The criterion for the delimitation of this habitat type is the presence of scrub of the syntaxa given above as riparian shrub alongside submontane to alpine watercourses of the Alps and their foothills. For the purposes of delimitation coherent sections of the watercourse should be recorded which contain a considerable proportion of the relevant vegetation.

Stands of Myricaria germanica are to be assigned to the habitat type 'Alpine rivers and their ligneous vegetation with Myricaria germanica' (3230).

Larger sections without shrubs, which host vegetation of the relevant syntaxa, should be assigned to the habitat type Alpine rivers and the herbaceous vegetation along their banks (3220). Should this habitat type be present as well (in parallel), the watercourse itself should be included with type 3220 and only the shrub-dominated vegetation should be mapped as habitat type 3240.