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Rapid Assessment of River Environments (R.A.R.E.)
An award winning project pioneered by the Eden Rivers Trust and Durham University used to carry out a fast and cost effective assessment of the Eden catchment. A combination of aerial photography, environmental modelling, ecological surveying and a Geographical Information System (G.I.S.) are used to give an overall picture of the catchment and to pin point areas that need restoration and conservation work.
 Aerial Photography
Was used to provide a rapid picture of the condition of rivers and the adjacent land acting as a virtual walkover survey of the whole catchment. It maps features such as bank erosion, the level of channel cover and shade, riparian vegetation, agricultural stock access and channel substrate.
An excellent alternative to a real walk over survey it saves staff time as a larger area can be covered more rapidly than on foot, and it allows areas to be surveyed where access is difficult. It indicates areas where more detailed information is needed through walkover surveys.
Geographical Information Systems (G.I.S.)
This is the basis for the R.A.R.E. project and allows us to use all of the information gathered from other sources.
A powerful computer database, it is designed to handle, manipulate, visualise and analyse large amounts of data. It combines data from the ecological surveys, aerial surveys and digital maps to build a picture of the catchment as a whole.
At a basic level this information can be used to generate survey results as a map or graph. This can explain, and also illustrate, the problems the catchment faces. It can also be used to answer more complex questions about the catchment, such as “How many metres of bank side are eroding?” or “Which pressures are having the greatest impact on fisheries?”
SCIMAP (The Sensitive Catchment Integrated Modelling Platform)
The Trust has been working closely with Durham University who are developing an innovative computer model, ‘SCIMAP’ to analyse the risk of diffuse pollution in rivers. The model is being used to target sub-catchments, farms and even fields to offer advice about land management, buffer zone, nutrient budgeting and soil conservation.
For more detailed information about the model go to www.scimap.org.uk.
For more information about the R.A.R.E. project please contact our Targeting Officer
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on 01768 866788 or download the articles below.
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Surveying 