1. Reference Conditions Working Group Preliminary Report and Workplan Roger Owen Isabel Pardo

2. Why are we reviewing reference conditions in intercalibration?
The RC review work is an essential part of intercalibration
The need for consistency checking and recommendations for improving reference concepts was mandated by ECOSTAT
The new draft IC guidance requires consistent reference setting across all GIG QE groups.

3. Summary of the RC WG work
Checking consistency of reference condition setting in Phase 1 Intercalibration
Evaluation of threshold values used for selecting reference sites in IC Phase 1
Future development of concepts/approaches

4. Summary of the RC WG work:
Checking consistency of Reference Condition setting in Phase 1
Preliminary assessment (mostly rivers)
Only for invertebrates and phytobenthos
Scope of work has changed to cover all water categories – RCWG membership will be expanded

5. Checking consistency of reference condition setting in Phase 1
Do the GIGs have agreed reference criteria?
How did MS assess compliance with these criteria?
Existing GIG information
Does the pressure data associated with current reference sites demonstrate consistency with agreed criteria?
Requested information from Member States

6. Rivers Agreed reference criteria?
CBGIG Reference screening criteria (42) based on REFCOND guidance
NGIG, Alpine, Northern and Mediterranean GIGs adopted these with some modifications

7. Rivers How did Member States assess compliance with GIG RC criteria?

8. Up to now 12 MS, have submitted information for 472 reference sites
Does the pressure data associated with current reference sites demonstrate consistency with agreed criteria? Rivers Member State responses to requested information
Not all MS have responded yet to the call for reference information, it is still possible to contribute (deadline 31 October 2009)
Up to now 12 MS, have submitted information for 472 reference sites

9. 472 reference samples from 12 Member States
Response from Member States to request for reference information (at 30/09/09) (rivers)
Country
Reference
Samples
Austria 23
Belgium Flanders
Belgium Wallonia
Cyprus 8
Czech Republic 14
Germany 32
Denmark
Estonia 12
Spain 87
Finland 81
France 69
Country
Reference
Samples
Greece
Hungary
Ireland
Italy
Lithuania 20
Latvia
Luxembourg
Netherlands
Poland
Portugal 82
Romania
Slovenia 9 UK 35
472 reference samples from 12 Member States

10. Preliminary assessment; requires further analysis
Member State compliance with reference criteria
Preliminary assessment; requires further analysis
% Artificial land use
Mean P-PO4 (µg/l)

11. Checking consistency of reference condition setting in Phase 1: Rivers – interim conclusions
Wide variation in assessment methods used by MS – but missing information
Preliminary check: agreed land use and chemical reference thresholds have not been consistently applied
Requires further MS information and data checking

12. Checking consistency of reference condition setting in Phase 1: Lakes
Reference information was requested on 17 July (Deadline October 2009)
Up to now only 1 country has replied (DK)
Work continuing assisted by JRC national expert

13. Lakes

14. Coastal waters GIGs have no agreed reference concept yet
GIGs have not yet developed reference criteria to support biological reference values
Work initiated - assisted by JRC national expert

15. Checking consistency of reference condition setting in Phase 1:
Final report 30th November 2009 (complete analysis on RC consistency across water categories, GIGs and BQEs)
Recommendations will include options for achieving greater consistency for reference conditions and associated reference data
Requires cooperation of Member States

16. Summary of the RC WG work:
Checking consistency in current (round 1) RC setting
Evaluation of threshold values used for selecting reference sites in IC phase 1

17. 2. Evaluation of threshold values used in IC Phase 1
Intention is to determine the no-impact thresholds for key pressures in reference sites to validate reference criteria used in Phase 1.
RCWG is requesting MS data (pressure and biological metric values) for reference and impacted sites from current monitoring information – preferred by October 2009; final deadline December 2009
The RCWG will work with data that GIGs can contribute also after that deadline
Initial results will be ready by February 2010 to inform the new IC guidance
Alternative benchmarks and modelling approaches will also be considered

18. Summary of the RC WG work:
Checking consistency in current (round 1) RC setting
Evaluate threshold values used for selecting reference sites in IC phase 1
Future development of concepts/approaches

19. 3. Future development of concepts/approaches
Further refinement of reference concepts will assist consistent application by MS.
Normative Definitions can be supplemented by means of additional information to interpret reference and status classes.
RCWG will consider current and emerging concepts of reference condition (eg. the biological condition gradient: a consistent interpretative framework for describing reference and ecological status classes).
Drive for comparability across all BQE/water categories
Options and recommendations to ECOSTAT at the end of round 2 of IC

20. WFD Normative Definitions for Biological conditions: General definitions for Rivers
Condition of the biotic community
Water category / type specific
High
Low
General descriptions of reference and status classes for water categories
Level of stressors
High
Low

21. Specific descriptions of reference and status classes for all BQEs
WFD Normative Definitions for Biological conditions: River invertebrates
Condition of the biotic community
Water category / type specific
High
Low
Specific descriptions of reference and status classes for all BQEs
Level of stressors
High
Low

22. Reporting Timetable for RCWG
Checking consistency of reference condition setting in Phase 1 Intercalibration (Final Report to ECOSTAT 30th November 2009)
Evaluation of threshold values used for selecting reference sites in IC Phase (Final recommendations Feb 2010)
Future development of concepts/approaches (Final recommendations 2011)