Environmental change in river channels: a neglected element. Towards geomorphological typologies, standards and monitoring

Rivers integrate the impacts of change in atmospheric and terrestrial systems; they then deliver these to the coast. En route geomorphological processes create dynamic and diverse habitats, both in-stream and in riparian/floodplain ecotones. The dynamics of channel change conflict with human resource development, the outcome is that many river and riparian environments have been significantly modified, complicating the interpretation of change. Collection of geomorphological data on both form and process has to date been overwhelmingly an academic pursuit; standard measurement networks and long-term monitoring have, as a result been largely absent-as in the Environmental Change Network (ECN), despite the emerging requirements of legislation such as the EU Water Framework Directive. In this paper, we utilise a unique set of repeat channel surveys and long-term bed-load sediment yields to provide guidance on both definitions of change and those variables and survey techniques which might form the basis, in future, of improved national-scale monitoring. The Environment Agency's River Habitat Surveys suggest the basis for channel typologies that could structure a sampling framework and rationalise the variables to be monitored. We also point to the value of more detailed geomorphological procedures in use at the catchment/project scale-Catchment Baseline Surveys and Fluvial Audits-as a standardised basis for monitoring the detail of change in the fluvial sediment system. A perfect opportunity to lay foundations for such monitoring activity has been provided in England and Wales by the winter floods of 2000/2001

Patterns of contraception in UK women with Type 1 diabetes mellitus: A GP database study

Aim: To establish the patterns of contraceptive prescribing for women aged 15–49 with Type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) and compare them with the patterns in women without diabetes.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study using a UK primary care database.Results: Nine hundred and thirty-eight women with a diagnosis of Type 1 DM were identified. A comparison group of women aged 15–49 without diabetes (n = 10 000) were randomly selected from the database. Twenty-five per cent of the women with diabetes and 32% without diabetes were prescribed a hormonal contraceptive in 1994. Women with Type 1 DM were more likely to be prescribed a combined oral contraceptive than a progestogen only pill (POP) but were 2.12 (95% CI 1.65–2.72) times more likely to be prescribed a POP than women without diabetes and were less likely to be prescribed a combined pill – odds ratio 0.53 (95% CI 0.44–0.64). The pregnancy rate in women with Type 1 DM over the age of 25 years was lower than for women without diabetes. Women under 25 years with Type 1 DM seemed more likely to record a pregnancy.Conclusions: Differences between women with Type 1 DM and those without diabetes highlight the variation in the way that GPs and patients evaluate the risks and benefits when deciding on contraception.<br/

Impact of lowland forestry on water quality

SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre- DSC:8239.4235(NU-DG-SP--60) / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo

Sediment movement in gravel bed rivers Applications to water supply and catchment management problems, River Dunsop, Forest of Bowland, Lancs

SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre- DSC:8239.4235(UN-DG-SP--59) / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo