the river styles framework is a scientific tool used to describe and explain the diversity and distribution of river types in a catchment according to river character and behaviour. the river styles framework is based on the science of fluvial geomorphology. each river type is called a "river style" and its name is constructed following a consistent naming convention. the river styles framework differs from other classification systems (e.g. rosgen stream classification) in that it provides an open-ended process for description rather than fitting rivers into pre-existing categories. the river styles framework is designed to provide a scientific basis for river management. it was developed by researchers at macquarie university.