A review of the Northern Ireland hydrometric network. Report to the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland Environment Service

The IH approach has been to assess the network through each of five complementary studies which together investigate facets of the network's scope and utility. The studies comprise: a theoretical approach, considering identifiable physical characteristics and climatic variables; a Data Use Survey which canvassed Departmental users on their perception of the present and anticipated value of the station for a range of uses; an evaluation of the use of the Micro LOW FLOWS package and the Flood Studies regression method in surrogate Welsh catchments to estimate low flow and flood characteristics from time series and spatial data; a comparison between the network densities in the UK and other EC countries with respect to population and area; a review of the quality of the hydrometric data, from assessing the gauges' potential to produce good results to the effectiveness of the ensuing archive data in meeting conventional archive standards. Subsequently, a synthesis of the results was carried out and recommendations made to respond to the individual requirements within the terms of reference.