1. WFD Intercalibration Exercise within the Eastern Continental Region
ECOSTAT March 2006, Ispra

2. WFD Intercalibration – 2 Steps
1) EU Intercalibration with EU MS and AC in 2005/2006:
Austria
Slovak Republic
Hungary
Bulgaria
Romania
Czech Republic
2) Danube Intercalibration with other countries in the Danube river basin in 2007/2008:
Croatia
Serbia and Montenegro
Bosnia i Herzegovina
Moldova
Ukraine

3. River Types in EC IC Region
River characterisation
Eco-region
Catchment area
Altitude
Geology
Substrate
R-E1
Carpathians: small to medium, mid-altitude 10
km² m
siliceous
gravel and boulder 
R-E2
Plains: medium-sized, lowland
11 and 12
km²
< 200 m
sand and silt 
R-E3
Plains: large and very large, lowland
>1000 km²
mixed
sand, silt and gravel 
R-E4
Plains: medium-sized, mid-altitude m
 sand and gravel
R-E5
Balkans: medium-sized, mid-altitude
5, 6 and 7
calcareous
 gravel
R-E6
Danube River: middle and downstream
>13,1000 km²
< 134 m
 gravel and sand

4. Timetable for Intercalibration1. 2. 3. 4.
5. Meeting

5. Facts and Decisions in EC GIG
Definition of sub-basin and sub-unit
report form

6. Meetings since last ECOSTAT
Beginning of January two meetings in Bucharest on IC
EU Enlargement Workshop on the intercalibration exercise in the Eastern Continental region
50 experts from EC GIG region participated
EC GIG meeting
Clear pictures on status of process (comparison with other GIGs), important conclusions and follow-up steps

7. Differences between countries
Not all BQEs are sampled and assessed in DRB
full intercalibration is hindered
whole range of pressures not covered
Methods and data sets
different sampling methods in EC GIG countries
determination level different (family or species level)
yet not all EC GIG countries use WFD compliant methods for BQEs
Differences in design and performance of national assessment complicates IC

8. Follow Up Decision within EC GIG
Exclusively Macroinvertebrates were chosen as parameter for intercalibration exercise 2005/06
sampled and assessed in all participating countries
within DRB intercalibration exercise will be continued after 2006 in order to include all BQEs and to complete the process

9. Follow Up Decision differences make direct comparison difficult
Therefore, use of common metrics for IC analysis
enable comparison of national class boundaries via translation into common scale
different metrices were tested
ICMi EC

10. Intercalibration Common Multimetric index for the Eastern Continental GIG (ICMi-EC)
Purpose: Comparison of good class boundary values of national assessment methods
country
Name
category AT
Austrian Multimetric System
MMI BG
Bulgarian Biotic Index (Q-Scheme) BI CZ
Czech Saprobic Index and PERLA
SI+BI HU
QI of Hungarian BMWP and ASPT RO
Romanian Saprobic Index (Pantle & Buck) SI SK
New Slovak Multimetric System
not yet analysed
General criteria:
correlation with national assessment indices
response to different anthropogenic pressures
meeting requirements of WFD normative definitions
operation on taxonomical level all countries can contribute data to

11. Analysis Status
Definition of sub-basin and sub-unit
report form

12. Analysis advanced – not finished yet
Analysis Status
Analysis advanced – not finished yet
Diagramm zeigt separate Regressionen zw.
Saprobic Index (RO) und dem Britischen “Average Score per Taxon (ASPT)” (gestrichelt)
Saprobic Index (SK) und dem Britischen ASPT (durchgezogen)
Zum ASPT:
a. Allgemein gut mit der Organischen Belastung korrelierter Index auf Fam.-Niveau
b. Zeigt höhere Korrelationen mit beiden Sis als der Tschechische ASPT (ursprünglich für R-E1 favorisiert)
Ergebnistabelle:
“RefVal” ist der von mir benutzte Median aus den von SK gemeldeten Stellen und den von RO gemeldeten Stellen (getrennt, wie bei der “common metric analyse” immer)
Die Klassengrenzen (H/G und G/M) sind in relativen ASPT-Einheiten ausgedrückt. Das Interval ist das 90th confidence interval (allgemein üblich bei der Arbeit mit biol.Daten).
ERGEBNISSE: Beide Klassengrenzen stimmen im Vertrauensbereich überein.
WÜNSCHENSWERT: mehr Daten von den Slovaken

13. The EC GIG Benthic Macroinvertebrate Database
contains ~ 750 samples taken at ~ 400 sites
comprises national monitoring data from Austria, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia
- plus Joint Danube Survey data
- plus Slovak STAR sites
includes supporting abiotic data on - water chemistry - hydromorphological status - presence of hazardous substances

14. Proportion of samples/IC type
The EC GIG Benthic Macroinvertebrate Database (status 11. January 2006)
Type
Eco.
Catchm.
Alt.
Geol.
R-E1 10
sil
R-E2
11+12
< 200
mix
R-E3
>1000
R-E4
R-E6
>131000
< 134

15. Intercalibration Common Multimetric index for the Eastern Continental GIG (ICMi-EC)
Results of analysis:
Best correlating* metrics on family level (mean r2 ≥ 0.4):
- ASPT (and national modifications)
- number of families (of selected orders)
- Structure Index (T. Ofenböck, unpubl.)
- % EPT taxa abundance
(2) exclusion of R-E6 data (Danube river) due to weak/non sign. relationships
(3) Composition of best correlating* ICMi-EC (mean r2 = 0.66):
- ASPT (mean r2 = 0.60)
- number of families (mean r2 = 0.40)
- Structure Index (mean r2 = 0.49)
- % EPT taxa abundance (mean r2 = 0.42)
* with national assessment indices

16. Correlation of dissolved oxygen and BOD5 with ICMi-EC
Intercalibration Common Multimetric index for the Eastern Continental GIG (ICMi-EC)
Results of analysis:
(4) Pressure-impact relationship
Correlation of dissolved oxygen and BOD5 with ICMi-EC

17. Definition of IC type specific reference values
Aim: Transformation of ICMi-EC values into Ecological Quality Ratios
Purpose: Comparability among IC types and countries
Technical Options:
sites in pristine state (result of pressure screening)
if not available: sites showing similar level of impairment/alteration

18. Definition of IC type specific reference values
Option A: Median of designated reference sites
Problems:
- scarce availability (status: 11. January 2006)
IC type AT RO SK
Sum
R-E1 - 9 10 19
R-E2 2
R-E3
R-E4 12 14 13 35
small to medium, Carp. mountains
large, lowland
- true references or best available?
Land-use in catchment of AT reference sites (median)
forest
agriculture
urban
R-E4 30 70

19. Definition of IC type specific reference values
Option B: sites showing similar level of impairment/alteration
Work currently undertaken:
- comparison of abiotic data from “best available” sites delivered by the countries
- analysis of TNMN data (chemistry), JDS data (morphology),
Roof Report data (impoundments) to identify “Least Impacted River Reaches” at the Danube
- relating abiotic data to biological survey data (invertebrates)
- testing application of Potamon-Typie-Index at the Danube using JDS samples (together with Franz Schöll from BfG, Koblenz)  possible common metric

20. Comparison of national class boundaries (status: 11. Jan. 2006)
preliminary outcome based on provisional assumptions concerning references
H/G – high-good
G/M – good-moderate
Comparison of national class boundary values by means of ICMi-EC (incl. 95% confidence intervals)
Saprobic Index of SK and CZ

21. Summary
EC GIG database provides good basis for intercalibration analyses
Common Multimetric Index for Intercalibration (ICMi-EC) represents suitable tool to perform intercalibration according to the WFD requirements
preliminary analysis already reveals differences in national class boundary settings
 most likely harmonisation will become necessary
next steps of the analysis: - ensuring harmonised criteria/thresholds for defining references sites
- if no reference sites available: defining “best available” sites showing similar degree of impairment/alteration
- testing of Potamon-Typie-Index as possible common metric for the Danube river

22. Class Boundary Setting/Harmonisation
EC GIG countries use AT class boundary as preliminary benchmark
Clarify relation of countries’ class boundaries to AT boundaries
currently: consideration of results and agreement at next meeting in April
Reference Values
scarce availability of harmonised reference conditions within DRB
for many sites reported it is questionable if real/true reference sites
More detailed information on reference AND best available sites needed (currently collected)

23. Planned Follow-Up
Definition of sub-basin and sub-unit
report form

24. Follow Up Training Course
‘Ecological Quality Assessment in Wadable Rivers’
(UNDP GEF/DRP funded)\
Joint sampling of IC/reference sites

25. THANK YOU FOR THE ATTENTION!
Thank you for your attention.