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CIS Working Group 2A ECOSTAT Role of General Physico-Chemical Quality Elements in the Assessment

CIS Working Group 2A ECOSTAT Role of General Physico-Chemical Quality Elements in the Assessment of Ecological Status and Potential 01 July 2003 D/UK WGL CIS 2A. Proposed Work Packages of Task 2: Guidance on Ecological Classification.

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CIS Working Group 2A ECOSTAT Role of General Physico-Chemical Quality Elements in the Assessment

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  1. CIS Working Group 2A ECOSTATRole of General Physico-Chemical Quality Elements in the Assessment of Ecological Status and Potential01 July 2003 D/UK WGL CIS 2A

  2. Proposed Work Packages of Task 2: Guidance on Ecological Classification 1. Development of an overall approach to the classification of ecological status and potential 2. Clarification of the role of physico-chemical quality elements in the assessment of ecological status and potential 3. Development of a technical approach for compliance checking of environmental quality objectives and monitoring requirements

  3. Do the estimated values for the biological quality elements meet reference conditions? Do the hydro-morphological conditions meet high status? Do the physico-chemical conditions meet high status? Yes Yes Yes Classify as high status No No No Do the estimated values for the biological quality elements deviate only slightly from reference condition values? Do the physico-chemical conditions (a) ensure ecosystem functioning and (b) meet the EQSs for specific pollutants? Yes Yes Classify as good status No No Classify on the basis of the biological deviation from reference conditions Yes Classify as moderate status Is the deviation moderate? (a) The values for the biological quality elements differ moderately from the type specific communities or; (b) the values for the biological quality elements differ moderately and the physico-chemical quality element values are less than good or; (c) the values for the biological quality elements are better than moderate but the physico-chemical quality element values are less than good or; (d) the values for the biological quality elements differ moderately but the physico-chemical quality element values are good.

  4. No Different Opinion on the Role of Specific Pollutants: Restriction on General Physico-chemical Elements

  5. Aim of the Paper 2on the Role of the General Physico-Chemical Elements • Provide Basis for a Common Understanding by Analysing the Legal Requirements of the Directive AND (as Result of Drafting Group) • Cross-Checking (Learning) Procedure if Biological and General Physico-Chemical Parameters Show Differences at the Good/Moderate Boundary

  6. Contents of Paper 2 1. Introduction and Aim 2. Outline: Common Understanding / Summary 3. Relevant Articles and Annexes of the WFD 4. Quality elements for the classification of ecological status 5. Chemical and physico-chemical quality elements 6. Normative definitions of ecological status classifications Definitions for General Physico-Chemical Quality Elements 7. High Status 8. Good Status 9. Moderate Status 10. Monitoring of ecological status 11. Presentation of monitoring results and classification of ecological status 12. Proposed Practical Approach (Learning Procedure)

  7. 3. Relevant Articles and Annexes of the WFD Article 2(21) ‘Ecological status is an expression of the quality of the structure and functioning of aquatic ecosystems associated with surface waters, classified in accordance with Annex V. Annex V, Section 1: EN, L 327/33 – L 327/59 Annex II, Section 1.3: establishment of type-specific reference conditions for surface water body types

  8. 4. Quality Elements / 5. Physico-chemical QEs • Biological Quality Elements • Hydromorphological Quality Elements supporting ... • Physico-chemical Quality Elements supporting ...

  9. 6. Normative Definitions • Annex V, Table 1.2 provides a General Definition of Ecological Quality. • For the Purposes of Classification the Values for the Quality Elements ... are those defined in the Tables 1.2.1 – 1.2.4 (1.2.5).

  10. 7. High Status/Potential (2.1) Annex V, 1.2 with Annex II 1.3 (i): • Establish Type Specific Values for (General) Physico-Chemical Elements • Classify as HIGH, where Correspondence

  11. 7. High Status/Potential (2.1) • The Directive requires Member States to establish type-specific values for physico-chemical quality elements at high status. • Water bodies in which the physico-chemical quality elements do not comply with these type-specific conditions cannot be classified as being at high ecological status

  12. 8. Good Status/Potential (2.2) Annex V, 1.2: • for good ecological status to be achieved the values for the general elements must comply with the ranges (T, Ox, Ac, Tr, Sa) or levels (Nut) established so as to ensure: • (a)The functioning of the (type specific) ecosystem; and • (b)The achievement of the values specified for the relevant biological quality elements.

  13. 8. Good Status/Potential (2.2) • The Directive requires Member States to establish appropriate Ranges or Levels for the values of each of the General Physico-Chemical Quality Elements. • The Levels or Ranges established should • Ensure the Functioning of the Type-Specific Ecosystem and • the Achievement of the Values specified for the Biological Quality Elements

  14. 12. Good Status/Potential (2.2) • If the General Physico-Chemical Elements exceed these Levels or Ranges and the Biological Elements are at good status a Checking Procedure is proposed to decide - if the Levels or Ranges established for the Type are more stringent than is necessary to ensure the functioning of the ecosystem and the achievement of the values specified for the biological quality elements or - if an improvement in biological methods is likely to be appropriate

  15. 9. Moderate Status/Potential (2.3) Annex V, 1.2: • Conditions consistent with the Values specified for Biological Quality Elements

  16. 9. Moderate Status/Potential (2.3) • The Directive specifies that the values for the physico-chemical quality elements must be consistent with the achievement of the relevant values for the biological quality elements (see section 9). • This means that … the condition of the physico-chemical quality … will not affect the status assigned to the water body.

  17. 11. Presentation of monitoring results and classification of ecological status • 1.4.2 (i) WFD Requires that the Ecological Status Classification ... shall be Represented by the Lower of the Values for the Biological and Physico-Chemical Monitoring Results for the Relevant Quality Elements ...

  18. Agreed Proposals of the Drafting Group (DrG) • Ranges or Levels for General Physico-Chemical Quality Elements at good status • Cross-Checking (Learning) Procedure if Biological and General Physico-Chemical Parameters Show Differences at the Good/Moderate Boundary • No Replacement of Biological by Physico-Chemical Indicators

  19. Issues under Discussion in DrG:(1) Relevant • Are the General Physico-Chemical Elements Relevant and/or which are relevant? • Annex V, 1.4.2 (i) WFD Requires that the Ecological Status Classification ... shall be Represented by the Lower of the Values for the Biological and Physico-Chemical Monitoring Results for the Relevant Quality Elements ...

  20. Issues under Discussion in DrG:(1) Relevant • Selection of Quality Elements for Surveillance Monitoring: • Parameters Indicative of all Biological Quality Elements • Parameters Indicative of all Hydromorphological Elements • Parameters Indicative of all Physico-Chemical Quality Elements • Priority List Pollutants Discharged • Other Pollutants Discharged in Significant Quantities

  21. Issues under Discussion in DrG:(1) Relevant • Selection of Quality Elements for Operational Monitoring: • Parameters Indicative of the Biological Quality Element, or Elements, most sensitive to the Pressures • all Priority Substances Discharged, and other pollutants discharged in significant quantities • Parameters Indicative to the hydroporph. Elements most sensitive • Annex V, 1.1 presents slightly different lists of • Quality Elements for each surface water category

  22. Issues under Discussion in DrG:(2) Supporting • Annex V 1.4.2 (i) Assigns and Annex V, 1.2 Defines for Supportive Quality Elements a Role in Classification • Can Supporting Elements be Decisive for Classification? • No Replacement of Biological by Physico-Chemical Indicators • Further Discussion Seems Senseless, Better Wording Needed

  23. Issues under Discussion in DrG:(3) Ecosystem Functioning • What is included in the term Functioning? • „Functioning“ of Ecosystem Processes, like Carbon and Nutrient Cycling, Production, Predation, Destruction,... • Weak Requirement • Ecological Integrity • Strong Requirement

  24. Agreed in DrG: Result Under Discussion in DrG:Some Arguments on the WayThere Better Wording Needed Cross-Checking (Learning) Procedure if Biological and General Physico-Chemical Parameters Show Differences at the Good/Moderate Boundary

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