1. Alpine GIG Rivers Progress Report Gisela Ofenböck

2. Proposal for Alpine GIG
Type
River characterisation DE AT FR
IT* ES SI
R-A1
Pre-alpine - Small to medium, high altitude calcareous X
R-A2
Alpine - Small to medium, high altitude, siliceous
„hybrid option“: establish boundary values with national assessment methods (as in Option 3) Subsequent comparison of boundary values could then be done with the help of a common metrics method (as in Option 2).
Two steps
1. Comparison using common metric
2. if there are major differences
investigate reason (differences in sampling, methodology,…)
Proposal for harmonisation procedure
Adequate national data sets required!

3. Selected sensitive taxa
Proposed key metrics
Total # taxa
# EPT taxa
# selected (sensitive) taxa
Taxa richness and
general/habitat degradation
ASPT
Organic pollution
Selected sensitive taxa
Blephariceridae
Perlodidae
Cordulegastridae
Empididae
Taeniopterygidae
Elmidae
Ephemeridae
Beraeidae
Hydraenidae
Heptageniidae
Brachycentridae
Helodidae
Leptophlebiidae
Glossosomatidae
Astacidae
Capniidae
Goeridae
Planaridae
Chloroperlidae
Lepidostomatidae
Perlidae
Odontoceridae

4. R-A1
R-A2

5. Other Quality Elements
Fish
phytobenthos
macrophytes
Italy -
+/-
France +
Spain
Slovenia
Austria
Germany ?
IC concentrates on macroinvertebrates at first step
to early to start IC for other QE right now  postpone
to mid (end?) 2005, after first results of macro-
invertebrates are available
check possibilities for pilot IC for fish AT/FR/(SP?)

6. Timetable IC
Results for Pilot IC: End of March2005 Common metrics, reference conditions, information on boundary setting on national level
Next meeting April/May
First results late spring/early summer
If Boundaries are comparable – give description of boundary setting + prove that they are in line with normative definitions
If there are big differences: start harmonisation procedure