Framework for the assessment of river and wetland health (FARWH)
Waterlines report 58 - September 2011
The National Water Commission funded the Framework for the assessment of river and wetland health (FARWH) group of projects to meet the need for a nationally consistent reporting mechanism on river and wetland health.
FARWH builds on lessons learned from two decades of Australian river and wetland health assessment programs and draws on existing jurisdictional river and wetland assessment programs including the national Monitoring River Health Initiative, the Tasmanian Conservation of Freshwater Ecosystem Values, and the Victorian Index of Stream Condition.
FARWH uses a hierarchical model of river and wetland indices to determine river and wetland health including:
- catchment disturbance
- hydrological disturbance
- water quality and soils
- physical form
- fringing zone
- aquatic biota.
In developing the framework, a new index was added - wetland extent. This index aims to measure the reduction in wetlands over time as wetlands are destroyed or lost as a consequence of land-use change.
This practical, transparent and accountable framework for a national report on river and wetland health has been trialled by technical experts and found to be applicable to a range of different assessment programs and ecosystem types. The outcome is a refined national reporting model that is supported by practitioners at a regional level.
The Commission urges all governments to work together to implement the framework and produce the first nationally-consistent reports on the condition of our rivers and wetlands.
Document for download
- Framework for the assessment of river and wetland health (FARWH) (PDF 3.39MB)
- Framework for the assessment of river and wetland health (FARWH) (DOC 7.63MB)
FARWH in Northern Australia report