The 1990 Rivers Survey includes a quality classification of estuaries to provide a simple assessment of estuarine quality based on dissolved oxygen, aesthetic criteria, and simple biological observations. In an attempt to satisfy the requirements for the biological part of the classification, the sampling was carried out by the NRA Southern Region and samples passed on to Southampton University for infaunal and sediment analysis. Two 0.1m2 surface area grab samples were taken from each site, and sieved through a 1mm screen. Each sample was preserved in 5-8% saline formaldehyde solution. Duplicate samples were taken for particle size and chemical analysis.
