ABSTRACT
This chapter concerns project impacts on the surface water environment: water quantity, water quality and fluvial geomorphology. Water is an important resource for domestic, industrial, agricultural and recreational purposes. The chapter focuses on processes affecting the land surface. It briefly introduces groundwater, and discusses it in the text where that topic links with the surface water environment. The chapter presents methods that can be used to inform other licences and consents related to the water environment that may be required by regulatory bodies. The sensitivity of the water environment and the inevitable uncertainties associated with impact predictions mean that environmental monitoring is an important consideration. As many developments occur in already urbanised areas, there are opportunities for restoration of previously degraded river channels using the tools developed for urban river restoration.
