WG A ECOSTAT Intercalibration guidance 2008-2011: Annexes III, V, VI

Guidance on the IC process 2008-2011 Guidance endorsed by Water Directors in Malmö, December 2009 Basis for the ongoing 2nd round of intercalibration Three Annexes were left open: Annex III - reference conditions setting Annex V - comparability criteria Annex VI – reporting template for IC results ECOSTAT was requested to complete these Annexes autumn 2010 for WD endorsement in Segovia

Progress Annex III – RC and alternative benchmarks Draft for ECOSTAT - March 2010 Discussed at ECOSTAT meeting 8-9 April Written comments by MS Final version to SCG 26 April 2010 Overview of comments and changes sent to ECOSTAT 26 April

“Benchmarking” is an essential step in the IC process to ensure comparability

Focus of the Annex III Purpose of Annex III: provide guidance for selecting benchmarking sites for intercalibration Annex III is not about giving new guidance to MS for reference conditions setting at national level – we already have two documents for that: REFCOND guidance Guidelines to translate the intercalibration results into the national classification systems and to derive reference conditions

Annex III – RC and alternative benchmarks Tiered approach: true reference sites partial reference sites (specific for a BQE) alternative benchmark sites Based on pressure criteria (indicative table included based on REFCOND)

Annex III – True and partial reference sites Should be selected according to common criteria Existing guidance (REFCOND, Guidelines) Text mostly based on Guidelines – clear reference where text is cited Expert judgment part of the process –Consolidation and implementation of criteria and thresholds Modelling can be used as a tool

Annex III – Alternative benchmarking Use when no or insufficient real or partial reference sites are available Preconditions: Pressure-impact relationship consistent across the data set used All relevant pressures taken into account If multiple pressures: combined in meaningful way Aim: reliable quantification of biological conditons at an agreed level of pressure

Alternative benchmarking

Annex III Current version takes into account all comments received No further open issues identified by ECOSTAT SCG is invited to discuss/endorse the draft

Progress Annex V– Comparability criteria Starting point is conclusions of Art. 21 Committee Jan 2008 following acceptance of the first round IC results “ there is a need for further work on improving comparability” Need to combine two approaches: Boundary harmonisation (used in option 3) Level of agreement in classification results (used in option 2) Technical/scientific challenge!

Progress Annex V– Comparability criteria IC steering group prepared draft for ECOSTAT March 2010 Common criteria applicable for all IC options Discussed at ECOSTAT meeting 8-9 April MS comments Difficult to understand Doubts about some technical aspects (e.g. ‘kappa’ criterion for comparability Unclear how it will work out in practice May not be applicable to all IC data sets Need for more flexibility?

Annex V– Conclusions ECOSTAT Draft not ready to be forwarded to SCG Needs to be tested using real IC datasets Alternative approaches need to be considered (proposal from NL) GIGs are encouraged to test the approach on their data sets and give feedback on results/problems (including suggestions for improvement Final draft needed at next ECOSTAT Further delay not acceptable – need agreed criteria to complete the IC in time

Annex V– Plan for testing and finalisation IC steering group will lead/drive the process Testing ongoing, to be finalised by 15 August Draft criteria as presented by ECOSTAT Alternative approach proposed by NL Also include ‘data poor’ BQE’s Drafting of new text by ‘ad hoc’ drafting group involving MS and GIG leads Detailed plan will be finalised early May

Annex V SCG is invited to take note of the progress on Annex V (comparability criteria), and the planned way forward for finalising the Annex in the autumn of 2010

Progress Annex VI– Reporting templates Draft for ECOSTAT - March 2010 Discussed at ECOSTAT meeting 8-9 April No open issues identified

Annex VI– Reporting templates

SCG is invited to…. Discuss the Annexes III (Guidance for setting reference conditions and alternative benchmarks) and VI (Contents of milestone reports) Endorse these drafts to be forwarded to the Water Directors with the proposal for agreement at their meeting in Segovia (27-28 May 2010) Take note of the progress on Annex V (comparability criteria), and the planned way forward for finalising the Annex in the autumn of 2010