to 2003 should not be compared with surveys conducted after 2003 as survey methodology changed significantly in 2003. River names may be in English, Welsh or Gaelic. This dataset no longer contains data owned by Natural Resources Wales (NRW). To request data that relates to Wales please contact NRW. Dimensions are intended to provide context for these habitat surveys. They should not be used for other purposes. The following information has been excluded from the survey data supplied to you because there is a risk that we might be disclosing personal data. If a customer has a particular interest in a particular site/survey examples of the type of information we may be able supply are: • General description of the survey • Surveyors name • Weirs/sluices, culverts, outfalls/intakes, dams, abstractions, hydroelectric power • Where channel is choked by vegetation or a debris dam impeding flow • Tipped materials and landfill • Presence of sewage and pollution • Gravel extraction

Please note:We are currently investigating some minor problems with the HMS Score and HQA score. Specifically, the HQA in-stream channel vegetation score and the HMS Culvert sub-score. In some cases our system may have under-scored in certain situations. We will look to correct this issue as soon as possible. Attribution statement: © Environment Agency copyright and/or database right 2015. All rights reserved.