Things we can do now that we could not do before: Developing and using a cross-scalar, state-wide database to support...

Area of Science:

• Riverine geomorphology
• Environmental management
• Conservation science

Background:

• Effective river management hinges on understanding river structure, function, health, and trajectory.
• Baseline data is crucial for evidence-based decision-making, planning, and prioritization in river management.
• The absence of comprehensive datasets limits systematic and context-aware river management strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce the State-wide NSW River Styles database, Australia's largest geomorphic river dataset.
• To highlight the database's utility for informing river management at various scales.
• To share insights on the database's application and development lessons.

Main Methods:

• Compilation of a comprehensive dataset on geomorphic river types, condition, and recovery potential.
• Open Access data release covering over 216,600 km of stream length.
• Analysis and presentation of summary findings and case study applications.

Main Results:

• The database covers 802,000 km2, representing an unprecedented resource for Australian river management.
• Demonstrated application of geomorphic data in practical river management scenarios.
• Identification of database limitations and lessons learned for future development.

Conclusions:

• The NSW River Styles database provides essential information for objective, transparent, and evidence-based river management.
• The database facilitates systematic consideration of river issues across local to state-wide scales.
• Development of similar comprehensive datasets requires careful planning and consideration of limitations.