1. 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FIRST DRAFT GUIDANCE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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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
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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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 Guidance submitted to SCG
First considerations
of potential sites?
2nd Intercalibration Workshop December 6-7, 2001

8. 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.)?

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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