Page 86 - Freshwater-Biology-and-Ecology-Handbook

Key documents describing RIVPACS sampling
CHAPTER 2 3 methodologies

For shallow rivers, the key methodology was published by
the Freshwater Biological Association (FBA) and the UK
found in the UK Environment Agency Operational Instruction
documents. These are updated frequently and versions
Environment Agency. (28) It was issued with RIVPACS III An example of operational guidance for field staff can be
software but has been out of print for some time although since 2017 cover the latest standard methods. It is the most
it is still cited widely. recent detailed description of RIVPACS sampling, and it can
be referred to if more detailed information is required. Copies
Updates of that document formed the basis of the are available from the user guide page of the RICT2 web
Environment Agency’s manual for collecting and pages: https://www.fba.org.uk/rivpacs-and-rict/rict-
analysing river invertebrate samples, commonly rivpacs-user-guides
known as BT001, and that is still available. (29)
Videos about RIVPACS sampling can be found in the user
Deep water monitoring is more difficult because of guide section of the RIVPACS/RICT2 web pages at:
shortcomings in the equipment available. As a result, https://www.fba.org.uk/rivpacs-and-rict/rict-rivpacs-
RIVPACS sampling in deep water was fully standardised user-guides
only recently, the Environment Agency adopting it in
2017. This followed a number of large research projects
culminating in the final recommendations in a report by
Davy-Bowker et al. (2014). (30)

RIVPACS - Key reference documents - front covers

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