Towards Improved Fluvial Sediment Impact Assessment (FSIA) approaches within Environmental Impact Assessments

Water contaminated with fine sediment can be a primary risk to human and ecological health. Sediment impacts are, however, complex and difficult to assess in environmental and social impact assessments, especially where timescales are short. We outline a new process-based framework - Fluvial Sediment Impact Assessment (FSIA) - designed to anticipate and address sediment pollution problems in rivers which may result from development projects. We establish three general principles, six methodological steps, and several technical approaches that underpin the framework. Advantages of the framework are that: it is process-based; it explicitly recognises sediment dynamics; it includes explicit reference to ecological receptors; it capitalises on well-established biomonitoring protocols; it encourages multi-disciplinary involvement; and it is based on substantial experience of major development projects. The new framework offers significant potential for more rigorous assessment of fluvial sediment conditions, before, during and after development activity, such as oil and gas pipeline crossings