Abstract: After defining of the concept of river health,and analysing of the characteristic indexes(ISC,RHP and USHA) of river health prevailing in other countries,attempts were made to assess river health in five different aspects,i.e.hydrology,morphology,riverside,physical and chemical properties of water quality,and aquatic life with an index system recommended to consist of 5 primary indices and 17 secondary indices.A data collection method taking into account reaches,measuring sites and transects was designed and a five-grade system including "excellent,good,marginal,poor,very poor" was established for assessment of river health.The above-described theories and methods were applied to the case study of a river in Shanghai,and the results reveal that this system is workable in assessing health or environmental conditions of rivers.

Key words: river health, assessment, index system, river management