1. ECOSTAT nutrient work : Brief update February 2017

2. ECOSTAT nutrient work Work program 2016-2018
Aim: Consistent and comparable nutrient boundaries across Europe

3. ECOSTAT nutrient work
What has been done so far ?
Way forward

4. What has been done so far ?
ECOSTAT nutrient work
What has been done so far ?
Comparison of nutrient boundaries among MS

5. Comparison of nutrient boundaries among MS
Lakes
Rivers
Reasons:
Differences in background concentrations and sensitivities to eutrophication
Variety of methods used to set standards, coupled with non-scientific factors
Result: Nutrient targets that are unlikely to help the Member State achieve GES in many water bodies

6. What has been done so far ?
ECOSTAT nutrient work
What has been done so far ?
Comparison of nutrient boundaries among MS
Statistical approaches for nutrient boundary setting

7. Pressure-response relationships are used for nutrient boundary setting
Common view of ecological status through the intercalibration exercise
Robust view of GES that can be used as the starting point for the development of nutrient targets

8. Work in 2016:
The first draft of the Best practice guide + statistical tool-kits + supporting reports Sent to the task group for comments/ testing

9. Meeting on Best practice guide on nutrients
9-10 November 2016, Berlin
28 participants, from 14 Member States
Best practice guide on nutrients – version 1
The aim – to discuss the guide + toolkit
Workplan for2017

10. Work plan 2017
Finalisation of the Best Practice Guide - December 2017

11. Workplan 2017 – Part 1
Test toolkit more widely : All MS invited to apply toolkit to find obstacles, limitations and scope of application
Application to national types, facilitate cooperation i.e. for transboundary water bodies;
Common datasets will be made available for MS to cover broader ranges;
Include coastal and rivers but accept that it will not work in all circumstances [this means need for clear feasibility checks]

12. Workplan 2017 – Part 1
Send to ECOSTAT nutrient experts Best Practice Guide v.1 & toolkit
incl. template for feedback
Establish proactive helpdesk

13. Workplan 2017 – Part 2
Working on the content of the Best Practice Guide
Asking for alternative/ best practice examples (when tool-kit is not applicable), conversely, MS may have better methods than toolkit
Drafting a (sub-) chapter on aligning freshwater-TRW-coastal waters: how to take account of interactions between different surface water categories when setting nutrient boundaries

14. Workplan 2017 – Part 3 Work on common datasets:
Very large river phytoplankton, SOE data, Coastal and transitional water data
(where possible) derive nutrient ranges supporting good ecological status

15. Workplan 2017 – Part 4
Best practice guide workshop (compiling the feedbacks) – all MS invited
September 2017 Berlin (to be confirmed by April ECOSTAT)

16. Workplan 2017 – Part 5
Collect and include experiences of pan-European application
Finalise the ‘Best practice guide‘- by the end of 2017
Active participation of all MS expected and welcome !