on a protocol for Intercalibration of Surface Water EU-Water Framework Directive (WFD): FIRST DRAFT GUIDANCE on a protocol for Intercalibration of Surface Water Ecological Assessment Systems 2nd Intercalibration Workshop December 6-7, 2001

Action steps required by WFD 2003 Selection of intercalibration sites Identifying river basin districts Characterization of surface water types 2004 Reference condition Ecological quality classification Intercalibration of ’good’ ecological quality status 2005-6 2nd Intercalibration Workshop December 6-7, 2001

WFD Intercalibration exercise WFD requires that the ecological quality assessment systems of Member States will be intercalibrated by the end of 2006. The objectives are: Common understanding of ‘good ecological status’ of surface waters Comparison and harmonization of ecological quality class boundaries 2nd Intercalibration Workshop December 6-7, 2001

Intercalibration: Tasks & timetable 2001 2002 information exchange through WWW-pages Establishment of Intercalibration working group June 2001 Guidance on intercalibration Oct. 2002 Selection of intercalibration sites 2003 Intercalibration exercise 2005-6 Formal WFD Intercalibration 2003 2004 2005 2006 Draft Register for intercalibration network 2003 Final Register for intercalibration network 2004 Report synthesis on comparability of ecological quality class boundaries 2006 2nd Intercalibration Workshop December 6-7, 2001

Links with other activities Working Groups on Classification and Reference conditions Accession Countries Strategic coordination group Working Group on Intercalibration Working Group on Monitoring Working group on Pilot River Basins Working group on heavily modified waters FP 5 RTD projects Working Group on Pressures and Impacts National RTD projects 2nd Intercalibration Workshop December 6-7, 2001

Common understanding of WFD Chapter 2. Intercalibration in the WFD and its common understanding In this chapter, the specific requirements in the Annex V and Article 21 of the WFD and other relevant legal texts are extracted and discussed. Comments are needed. Common understanding needs to be developed. 2nd Intercalibration Workshop December 6-7, 2001

Practical organisation of the selection of intercalibration sites (1) Year 2002: preparation of guidance Three expert groups should define criteria for selection of intercalibration sites from: 1) rivers 2) lakes 3) coastal and transitional waters Oct. 2002 Guidance submitted to SCG First considerations of potential sites? 2nd Intercalibration Workshop December 6-7, 2001

Pilot proposals of sites Work Program, Task 4: Pilot intercalibration exercise was proposed No time or resources for pilot intercalibration exercises in 2002 First considerations of potential sites? Preliminary proposals already 2002? Linkage to Pilot River Basins (WG 4.1.)?

Practical organisation of the selection of intercalibration sites (2) Spring 2003: Start of the selection of sites for the draft register of the intercalibration network Roles of Member States, Commission and Experts need to be clarified Draft register submitted to Art. 21 Committee by Dec. 2003 2nd Intercalibration Workshop December 6-7, 2001

WFD Intercalibration Rivers Lakes Transitional waters Coastal waters Heavily modified waters Selection of water types for each Ecoregion 1 > 2 sites between high ---- good status > 2 sites between good -- moderate status Selection of sites Using expert judgement and all available information 2 Intercalibration network 2nd Intercalibration Workshop December 6-7, 2001

Criteria for selection of types for intercalibration network Common (one) typology system for intercalibration to enable comparison Representativity over large geographical areas Sensitivity to different types of pressures (e.g. eutrophication, acidification) How many types practically possible? 2nd Intercalibration Workshop December 6-7, 2001

Normative definitions of ecological status classification high good moderate poor bad 1 (nearly) totally undisturbed slight alterations moderate alterations major alterations severe alterations OK Restoration needed 2nd Intercalibration Workshop December 6-7, 2001

Criteria for selection of the intercalibration sites Interpretation of normative definitions of high, good, “slight” and “moderate” quality Data availability is crucial ! Representativity for different environmental pressures (i.e. eutrophication, acidification) Practical and statistical and aspects related to number sites selected. 2nd Intercalibration Workshop December 6-7, 2001

Inter-calibration of the EQR-Scale Environmental pressure Monitoring system of a State A Biotic quality indicator EQR-scale Intercalibration Environmental pressure EQR-scale Monitoring system of a State B Environmental pressure Biotic quality indicator 2nd Intercalibration Workshop December 6-7, 2001

Setting “measuring stick” Selected site agreed to have good ecological quality - only slight changes - no restoration needed Biotic quality indicator Adjusting EQR-scale EQR-scale set by Member State’s monitoring system 2nd Intercalibration Workshop December 6-7, 2001

Intercalibration process (2005-6) Commission Data base: Data of biotic & chem. QE, typology Publishing Reporting Member States’ assessment system Potential additional sampling Site selected for intercalibration Classification of intercalibration site (EQR-value) Member State 2nd Intercalibration Workshop December 6-7, 2001

2nd Intercalibration Workshop December 6-7, 2001 REVISED Timetable CANCELLED Preparatory phase Working phase Workshop R Report Approval WFD IC exercise 2nd Intercalibration Workshop December 6-7, 2001