Rivers show a remarkable diversity of river character and behaviour in any catchment. Human activities, whether purposeful or otherwise have impacted significantly on the inherent patterns and rates of river adjustment, altering what rivers look like and how they behave. This has impacted on the structure and function of aquatic ecosystems. The River Styles framework outlines a generic set of procedures that provides tools for interpreting river character, behaviour, condition and recovery potential. The explanatory and predictive basis of the framework provides a rigorous foundation for management decision making.

River management programs that 'work with nature' must respect the inherent diversity and behaviour of aquatic ecosystems. Each catchment should be managed in its own right, recognising the patterns and connectivity of river forms and processes. These are shaped by the configuration of the system and responses to natural and/or human induced disturbance events. Applications of the River Styles framework generate a coherent package of geomorphic information, providing a physical template for river rehabilitation activities.

• Respect river diversity
• Work with river dynamic and change
• Work with linkages of biophysical processes
• Use geomorphology as an integrative physical template for river management activities

There are many scientific and management values of the River Styles^® framework

The River Styles framework has 4 stages:

STAGE ONE: Catchment-wide baseline survey of river character and behaviour     STAGE TWO: Catchment-framed assessment of river evolution and geomorphic river     STAGE THREE: Assessment of future trajectory of change and geomorphic river recovery potential     STAGE FOUR: River management applications and implications: Catchment based vision building, identification of target conditions and prioritization of management efforts   The first stage of the River Styles® framework entails identification, interpretation and mapping of River Styles® throughout a catchment. The second stage involves assessing the geomorphic condition of each reach of each River Style in the catchment, framed in terms of an analysis of river evolution. By placing each of these reaches in their catchment context, along with an interpretation of limiting factors, the geomorphic recovery potential of each reach of each River Style is determined. From this, predictions of likely future condition are determined. With this information in hand, realistic target conditions for river rehabilitation programs are identified for each reach, framed within a catchment-based vision. Working with local/regional catchment managers, a physically-meaningful framework to priorities management strategies for river rehabilitation and conservation is then applied.