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New education and decision
support model for active behaviour
in sustainable development based
on innovative web services
and qualitative reasoning
River comparison, England
UK Case studies and “regional” description
TThe two studies being considered in the NNR project by the UK partner, the University of Hull International Fisheries Institute, are considering the socio-economic and ecological implications of the sustainable development of UK rivers under the EU-Water Framework Directive (WFD). In the case of the UK many of our larger rivers have suffered a legacy of alteration and pollution that have resulted in losses of habitats and species as well as the rivers capacity to provide clean water. As the historical legacy of the industrial revolution is slowly cleaned up the mangement of these rivers is beginning to address the rehabilitation of the ecological interests of these habitats, whilst also developing other water resource issues and services derived from them.
Much of the effort in rehabilitation of these rivers has focussed on the improvement of water quality. Improvement in water quality has resulted in many rivers being cleaned up and some most river which were once considered lifeless now have thriving animal life. However, the physical alterations to the rivers (weirs, sluices, dams and channelisation) are still existing and have to be addressed as these impede the longitudinal and lateral connectivity of the rivers. The UK case studies will examine what is required to rehabilitate features for lateral and longitudinal connectivity together with the socio-economic implications and benefits of such activities. Two case studies will be considered, firstly the Great Ouse where floodplain lateral connectivity is an issue and secondly the River Trent where longitudinal connectivity is a major issue.