Permanent non-tidal, fast, turbulent watercourses

Permanent water courses with fast-flowing turbulent water and their associated animal and microscopic algal pelagic and benthic communities. Rivers, streams, brooks, rivulets, rills, torrents, waterfalls, cascades and rapids are included. The bed is typically composed of rocks, stones or gravel with only occasional sandy and silty patches. Features of the river bed, uncovered by low water or permanently emerging, such as gravel or rock islands and bars are treated as the littoral zone (C3). Includes high, mid and low-altitude, usually small to medium-sized streams as defined by the Water Framework Directive.