This paper presents a new version of the Riparian Quality Index (RQI). This index serves to assess the ecological status of riparian systems. The paper provides recommended field forms for the collection of the data used to characterise riparian systems prior to their assessment. The RQI considers the main sources of riparian ecological functions and environmental services. It represents a useful tool for monitoring and evaluating the structure of riparian zones, an element of the river morphological conditions considered by the Water Framework Directive. The Index was applied to the Guadiana Basin and other Spanish rivers providing helpful criteria for not only evaluating the present status of riparian systems but also formulating diagnosis and rehabilitation options. It represents a checklist of riparian natural characteristics and possible human-impacted riparian features, and it has valuable potential applications for post-project appraisals.