Estimation of policy-relevant reference conditions throughout national river networks

Rick J Stoffels; Doug J Booker; Paul A Franklin; Ton H Snelder; Joanne E Clapcott; Stephen R Fragaszy; Annika Wagenhoff; Chris W Hickey

doi:10.1016/j.mex.2021.101522

Estimation of policy-relevant reference conditions throughout national river networks

MethodsX. 2021 Sep 20:8:101522. doi: 10.1016/j.mex.2021.101522. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Rick J Stoffels¹, Doug J Booker¹, Paul A Franklin², Ton H Snelder³, Joanne E Clapcott⁴, Stephen R Fragaszy⁵, Annika Wagenhoff⁴, Chris W Hickey²

Affiliations

¹ National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, Christchurch, New Zealand.
² National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, Hamilton, New Zealand.
³ Land Water People, Christchurch, New Zealand.
⁴ Cawthron Institute, Nelson, New Zealand.
⁵ Ministry for the Environment, Wellington, New Zealand.

Abstract

A method for objectively estimating reference states for suspended fine sediment (turbidity) is presented. To be fit for water policy development and implementation the method had to satisfy four requirements: (1) the method must not be dependent on data from minimally-disturbed reference sites; (2) the method must facilitate characterization of reference states throughout heterogeneous river networks, given patchy data; (3) the classification of reference states must be relevant and legitimate to end-users; (4) the method should provide several classifications of reference states at different spatial resolutions allowing selection of the resolution yielding the most parsimonious classification of reference states throughout the network. Implementing the method involves two stages: (1) Development of a river classification based on sediment supply and retention regimes (defining 'turbidity classes') at multiple spatial resolutions. (2) At each resolution, for each turbidity class, estimation of a reference state based on relationships between turbidity and anthropogenic stressors, then objective selection of the resolution yielding the most parsimonious classification of reference states throughout the network. Implementing the method requires a river network GIS and turbidity data within classes, preferably from monitoring sites spanning the domains of the anthropogenic stressor variables used for model-based estimation of reference states.•A method is presented for estimating reference states for suspended fine sediment (turbidity) throughout spatially heterogeneous river networks.•Development of the method was guided by the requirements of policy analysts during reform of water policy in New Zealand.•The method presented was used to develop fine sediment regulatory thresholds of national water policy.

Keywords: Fine sediment; Minimally-disturbed condition; Reference state; River classification; Rivers; Streams; Suspended fine sediment; Water clarity; Water quality.