Abstract

This document presents the findings of the freshwater studies conducted during Countryside Survey 2000 compare these with results of a similar survey conducted in 1990. The results indicate the changes that are taking place in the biological condition of streams and quantify the relationships between stream condition and the habitat quality of river corridors. Concurrently collected data on riparian and catchment land cover provide opportunities to examine and model some of the relationships between land use and stream condition. The results are relevant to the Water Framework Directive and the development of catchment management plans. The data also form part of a long-term survey of changes in the GB Countryside of relevance to other environmental issues such as climatic change and atmospheric depositions and eutrophication.