Hydromorphological conditions of small streams in North Italy and West Austria

Considering the entire fluvial network of Tyrol and South Tyrol, 81 sampling sites were selected according to the following requirements: (1) degree of hydrological disturbance (undisturbed, residual water, temporal residual water or hydropeaking); (2) type of water regime (e.g. groundwater, glacial, nivo-pluvial); (3) degree of morphological disturbance (either near natural conditions or anthropogenic changed conditions); (4) dominant land use type in the catchment with a total area of 4 ha (either grassland, forest, vineyard/orchard or urban settlement); (5) hormone pollution (based on the location of the sample point - before or after sewage treatment plant, or pesticide suspicion). Hydrological and morphological indicators as well as derived indices are based on a standardized methodical approach: (1) survey of morphological and hydrological stream characteristics using standardised field manual and entry form. The hydrological indicators were identified through flow-duration curves, which represent quantitative characterisation of the streamflow regime and harmonised data provided by local agencies and on-site probes; (2) standardized index calculations, starting with the hydrological index IH and morphological index IM, which were summed up to the hydromorphological index IHM.

Further details regarding the methodical approach and its application are explained in the publication resulting from the analysis of this hydromorphological data (see Supplement to).