Small low rivers in river and stream valleys
Small low rivers in river and stream valleys is the 19th of the types into which the Federal / State Working Group on Water (LAWA) divides the waters. Such waters can occur in all natural areas; they are not differentiated according to ecoregion.
Water structure
Waters of this type nowhere have a valley of their own, instead they run in broad valleys in other rivers or streams. They are hydrologically influenced by the main waters of the valley, for example by backing up when the large river floods. These mostly small brooks run naturally curving to meandering, their current is often barely noticeable, with shallow incision they usually have stable banks. Today these bodies of water are mostly expanded, straightened and diked due to the intensive use of the floodplains. Their bed substrate can be very different, as they are not differentiated even according to the river bed.
In young moraine areas, stretches of water above lakes are sometimes assigned to this type.
Flora and fauna
In contrast to organically shaped streams , many types of standing water occur in this type. Many of the inhabiting species feed on sediment or detritus . Among other things, some fleas and black flies live here . The fish fauna is heavily influenced by that of the large river, including pike , roach or bullhead .
The bottom of these brooks is mostly covered with large areas of water plants, as a lot of light penetrates. Still water plant species are often found, such as the floating pondweed , the milfoil or the yellow pond rose .
Examples
See also
What types of rivers are there? - List and differentiation of river types.