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Document 32008D0915

    2008/915/EC: Commission Decision of 30 October 2008 establishing, pursuant to Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, the values of the Member State monitoring system classifications as a result of the intercalibration exercise (notified under document number C(2008) 6016) (Text with EEA relevance)

    OJ L 332, 10.12.2008, p. 20–44 (BG, ES, CS, DA, DE, ET, EL, EN, FR, IT, LV, LT, HU, MT, NL, PL, PT, RO, SK, SL, FI, SV)

    This document has been published in a special edition(s) (HR)

    Legal status of the document No longer in force, Date of end of validity: 22/09/2013; Repealed by 32013D0480

    ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2008/915/oj

    10.12.2008   

    EN

    Official Journal of the European Union

    L 332/20


    COMMISSION DECISION

    of 30 October 2008

    establishing, pursuant to Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, the values of the Member State monitoring system classifications as a result of the intercalibration exercise

    (notified under document number C(2008) 6016)

    (Text with EEA relevance)

    (2008/915/EC)

    THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

    Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

    Having regard to Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy (1), and in particular section 1.4.1(ix) of Annex V thereof,

    Whereas:

    (1)

    Article 4(1)(a)(ii) of Directive 2000/60/EC requires the Member States to protect, enhance and restore all bodies of surface water with the aim of achieving good surface water status at the latest 15 years after the date of entry into force of the Directive, subject to certain exceptions, in accordance with the provisions laid down in Annex V thereto. Article 4(1)(a)(iii) of Directive 2000/60/EC requires the Member States to protect and enhance all artificial and heavily modified bodies of water, with the aim of achieving good ecological potential and good surface water chemical status at the latest 15 years from the date of entry into force of that Directive, subject to certain exceptions, in accordance with the provisions laid down in Annex V thereto. In accordance with point (i) of section 1.4.1 of Annex V to Directive 2000/60/EC the references to ecological status should be construed as references to ecological potential as regards artificial and heavily modified water bodies.

    (2)

    Section 1.4.1 of Annex V to Directive 2000/60/EC provides a process to ensure the comparability between Member States of biological monitoring results, being a central part of the ecological status classification. This requires the results of the Member States' monitoring and classification systems to be compared through an intercalibration network comprised of monitoring sites in each Member State and in each ecoregion of the Community. Directive 2000/60/EC requires the Member States to collect, as appropriate, the necessary information for the sites included in the intercalibration network, in order to enable the assessment of the consistency of the national classification system with the normative definitions of section 1.2 of Annex V to Directive 2000/60/EC and the comparability of the results of classification systems between the Member States.

    (3)

    Commission Decision 2005/646/EC of 17 August 2005 on the establishment of a register of sites to form the intercalibration network in accordance with Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (2) established the register of sites to form the intercalibration network referred to in section 1.4.1(vii) of Annex V to Directive 2000/60/EC.

    (4)

    In order to carry out the intercalibration exercise Member States are organised in Geographical Intercalibration Groups, consisting of Member States sharing particular surface water body types, as defined in Section 2 of the Annex to Decision 2005/646/EC. This has allowed each group to compare its results and to perform the intercalibration exercise among its members.

    (5)

    The intercalibration exercise is carried out at biological element level, comparing the classification results of the national monitoring systems for each biological element and for each common surface water body type among Member States in the same Geographical Intercalibration Group, and assessing the consistency of the results with the aforementioned normative definitions.

    (6)

    The ‘Technical report on the Water Framework Directive intercalibration exercise’ describes in detail how the intercalibration exercise has been carried out for the water categories and biological quality elements included in the Annex to this Decision.

    (7)

    The Commission has facilitated the intercalibration exercise through the Institute of Environment and Sustainability of the Joint Research Centre in Ispra (Italy) that has coordinated the technical work.

    (8)

    The intercalibration exercise is a complex scientific and technical task. The Geographical Intercalibration Groups have used different methodological options to carry out the exercise depending on the availability of monitoring data for the various biological quality elements and the status of development of the national monitoring and classification systems. In order to increase the statistical robustness of the results, most of the methodologies used by Geographical Intercalibration Groups involve the use of data from as many monitoring points as possible, covering the whole range of status classes, from high to bad status. Therefore, monitoring data has been used from sites that are not part of the intercalibration network, as this comprises only a limited number of sites of high, good or moderate status.

    (9)

    The Commission has received intercalibration results for a number of biological quality elements that comprise the definition of ecological status. In some cases results have been provided for only some parameters of the biological elements or for only some of the Member States participating in a Geographical Intercalibration Group. Hence, the Commission considers that, for those cases, comparability is not fully ensured. Further intercalibration results may therefore be subject to a future Decision when the relevant information in accordance with Section 1.4.1 of Annex V to Directive 2000/60/EC will have been provided by Member States.

    (10)

    It is necessary to adopt the available results of the intercalibration exercise on time to inform the development of the first river basin management plans and programmes of measures in accordance with Articles 11 and 13 of Directive 2000/60/EC.

    (11)

    As a result of the intercalibration exercise, the values of the ecological quality ratios for the boundaries between ecological status classes for the Member States classification systems should represent an equivalent ecological status. The differences in values for the same biological quality element are due to differences in national methods. In addition, due to the differences in calculation methods and other reasons, it is not possible to compare the values of the ecological quality ratios across different biological quality elements.

    (12)

    Parameters like chlorophyll-a concentration, phytoplankton biovolume, percentage of cyanobacteria or depth limits of macroalgae and angiosperms do not cover full biological quality elements. However, due to the availability of data and assessment methods, they are one of the basis of the current intercalibration exercise for lakes and coastal waters. The values of those parameters are directly comparable across Member States, provided the differences in sampling and analytical methods are taken into account. For these reasons, in addition to the ecological quality ratios, absolute values for these parameters should be included in the Annex to this Decision as part of the results of the intercalibration exercise.

    (13)

    The results should refer to the ecological status. If water bodies corresponding to the intercalibrated types are designated as heavily modified water bodies in accordance with Article 4(3) of Directive 2000/60/EC, the results presented in the Annex to this Decision may be used to derive their good ecological potential, taken into account their physical modifications and their associated water use, in accordance with the normative definitions in Annex V, section 1.2.5, to Directive 2000/60/EC.

    (14)

    As established in section 1.4.1(iii) of Annex V to Directive 2000/60/EC, Member States will have to translate the results of the intercalibration exercise into their national classification systems in order to set the boundaries between high and good status and between good and moderate status for all their national types. Guidelines to translate the intercalibration results into the national classification systems and to derive reference conditions have been developed to support the application of the results.

    (15)

    The information that will be made available through the implementation of the monitoring programmes provided for in Article eight of Directive 2000/60/EC and the review and update of the characteristics of river basin districts provided for in Article five of Directive 2000/60/EC can bring new evidence that may lead to the adaptation to scientific and technical progress of the Member States' monitoring and classification systems and eventually to a review of the results of the intercalibration exercise in order to improve their quality.

    (16)

    The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee referred to in Article 21(1) of Directive 2000/60/EC,

    HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

    Article 1

    For the purpose of section 1.4.1(iii) of Annex V to Directive 2000/60/EC, Member States shall use in their monitoring systems classification the values of the boundaries between classes that are set out in the Annex to this Decision.

    Article 2

    This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

    Done at Brussels, 30 October 2008.

    For the Commission

    Stravros DIMAS

    Member of the Commission


    (1)   OJ L 327, 22.12.2000, p. 1.

    (2)   OJ L 243, 19.9.2005, p. 1.


    ANNEX

    WATER CATEGORY: Rivers

    GEOGRAPHICAL INTERCALIBRATION GROUP: Alpine

    Description of types that have been intercalibrated

    Type

    River characterisation

    Catchment (km2)

    Altitude and geomorphology

    Alkalinity

    Flow regime

    R-A1

    Small to medium, high altitude calcareous

    10-1 000

    800-2 500  m (catchment), boulders/cobble

    high (but not extremely high) alkalinity

     

    R-A2

    Small to medium, high altitude, siliceous

    10-1 000

    500-1 000  m (max. altitude of catchment 3 000  m, mean 1 500  m), boulders

    Non-calcareous (granite, metamorphic). medium to low alkalinity

    nival-glacial flow regime

    Countries sharing the types that have been intercalibrated

    Type R-A1:

    Germany, Austria, France, Italy, Slovenia

    Type R-A2:

    Austria, France, Italy, Spain, Slovenia

    RESULTS

    Biological Quality Element: Benthic invertebrate fauna

    Results: Ecological quality ratios of the national classification systems intercalibrated

    Type and country

    National classification systems intercalibrated

    Ecological Quality Ratios

    High-good boundary

    Good-moderate boundary

    Type R-A1

    Austria

    Austrian System for Ecological River Status Assessment (Worst case between Multimetric Indices for General Degradation and Saprobic Index)

    0,80

    0,60

    France

    Classification française DCE Indice Biologique Global Normalisé (IBGN). Norme AFNOR NF T 90 350 (1992) and circular MEDD/DE/MAGE/BEMA 05 No14 of 28 July 2005 modified on 13 June 2007

    0,93

    0,79

    Germany

    PERLODES — Bewertungsverfahren von Fließgewässern auf Basis des Makrozoobenthos

    0,80

    0,60

    Italy

    STAR Intercalibration Common Metric Index (STAR_ICMi)

    0,97

    0,73

    Slovenia

    Slovenian Benthic Invertebrate Assessment System:

    Multimetric index (Hydromorphology/General degradation), Saprobic Index

    0,80

    0,60

    Type R-A2

    Austria

    Austrian System for Ecological River Status Assessment (Worst case between Multimetric Indices for General Degradation and Saprobic Index)

    0,80

    0,60

    France (Alps)

    Classification française DCE Indice Biologique Global Normalisé (IBGN). Norme AFNOR NF T 90 350 (1992) and circular MEDD/DE/MAGE/BEMA 05 No 14 of 28 July 2005 modified on 13 June 2007

    0,93

    0,71

    France (Pyrenees)

    Classification française DCE Indice Biologique Global Normalisé (IBGN). Norme AFNOR NF T 90 350 (1992) and circular MEDD/DE/MAGE/BEMA 05 No 14 of 28 July 2005 modified on 13 June 2007

    0,94

    0,81

    Italy

    STAR Intercalibration Common Metric Index (STAR_ICMi)

    0,95

    0,71

    Spain

    Iberian BMWP (IBMWP)

    0,83

    0,53

    Biological Quality Element: Phytobenthos

    Results: Ecological quality ratios of the national classification systems intercalibrated

    Type and country

    National classification systems intercalibrated

    Ecological Quality Ratios

    High-Good boundary

    Good-Moderate boundary

    Type R-A1

    Austria

    Multimetric method consisting of three modules/metrics (Trophic Index, Saprobic Index, Reference Species)

    0,87

    0,56

    France

    Classification française DCE Indice Biologique Diatomées (IBD) norme AFNOR NF T 90-354 (2000) and circular MEDD/DE/MAGE/BEMA 05 No 14 of 28 July 2005 modified on 13 June 2007

    0,86

    0,71

    Germany

    Deutsches Bewertungsverfahren für Makrophyten und Phytobenthos (PHYLIB)

    0,73

    0,54

    Slovenia

    Multimetric method consisting of two modules/metrics

    0,80

    0,60

    Type R-A2

    Austria

    Multimetric method consisting of three modules/metrics (Trophic Index, Saprobic Index, Reference Species)

    0,87

    0,56

    France

    Classification française DCE Indice Biologique Diatomées (IBD) norme AFNOR NF T 90-354 (2000) and circular MEDD/DE/MAGE/BEMA 05 No 14 of 28 July 2005 modified on 13 June 2007

    0,86

    0,71

    Spain

    Indice de Polluosensibilité Spécifique (IPS) (Lenoir & Coste, 1996)

    0,94

    0,74

    WATER CATEGORY: Rivers

    GEOGRAPHICAL INTERCALIBRATION GROUP: Central/Baltic

    Description of types that have been intercalibrated

    Type

    River characterisation

    Catchment

    (km2)

    Altitude & geomorphology

    Alkalinity

    (meq/l)

    R-C1

    Small lowland siliceous sand

    10-100

    lowland, dominated by sandy substrate (small particle size), 3-8 m width (bankfull size)

    > 0,4

    R-C2

    Small lowland siliceous — rock

    10-100

    lowland, rock material 3-8m width (bankfull size)

    < 0,4

    R-C3

    Small mid-altitude siliceous

    10-100

    mid-altitude, rock (granite) — gravel substrate, 2-10 m width (bankfull size)

    < 0,4

    R-C4

    Medium lowland mixed

    100-1 000

    lowland, sandy to gravel substrate, 8-25m width (bankfull size)

    > 0,4

    R-C5

    Large lowland mixed

    1 000 -10 000

    lowland, barbel zone, variation in velocity, max. altitude in catchment: 800m, > 25 m width (bankfull size)

    > 0,4

    R-C6

    Small, lowland, calcareous

    10-300

    lowland, gravel substrate (limestone), width 3-10 m (bankfull size)

    > 2

    Countries sharing the types that have been intercalibrated:

    Type R-C1:

    Belgium (Flanders), Germany, Denmark, France, Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, United Kingdom

    Type R-C2:

    Spain, France, Ireland, Portugal, Sweden, United Kingdom

    Type R-C3:

    Austria, Belgium (Wallonia), Czech Republic, Germany, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, France, Latvia, Luxembourg, United Kingdom

    Type R-C4:

    Belgium (Flanders), Czech Republic, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, United Kingdom

    Type R-C5:

    Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Spain, Ireland. Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, United Kingdom

    Type R-C6:

    Denmark, Estonia, Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Sweden, United Kingdom

    RESULTS

    Biological Quality Element: Benthic invertebrate fauna

    Results: Ecological quality ratios of the national classification system intercalibrated

    The following results apply to all types as described above.

    Country

    National classification system intercalibrated

    Ecological Quality Ratios

    High-Good boundary

    Good-Moderate boundary

    Austria

    Austrian System for Ecological River Status Assessment (Worst case between Multimetric Indices for General Degradation and Saprobic Index

    0,80

    0,60

    Belgium (Flanders)

    Multimetric Macroinvertebrate Index Flanders (MMIF)

    0,90

    0,70

    Belgium (Wallonia)

    Indice Biologique Global Normalisé (IBGN) (Norme AFNOR NF T 90 350, 1992) and ‘Provisional Definition of the Good Status’, Ministry of the Walloon Region (2007)

    0,97

    0,74

    Denmark

    Danish Stream Fauna Index (DSFI)

    1,00

    0,71

    Germany

    PERLODES –Bewertungsverfahren von Fließgewässern auf Basis des Makrozoobenthos

    0,80

    0,60

    France

    Classification française DCE Indice Biologique Global Normalisé (IBGN). Norme AFNOR NF T 90 350 (1992) and circular MEDD/DE/MAGE/BEMA 05 no14 of 28 July 2005 modified on 13 June 2007

    0,94

    0,80

    Ireland

    Quality Rating System (Q-value)

    0,85

    0,75

    Italy

    STAR Intercalibration Common Metric Index (STAR_ICMi)

    0,96

    0,72

    Luxembourg

    Classification luxembourgeoise DCE, Indice Biologique Global Normalisé (IBGN), Norme AFNOR NF T 90 350, 1992) and circular MEDD/DE/MAGE/BEMA 07 No 4 of 11 April 2007

    0,96

    0,72

    Netherlands

    KRW-maatlat

    0,80

    0,60

    Poland

    BMWP (BMWP-PL) verified by modified Margalef diversity index

    0,89

    0,68

    Spain

    North Spain Multimetric Indices

    0,93

    0,70

    Sweden

    DJ-index (Dahl & Johnson 2004)

    0,80

    0,60

    United Kingdom

    River Invertebrate Classification Tool (RICT)

    0,97

    0,86

    Biological Quality Element: Phytobenthos

    Results: Ecological quality ratios of the national classification system intercalibrated

    Country

    National classification system intercalibrated

    Type

    Ecological Quality Ratios

    High-Good boundary

    Good-Moderate boundary

    Austria

    Multimetric method consisting of three modules/metrics (Trophic Index, Saprobic Index, Reference Species)

    All types, altitude < 500 m

    0,70

    0,42

    All types, altitude > 500 m

    0,71

    0,42

    Belgium (Flanders)

    Proportions of Impact-Sensitive and Impact-Associated Diatoms (PISIAD)

    All types

    0,80

    0,60

    Belgium (Wallonia)

    Indice de Polluosensibilité Spécifique (IPS) AFNOR norm NF T 90-354 (2000) and ‘Provisional Definition of the Good Status’, Ministry of the Walloon Region (2007)

    All types

    0,93

    0,68

    Estonia

    Indice de Polluosensibilité Spécifique (IPS)

    All types

    0,85

    0,70

    France

    Classification française DCE Indice Biologique Diatomées (IBD) norme AFNOR NF T 90-354 (2000) and circular MEDD/DE/MAGE/BEMA 05 no14 of 28 July 2005 modified on 13 June 2007

    National Types 1, 2 and 4

    0,93

    0,80

    National Type 3

    0,92

    0,77

    Germany

    Deutsches Bewertungsverfahren für Makrophyten und Phytobenthos (PHYLIB)

    R-C1

    0,67

    0,43

    R-C3

    0,67

    0,43

    R-C4

    0,61

    0,43

    R-C5

    0,73

    0,55

    Ireland

    Revised form of Trophic Diatom Index (TDI)

    All types

    0,93

    0,78

    Luxembourg

    Indice de Polluosensibilité Spécifique (IPS)

    All types

    0,85

    0,70

    Netherlands

    KRW Maatlat

    All types

    0,80

    0,60

    Spain

    Diatom multimetric (MDIAT)

    All types

    0,93

    0,70

    Sweden

    Swedish assessment methods, Swedish EPA regulations (NFS 2008:1) based on Indice de Polluosensibilité Spécifique (IPS)

    All types

    0,89

    0,74

    United Kingdom

    Diatom Assessment for River Ecological Status (DARES)

    All types

    0,93

    0,78

    WATER CATEGORY: Rivers

    GEOGRAPHICAL INTERCALIBRATION GROUP: Eastern Continental

    Description of types that have been intercalibrated

    Type

    River characterisation

    Ecoregion

    Catchment

    (km2)

    Altitude

    (m)

    Geology

    Substrate

    R-E1

    Carpathians: small to medium, mid-altitude

    10

    10 — 1 000

    500 — 800

    siliceous

    gravel and boulder

    R-E2

    Plains: medium-sized, lowland

    11 and 12

    100 — 1 000

    < 200

    mixed

    sand and silt

    R-E4

    Plains: medium-sized, mid-altitude

    11 and 12

    100 — 1 000

    200 — 500

    mixed

    sand and gravel

    Countries sharing the types that have been intercalibrated:

    Type R-E1:

    Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia

    Type R-E2:

    Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia

    Type R-E4:

    Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia

    RESULTS

    Biological Quality Element: Benthic invertebrate fauna

    Results: Ecological quality ratios of the national classification systems intercalibrated

    Type and country

    National classification system intercalibrated

    Ecological Quality Ratios

    High-Good boundary

    Good-Moderate boundary

    Type R-E1, R-E2, R-E4

    Slovakia

    Slovak System for Ecological River Status Assessment

    0,80

    0,60

    Type R-E4

    Austria

    Austrian System for Ecological River Status Assessment (Worst case between Multimetric Indices for General Degradation and Saprobic Index)

    0,80

    0,60

    WATER CATEGORY: Rivers

    GEOGRAPHICAL INTERCALIBRATION GROUP: Mediterranean

    Description of types that have been intercalibrated

    Type

    River characterisation

    Catchment (km2)

    Altitude (m)

    Geology

    Flow regime

    R-M1

    Small mid-altitude Mediterranean streams

    10-100

    200-800

    Mixed

    Highly seasonal

    R-M2

    Small/Medium lowland Mediterranean streams

    10-1 000

    < 400

    Mixed

    Highly seasonal

    R-M4

    Small/Medium Mediterranean mountain streams

    10-1 000

    400-1 500

    Non-silicious

    Highly seasonal

    R-M5

    Small, lowland, temporary

    10-100

    < 300

    Mixed

    Temporary

    Countries sharing the types that have been intercalibrated:

    Type R-M1:

    France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain

    Type R-M2:

    France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain

    Type R-M4:

    Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Spain

    Type R-M5:

    Cyprus, Italy, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain

    RESULTS

    Biological Quality Element: Benthic invertebrate fauna

    Results: Ecological quality ratios of the national classification systems intercalibrated

    Type and country

    National classification system intercalibrated

    Ecological Quality Ratios

    High-Good boundary

    Good-Moderate boundary

    R-M1

    France

    Classification française DCE Indice Biologique Global Normalisé (IBGN). Norme AFNOR NF T 90 350 (1992) and circular MEDD/DE/MAGE/BEMA 05 no14 of 28 July 2005 modified on 13 June 2007

    0,94

    0,81

    Greece

    STAR Intercalibration Common Metric Index (STAR_ICMi)

    0,95

    0,71

    Italy

    STAR Intercalibration Common Metric Index (STAR_ICMi)

    0,97

    0,72

    Portugal

    North Invertebrate Portuguese Index, IPtIN

    0,92

    0,69

    Spain

    IBMWP

    0,78

    0,48

    R-M2

    Greece

    STAR Intercalibration Common Metric Index (STAR_ICMi)

    0,94

    0,71

    Italy

    STAR Intercalibration Common Metric Index (STAR_ICMi)

    0,94

    0,70

    Portugal

    North Invertebrate Portuguese Index, IPtIN

    0,87

    0,66

    R-M4

    Cyprus

    STAR Intercalibration Common Metric Index (STAR_ICMi)

    0,97

    0,73

    Greece

    STAR Intercalibration Common Metric Index (STAR_ICMi)

    0,96

    0,72

    Italy

    STAR Intercalibration Common Metric Index (STAR_ICMi)

    0,94

    0,70

    Spain

    IBMWP

    0,83

    0,51

    R-M5

    Italy

    STAR Intercalibration Common Metric Index (STAR_ICMi)

    0,97

    0,73

    Portugal

    South Invertebrate Portuguese Index, IPtIS

    0,98

    0,72

    Spain

    IBMWP

    0,91

    0,55

    Biological Quality Element: Phytobenthos

    Results: Ecological quality ratios of the national classification systems intercalibrated

    Type and country

    National classification system intercalibrated

    Ecological Quality Ratios

    High-Good boundary

    Good-Moderate boundary

    R-M1

    France

    Classification française DCE Indice Biologique Diatomées (IBD) norme AFNOR NF T 90-354 (2000) and circular MEDD/DE/MAGE/BEMA 05 No 14 of 28 July 2005 modified on 13 June 2007

    0,93

    0,80

    Portugal

    Indice de Polluosensibilité Spécifique (IPS)

    0,84

    0,62

    Spain

    Indice de Polluosensibilité Spécifique (IPS)

    0,90

    0,67

    R-M2

    France

    Classification française DCE Indice Biologique Diatomées (IBD) norme AFNOR NF T 90-354 (2000) and circular MEDD/DE/MAGE/BEMA 05 no14 of 28 July 2005 modified on 13 June 2007

    0,93

    0,80

    Portugal

    Indice de Polluosensibilité Spécifique (IPS)

    0,84

    0,62

    Spain

    Indice de Polluosensibilité Spécifique (IPS)

    0,93

    0,70

    R-M4

    Spain

    Indice de Polluosensibilité Spécifique (IPS)

    0,91

    0,68

    R-M5

    Portugal

    European Index (CEE)

    0,85

    0,64

    Spain

    Indice de Polluosensibilité Spécifique (IPS)

    0,95

    0,71

    WATER CATEGORY: Rivers

    GEOGRAPHICAL INTERCALIBRATION GROUP: Northern

    Description of types that have been intercalibrated

    Type

    River characterisation

    Catchment area (of stretch)

    Altitude & geomorphology

    Alkalinity

    (meq/l)

    Organic material

    (mg Pt/l)

    R-N1

    Small lowland siliceous moderate alkalinity

    10-100 km2

    < 200 m or below the highest coastline

    0,2 — 1

    < 30

    (< 150 in Ireland)

    R-N3

    Small/medium lowland organic

    10-1 000  km2

    < 0,2

    > 30

    R-N4

    Medium lowland siliceous moderate alkalinity

    100-1 000  km2

    0,2 — 1

    < 30

    R-N5

    Small mid-altitude siliceous

    10-100 km2

    Between lowland and highland

    < 0,2

    < 30

    Countries sharing the types that have been intercalibrated:

    Type R-N1:

    Finland, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom

    Type R-N3:

    Finland, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom

    Type R-N4:

    Finland, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom

    Type R-N5:

    Finland, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom

    RESULTS

    Biological Quality Element: Benthic invertebrate fauna

    Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification systems intercalibrated

    The following results apply to all types as described above

    Country

    National classification system intercalibrated

    Ecological Quality Ratios

    High-Good boundary

    Good-Moderate boundary

    Finland

    Multimetric system, first version established

    0,80

    0,60

    Ireland

    Quality Rating System (Q-value)

    0,85

    0,75

    Norway

    Average Score per Taxon (ASPT)

    0,99

    0,87

    Sweden

    DJ-index (Dahl & Johnson 2004)

    0,80

    0,60

    United Kingdom

    River Invertebrate Classification Tool (RICT)

    0,97

    0,86

    Biological Quality Element: Phytobenthos

    Results: Ecological quality ratios of the national classification systems intercalibrated

    The following results apply to all types as described above

    Country

    National classification system intercalibrated

    Ecological Quality Ratios

    High-Good boundary

    Good-Moderate boundary

    Finland

    Indice de Polluosensibilité Spécifique (IPS)

    0,91

    0,80

    Ireland

    Revised form of Trophic Diatom Index (TDI)

    0,93

    0,78

    Sweden

    Swedish assessment methods, Swedish EPA regulations (NFS 2008:1) based on Indice de Polluosensibilité Spécifique (IPS)

    0,89

    0,74

    United Kingdom

    Diatom Assessment for River Ecological Status (DARES)

    0,93

    0,78

    WATER CATEGORY: Lakes

    GEOGRAPHICAL INTERCALIBRATION GROUP: Atlantic

    Description of types that have been intercalibrated

    Type

    Lake characterisation

    Altitude

    (m above sea level)

    Mean depth

    (m)

    Alkalinity

    (meq/l)

    LA1/2

    Lowland, shallow, calcareous, small and large

    < 200

    3-15

    > 1

    Countries sharing types that have been intercalibrated:

    Ireland and United Kingdom

    RESULTS

    Biological Quality Element: Phytoplankton

    Phytoplankton parameter indicative of biomass (Chlorophyll a)

    Results: Ecological quality ratios and parameter values

    The following results refer to growing season mean values and apply to all countries sharing the type

    Type

    Ecological Quality Ratios

    Chlorophyll a concentrations (μg/l)

    High-Good boundary

    Good-Moderate boundary

    High-Good boundary

    Good-Moderate boundary

    LA1/2

    0,55

    0,32

    4,6 — 7,0

    8,0 — 12,0

    WATER CATEGORY: Lakes

    GEOGRAPHICAL INTERCALIBRATION GROUP: Alpine

    Description of types that have been intercalibrated

    Type

    Lake characterisation

    Altitude

    (m above sea level)

    Mean depth

    (m)

    Alkalinity

    (meq/l)

    Lake size

    (km2)

    L-AL3

    Lowland or mid-altitude, deep, moderate to high alkalinity (alpine influence), large

    50 — 800

    > 15

    > 1

    > 0,5

    L-AL4

    Mid-altitude, shallow, moderate to high alkalinity (alpine influence), large

    200 — 800

    3 — 15

    > 1

    > 0,5

    Countries sharing types that have been intercalibrated:

    Types L-AL3 and L-AL4:

    Austria, France, Germany, Italy and Slovenia

    RESULTS

    Biological Quality Element: Phytoplankton

    Phytoplankton: parameters indicative of biomass

    Results: Ecological quality ratios and parameter values

    The following results refer to annual mean values and apply to all countries sharing the type. Member States may choose to use Chlorophyll a, total biovolume, or both parameters.

    Chlorophyll a

    Type

    Ecological Quality Ratios

    Chlorophyll a concentrations (μg/l)

    High-Good boundary

    Good-Moderate boundary

    High-Good boundary

    Good-Moderate boundary

    L-AL3

    0,70

    0,40

    2,1 — 2,7

    3,8 — 4,7

    L-AL4

    0,75

    0,41

    3,6 — 4,4

    6,6 — 8,0


    Total biovolume

    Type

    Ecological Quality Ratios

    Total biovolumes (mm3/l)

    High-Good boundary

    Good-Moderate boundary

    High-Good boundary

    Good-Moderate boundary

    L-AL3

    0,60

    0,25

    0,3 — 0,5

    0,8 — 1,2

    L-AL4

    0,64

    0,26

    0,8 — 1,1

    1,9 — 2,7

    Phytoplankton: parameters indicative of taxonomic composition and abundance

    Results: Ecological quality ratios of the national parameters intercalibrated

    Country

    National parameters intercalibrated

    Type

    Ecological Quality Ratios

    Class boundaries

    High-Good boundary

    Good-Moderate boundary

    High-Good boundary

    Good-Moderate boundary

    Austria

    Slovenia

    Brettum index

    L-AL3

    0,94

    0,83

    4,12 —4,34

    3,64 —3,83

    L-AL4

    0,94

    0,81

    3,69 —3,87

    3,20 —3,34

    Germany

    PTSI (Phytoplankton Taxa Lake Index)

    L-AL3

    0,60

    0,43

    1,25

    1,75

    L-AL4

    0,71

    0,56

    1,75

    2,25

    Italy

    PTIot (Phytoplankton Taxa Index)

    L-AL3 (mean depth < 100m)

    0,95

    0,89

    3,43

    3,22

    L-AL4

    0,95

    0,85

    3,37

    3,01

    PTIspecies (Phytoplankton Taxa Index)

    L-AL 3 (mean depth > 100m)

    0,93

    0,82

    4,00

    3,50

    Biological Quality Element: Macrophytes

    Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification systems intercalibrated

    Type and country

    National classification systems intercalibrated

    Ecological Quality Ratios

    High-Good boundary

    Good-Moderate boundary

    Austria

    Type L-AL3 and L-AL4

    Austrian macrophyte assessment system: Austrian Index Macrophytes for Lakes (AIM for Lakes), Module 1

    0,80

    0,60

    Germany

    Type L-AL3

    German macrophyte/phytobenthos assessment system: Module 1

    0,78

    0,51

    Germany

    Type L-AL4

    German macrophyte/phytobenthos assessment system: Modules 1 + 2

    0,71

    0,47

    WATER CATEGORY: Lakes

    GEOGRAPHICAL INTERCALIBRATION GROUP: Central/Baltic

    Description of types that have been intercalibrated

    Type

    Lake characterisation

    Altitude (m above sea level)

    Mean depth (m)

    Alkalinity (meq/l)

    Hydrological residence time (years)

    L-CB1

    Lowland, shallow, calcareous

    < 200

    3 — 15

    > 1

    1 — 10

    L-CB2

    Lowland, very shallow, calcareous

    < 200

    < 3

    > 1

    0,1 — 1

    L-CB3

    Lowland, shallow, small, siliceous (moderate alkalinity)

    < 200

    3 — 15

    0,2 — 1

    1 — 10

    Countries sharing types that have been intercalibrated:

    Types L-CB1 and L-CB2:

    Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, France, Lithuania, Latvia, Netherlands, Poland, United Kingdom.

    Type L-CB3:

    Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, France, Latvia, Poland.

    RESULTS

    Biological Quality Element: Phytoplankton

    Phytoplankton: parameter indicative of biomass

    Results: Ecological quality ratios and parameter values

    The following results refer to growing season mean values and apply to all countries sharing the type.

    Type

    Ecological Quality Ratios

    Chlorophyll a concentrations (μg/l)

    High-Good boundary

    Good-Moderate boundary

    High-Good boundary

    Good-Moderate boundary

    L-CB1

    0,55

    0,32

    4,6 — 7,0

    8,0 — 12,0

    L-CB2

    0,63

    0,30

    9,9 — 11,7

    21,0 — 25,0

    L-CB3

    0,57

    0,31

    4,3 — 6,5

    8,0 — 12,0

    Biological Quality Element: Macrophytes

    Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification systems intercalibrated

    The following results apply to LCB1 and LCB2 types

    Country

    National classification systems intercalibrated

    Ecological Quality Ratios

    High-Good boundary

    Good-Moderate boundary

    Belgium

    Flemish macrophyte assessment system

    0,80

    0,60

    Germany

    German macrophyte assessment system: Reference Index

    0,75

    0,50

    Estonia

    Estonian macrophyte assessment system

    0,80

    0,60

    Latvia

    Latvian macrophyte assessment system

    0,80

    0,60

    Netherlands

    Dutch macrophyte assessment system (KRW Maatlat)

    0,80

    0,60

    United Kingdom

    UK macrophyte assessment system: LEAFPACS

    0,80

    0,60

    WATER CATEGORY: Lakes

    GEOGRAPHICAL INTERCALIBRATION GROUP: Mediterranean

    Description of types that have been intercalibrated

    Type

    Lake characterisation

    Altitude

    (m)

    Annual mean Precipitation (mm) and T ( oC)

    Mean depth

    (m)

    Alkalinity

    (meq/l)

    Lake size

    (km2)

    L-M5/7

    Reservoirs, deep, large, siliceous, ‘wet areas’, catchment < 20 000 km2

    0 — 800

    > 800 or < 15

    > 15

    < 1

    > 0,5

    L-M8

    Reservoirs, deep, large, calcareous, catchment < 20 000 km2

    0 — 800

    > 15

    > 1

    > 0,5

    Countries sharing types that have been intercalibrated:

    Type L-M5/7:

    Greece, France, Portugal, Spain, Romania.

    Type L-M8:

    Cyprus, Greece, France, Italy, Spain, Romania.

    RESULTS

    Biological Quality Element: Phytoplankton

    Phytoplankton: parameters indicative of biomass

    Results: Ecological quality ratios and parameter values

    The following results refer to summer mean values, euphotic depth and apply to all countries sharing the type. Member States may choose to use Chlorophyll a, total biovolume, or both parameters.

    Chlorophyll a

    Type

    Ecological Quality Ratios

    Chlorophyll a concentrations (μg/l)

    Good-Moderate boundary

    Good-Moderate boundary

    L-M5/7

    0,21

    6,7 — 9,5

    L-M8

    0,43

    4,2 — 6,0


    Total biovolume

    Type

    Ecological Quality Ratios

    Total biovolumes (mm3/l)

    Good-Moderate boundary

    Good-Moderate boundary

    L-M5/7

    0,19

    1,9

    L-M8

    0,36

    2,1

    Phytoplankton: parameters indicative of taxonomic composition and abundance

    Results: Ecological quality ratios and parameter values

    The following results refer to summer mean values, euphotic depth and apply to all countries sharing the type. Member States must use at least one of the intercalibrated parameters (percentage of Cyanobacteria, Catalan index, Med PTI index)

    Percentage of Cyanobacteria

    Type and country

    Ecological Quality Ratios

    % of Cyanobacteria

    Good-Moderate boundary

    Good-Moderate boundary

    Type L-M5/7

    All countries sharing the type

    0,91

    9,2

    Type L-M8

    All countries sharing the type

    0,72

    28,5

    Ecological quality ratios calculated as EQR = (100 - boundary value)/(100 - reference value)

    Catalan index

    Type and country

    Ecological Quality Ratios

    Catalan index

    Good-Moderate boundary

    Good-Moderate boundary

    Type L-M5/7

    All countries sharing the type

    0,97

    10,6

    Type L-M8

    All countries sharing the type

    0,98

    7,7

    Ecological quality ratios calculated as EQR = (400 - boundary value)/(400 - reference value)

    Med PTI index

    Type and country

    Ecological Quality Ratios

    Med PTI

    Good-Moderate boundary

    Good-Moderate boundary

    Type L-M5/7

    All countries sharing the type

    0,75

    2,32

    Type L-M8

    All countries sharing the type

    0,77

    2,38

    WATER CATEGORY: Lakes

    GEOGRAPHICAL INTERCALIBRATION GROUP: Northern

    Description of the types that have been intercalibrated

    Type

    Lake characterisation

    Altitude

    (m above sea level)

    Mean depth

    (m)

    Alkalinity

    (meq/l)

    Colour

    (mg Pt/l)

    LN1

    Lowland, shallow, moderate alkalinity, clear

    < 200

    3–15

    0,2 –1

    < 30

    LN2a

    Lowland, shallow, low alkalinity, clear

    < 200

    3–15

    < 0,2

    < 30

    LN2b

    Lowland, deep, low alkalinity, clear

    < 200

    > 15

    < 0,2

    < 30

    LN3a

    Lowland, shallow, low alkalinity, meso-humic

    < 200

    3–15

    < 0,2

    30–90

    LN5

    Mid-altitude, shallow, low alkalinity, clear

    200-800

    3–15

    < 0,2

    < 30

    LN6a

    Mid-altitude, shallow, low alkalinity meso-humic

    200-800

    3–15

    < 0,2

    30–90

    LN8a

    Lowland, shallow, moderate alkalinity, meso-humic

    < 200

    3–15

    0,2 –1

    30–90

    Countries sharing types that have been intercalibrated:

    Types LN1, LN2a, LN3a, LN8a:

    Ireland, Finland, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom.

    Types LN2b, LN5 and LN6a:

    Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom.

    Biological Quality Element: Phytoplankton

    Phytoplankton: parameter indicative of biomass

    Results: Ecological quality ratios and parameter values

    The following results refer to growing season mean values and apply to all countries sharing the type

    Type

    Ecological Quality Ratios

    Chlorophyll a concentrations (μg/l)

    High-Good boundary

    Good-Moderate boundary

    High-Good boundary

    Good-Moderate boundary

    LN1

    0,50

    0,33

    5,0 — 7,0

    7,5 — 10,5

    LN2a

    0,50

    0,29

    3,0 — 5,0

    5,0 — 8,5

    LN2b

    0,50

    0,33

    3,0 — 5,0

    4,5 — 7,5

    LN3a

    0,50

    0,30

    5,0 — 7,0

    8,0 — 12,0

    LN5

    0,50

    0,33

    2,0 — 4,0

    3,0 — 6,0

    LN6a

    0,50

    0,33

    4,0 — 6,0

    6,0 — 9,0

    LN8a

    0,50

    0,33

    7,0 — 10,0

    10,5 — 15,0

    Biological Quality Element: Macrophytes

    Description of the types that have been intercalibrated (for macrophytes intercalibration only)

    Type

    Lake characterisation

    Alkalinity (meq/l)

    Color(mg Pt/l)

    101.

    Low alkalinity, clear

    0,05 — 0,2

    < 30

    102.

    Low alkalinity, humic

    0,05 — 0,2

    > 30

    201.

    Moderate alkalinity, clear

    0,2 — 1,0

    < 30

    202.

    Moderate alkalinity, humic

    0,2 — 1,0

    > 30

    301.

    High alkalinity, clear

    > 1,0

    < 30

    302.

    High alkalinity, humic

    > 1,0

    > 30

    Countries sharing types that have been intercalibrated:

    Types 101, 102, 201 and 202:

    Ireland, Finland, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom.

    Type 301:

    Ireland, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom.

    Type 302:

    Ireland, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom.

    Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification systems methods

    Country

    National classification system intercalibrated

    Type

    Ecological Quality Ratios

    High-Good boundary

    Good-Moderate boundary

    Ireland

    Free Macrophyte Index

    All types intercalibrated

    0,90

    0,68

    Sweden

    Macrophyte Trophic index (Ecke)

    Type 101

    0,98

    0,79

    Type 102

    0,98

    0,88

    Type 201

    0,94

    0,83

    Type 202

    0,96

    0,83

    Norway

    Macrophyte Trophic Index (Mjelde)

    Type 101

    0,94

    0,61

    Type 102

    0,96

    0,65

    Type 201

    0,91

    0,72

    Type 202

    0,9

    0,77

    Type 301

    0,92

    0,69

    United Kingdom

    UK macrophyte assessment system: LEAFPACS

    All types intercalibrated

    0,80

    0,60

    WATER CATEGORY: Coastal and transitional

    GEOGRAPHICAL INTERCALIBRATION GROUP: Baltic Sea GIG

    Description of types that have been intercalibrated

    Type

    Salinity psu

    Exposure

    Depth

    Ice days

    Other Characteristics

    CW B0

    0,5 - 3

    Sheltered

    Shallow

    > 150

    Sites in Botnian Bay (Northern Quark)

    CW B2

    3-6

    Sheltered

    Shallow

    90 — 150

    Sites in Bothnian Sea

    CW B3 a

    3-6

    Sheltered

    Shallow

    ~90

    Sites in the area extending from the southern Bothnian Sea to the Archipelago Sea and the western Gulf of Finland

    CW B3 b

    3-6

    Exposed

    Shallow

    ~90

    CW B12 a

    Eastern Baltic Sea

    5-8

    Sheltered

    Shallow

    Sites in the Gulf of Riga,

    CW B12 b

    Western Baltic Sea

    8 — 22

    Sheltered

    Shallow

    Sites at the Southern Swedish coast and the South western Baltic Sea open coast along Denmark and Germany

    CW B13

    6-22

    Exposed

    Shallow

    Sites along the coast of the Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, the Polish coast and the Danish island Bornholm

    CW B 14

    6-22

    Sheltered

    Shallow

    Lagoons

    TW B 13

    6-22

    Exposed

    Shallow

    Transitional water. Sites along the coast of Lithuania and Poland

    Countries sharing types that have been intercalibrated:

    Types CWB0, CWB2, CWB3a, CWB3b:

    Finland, Sweden.

    Type CWB12a:

    Estonia

    Type CWB12b:

    Germany, Denmark, Sweden.

    Type CWB13:

    Denmark, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland.

    Type CWB14:

    Denmark, Poland

    Type TWB13:

    Lithuania, Poland.

    RESULTS

    Biological Quality Element: Benthic invertebrate fauna

    Results: Ecological quality ratios of the national classification systems intercalibrated

    Type and country

    National classification system intercalibrated

    Ecological Quality Ratios

    High-Good boundary

    Good-Moderate boundary

    CW B0

    Finland

    BBI- Finnish Brackish water Benthic Index

    0,99

    0,59

    Sweden

    BQI–Swedish multimetric biological quality index (soft sediment infauna)

    0,77

    0,31

    CW B2

    Finland

    BBI- Finnish Brackish water Benthic Index

    0,95

    0,57

    Sweden

    BQI–Swedish multimetric biological quality index (soft sediment infauna)

    0,76

    0,29

    CW B3 a

    Finland

    BBI- Finnish Brackish water Benthic Index

    0,89

    0,53

    Sweden

    BQI–Swedish multimetric biological quality index (soft sediment infauna)

    0,76

    0,29

    CW B3 b

    Finland

    BBI- Finnish Brackish water Benthic Index

    0,90

    0,54

    Sweden

    BQI–Swedish multimetric biological quality index (soft sediment infauna)

    0,76

    0,29

    Biological Quality Element: Phytoplankton

    Phytoplankton: parameter indicative of biomass (Chlorophyll a)

    Results: Ecological quality ratios and parameter values

    The following results refer to summer mean May/June — September

    Type and country

    Ecological Quality Ratios for the national classification systems

    Parameter values/ranges

    Chlorophyll a μg/l

    High-Good boundary

    Good-Moderate boundary

    High/-Good boundary

    Good-Moderate boundary

    CW B0

     

     

     

     

    All countries sharing the type

    0,76

    0,56

    1,7 (1,5 — 1,8 )

    2,3 (2,0 -2,7 )

    CW B2

     

     

     

     

    All countries sharing the type

    0,78

    0,56

    1,8

    2,5 (2,3 -2,6 )

    CW B3 a

     

     

     

     

    Sheltered

    All countries sharing the type

    0,71

    0,49

    2,4 (2,2 — 2,6 )

    3,5 (2,9 — 4,0 )

    CW B3 b

     

     

     

     

    Exposed

    All countries sharing the type

    0,81

    0,68

    1,5

    1,8

    CW B 12 a

     

     

     

     

    Eastern Baltic Sea

    Salinity 5-8 psu

    All countries sharing the type

    0,82

    0,66

    2,2

    2,7

    CW B 12 b

     

     

     

     

    Western Baltic Sea

    Salinity8 -22 psu

    All countries sharing the type

    0,92

    0,63

    1,3 (1,1 — 1,5 )

    1,9

    CW B 13

     

     

     

     

    Denmark, Estonia and Latvia

    0,92

    0,75

    1,3

    1,6

    CW B 14

     

     

     

     

    Denmark

    0,82

    0,56

    1,1

    1,6

    TW B 13

     

     

     

     

    All countries sharing the type

    0,90

    0,66

    4,2

    5,8

    Biological Quality Element: Angiosperms

    Angiosperms: parameter indicative of abundance (Depth limit of Eelgrass Zostera marina)

    Results: Ecological quality ratios and parameter values

    Type and country

    Ecological Quality Ratios for the national classification systems

    Parameter values/ranges

    Depth limit (m) Eelgrass Zostera marina

    High-Good boundary

    Good-Moderate boundary

    High/-Good boundary

    Good-Moderate boundary

    CW B 12 b

     

     

     

     

    Denmark and Germany

    Open coast

    0,90

    0,74

    8,5 (8,0 — 9,4 )

    7 (6,6 — 7,1 )

    WATER CATEGORY: Coastal and transitional

    GEOGRAPHICAL INTERCALIBRATION GROUP: North East Atlantic

    Description of types that have been intercalibrated

    Type

    Characterisation

    Salinity (psu)

    Tidal Range(m)

    Depth(m)

    Current Velocity (knots)

    Exposure

    Mixing

    Residence Time

    NEA1/26a

    Open oceanic, exposed or sheltered, euhaline, shallow

    > 30

    Mesotidal 1 — 5

    < 30

    Medium 1 — 3

    Exposed or sheltered

    Fully mixed

    Days

    NEA1/26b

    Enclosed seas, exposed or sheltered, euhaline, shallow

    > 30

    Mesotidal 1 — 5

    < 30

    Medium 1 — 3

    Exposed or sheltered

    Fully mixed

    Days

    NEA1/26c

    Enclosed seas, enclosed or sheltered, partly stratified

    > 30

    Microtidal/Mesotidal < 1 — 5

    < 30

    Medium 1 — 3

    Exposed or sheltered

    Partly stratified

    Days to weeks

    NEA1/26d

    Scandinavian coast, exposed or sheltered, shallow

    > 30

    Microtidal < 1

    < 30

    Low < 1

    Exposed or moderately exposed

    Partly stratified

    Days to weeks

    NEA1/26e

    Areas of upwelling, exposed or sheltered, euhaline, shallow

    > 30

    Mesotidal 1 — 5

    < 30

    Medium 1 — 3

    Exposed or sheltered

    Fully mixed

    Days

    NEA3/4

    Polyhaline, exposed or moderately exposed (Wadden Sea type)

    Polyhaline 18 — 30

    Mesotidal 1 — 5

    < 30

    Medium 1 — 3

    Exposed or moderately exposed

    Fully mixed

    Days

    NEA7

    Deep fjordic and sea loch systems

    > 30

    Mesotidal 1 -5

    > 30

    Low < 1

    Sheltered

    Fully mixed

    Days

    NEA8

    Skagerrak Inner Arc Type, polyhaline, microtidal, sheltered, shallow

    Polyhaline 18 — 30

    Microtidal < 1

    < 30

    Low < 1

    Sheltered

    Partly stratified

    Days to weeks

    NEA9

    Fjord with a shallow sill at the mouth with a very deep maximum depth in the central basin with poor deepwater exchange

    Polyhaline 18 — 30

    Microtidal < 1

    > 30

    Low < 1

    Sheltered

    Partly stratified

    Weeks

    NEA10

    Skagerrak Outer Arc Type, polyhaline, microtidal, exposed, deep

    Polyhaline 18 — 30

    Microtidal < 1

    > 30

    Low < 1

    Exposed

    Partly stratified

    Days

    NEA11

    Transitional Waters

    Oligohaline 0 — 35

    Micro to macrotidal

    < 30

    Variable

    Sheltered or moderately exposed

    Partly or permanently stratified

    Days to weeks

    Countries sharing the types that have been intercalibrated:

    Type NEA1/26a:

    Spain, France, Ireland, Norway, United Kingdom

    Type NEA1/26b:

    Belgium, France, Netherlands, United Kingdom

    Type NEA1/26c:

    Germany, Denmark

    Type NEA1/26d:

    Denmark

    Type NEA1/26e:

    Portugal, Spain

    Type NEA3/4:

    Germany, Netherlands

    Type NEA7:

    Norway, United Kingdom

    Type NEA8:

    Denmark, Norway, Sweden

    Type NEA9:

    Norway, Sweden

    Type NEA10:

    Norway, Sweden

    Type NEA11:

    Belgium, Germany, Spain, France, Ireland, Netherlands, Portugal, United Kingdom

    RESULTS

    Biological Quality Element: Benthic invertebrate fauna

    Results: Ecological quality ratios of the national classification systems intercalibrated

    The results are applicable to soft sediment habitats only (subtidal mud/sand habitats).

    Type and country

    National classification system

    Ecological Quality Ratios

    High-Good boundary

    Good-Moderate boundary

    Types NEA1/26, NEA 3/4 and NEA7 (Indices responsive primarily to organic enrichment and toxic pollution pressures in soft sediment habitats)

    Denmark

    DKI

    0,67

    0,53

    France

    M-AMBI

    0,77

    0,53

    Germany

    M-AMBI

    0,85

    0,70

    Ireland

    IQI

    0,75

    0,64

    Norway

    NQI

    0,92

    0,81

    Portugal

    P-BAT

    0,79

    0,58

    Spain

    M-AMBI

    0,77

    0,53

    United Kingdom

    IQI

    0,75

    0,64

    Types NEA1/26 and NEA3/4 (Index responsive to multiple pressures in multiple habitats)

    Belgium

    BEQI

    0,80

    0,60

    Netherlands

    BEQI

    0,80

    0,60

    Types NEA8/9/10

    Denmark

    DKI

    0,82

    0,63

    Norway

    NQI

    0,92

    0,81

    Sweden

    BQI

    0,89

    0,68

    Biological Quality Element: Phytoplankton

    Phytoplankton: parameter indicative of biomass parameter (Chlorophyll a)

    Results: Ecological quality ratios and parameter values

    The following results apply to all countries sharing the types. Parameter values are expressed in μg/l as the 90 %ile value calculated over the defined growing season in a six year period. The results relate to geographic areas within the types as described in the technical report.

    Type

    Ecological Quality Ratios

    Values (μg/l, 90 %ile

    High-Good boundary

    Good-Moderate boundary

    High-Good boundary

    Good-Moderate boundary

    NEA1/26a

    0,67

    0,33

    1 — 5

    2 — 10

    NEA1/26b

    0,67

    0,44

    6 — 10

    9 — 15

    NEA1/26c

    0,67

    0,44

    5

    7,5

    NEA1/26d

    0,67

    0,50

    3

    4

    NEA1/26e

    0,67

    0,44

    6 — 8

    9 — 12

    NEA8

    0,67

    0,33

    1,5

    3

    NEA9

    0,67

    0,33

    2,5

    5

    NEA10

    0,67

    0,33

    3

    6

    Phytoplankton: parameter indicative of blooms

    Results: Ecological quality ratios and parameter values

    Type and country

    National parameter intercalibrated

    Ecological Quality Ratios

    Values ( % single taxa counts above thresholds)

    High-Good boundary

    Good-Moderate boundary

    High-Good boundary

    Good-Moderate boundary

    NEA1/26a/b, NEA3/4

    Belgium

     

     

     

     

     

    Germany

     

     

     

     

     

    Netherlands

     

     

     

     

     

    UK

    Phaeocystis Blooms

    0,92

    0,49

    9

    17

    NEA1/26a/b

    Spain

     

     

     

     

     

    France

     

     

     

     

     

    Ireland

     

     

     

     

     

    UK

    Taxa cell counts

    0,84

    0,43

    20

    39

    NEA1/26e

    Portugal

     

     

     

     

     

    Spain

    Taxa cell counts

    0,83

    0,51

    30

    49

    Biological Quality Element: Macroalgae

    Macroalgae: parameter indicative of composition

    Results: Ecological quality ratios of national parameter intercalibrated

    Type and country

    National parameter intercalibrated

    Ecological Quality Ratios

    High-Good boundary

    Good-Moderate boundary

    NEA1/26

    Ireland

    Rocky Shore Reduced Species List Multimetric System

    0,80

    0,60

    Norway

    Rocky Shore Reduced Species List Multimetric System

    0,80

    0,60

    United Kingdom

    Rocky Shore Reduced Species List Multimetric System

    0,80

    0,60

    Spain

    Multimetric System CFR

    0,81

    0,57

    Portugal

    Multimetric System p-MarMAT

    0,82

    0,64

    Ireland

    United Kingdom

    Opportunistic Macroalgae Multimetric System

    0,80

    0,60

    NEA8/9/10

    Norway

    Sweden

    Subtidal Algae (Depth Limit of macroalgal Species)

    0,81

    0,61

    Biological Quality Element: Angiosperms

    Angiosperms: parameter indicative of taxonomic composition and abundance

    Results: Ecological quality ratios of national parameter intercalibrated

    Type and country

    National parameter intercalibrated

    Ecological Quality Ratios

    Parameter values (*1)

    High-Good boundary

    Good-Moderate boundary

    High-Good boundary

    Good-Moderate boundary

    NEA1/26, NEA 3/4, NEA11

    Ireland

    Netherlands

    UK

    Intertidal Seagrass Abundance (density) and Species Composition Multimetric

    0,90

    0,70

    Not applicable

    Not applicable

    NEA1/26, NEA3/4

    Germany

    Ireland

    Netherlands

    UK

    Intertidal Seagrass (Area: Acreage/bed extent)

    0,90

    0,70

    10

    30

    WATER CATEGORY: Coastal and transitional

    GEOGRAPHICAL INTERCALIBRATION GROUP: Mediterranean

    Results apply to coastal waters only.

    Typology has been developed for specific quality elements only (see below).

    RESULTS

    Biological Quality Element: Benthic invertebrate fauna

    Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification systems

    The following results apply to soft sediments only

    Country

    National classification systems intercalibrated

    Ecological Quality Ratios

    High-Good boundary

    Good-Moderate boundary

    Cyprus

    Bentix

    0,75

    0,58

    Greece

    Bentix

    0,75

    0,58

    Slovenia

    M-AMBI

    0,83

    0,62

    Spain

    MEDOCC index

    0,73

    0,47

    Biological Quality Element: Phytoplankton

    Description of types that have been intercalibrated (applicable for phytoplankton only)

    Type

    Description

    Density (kg/m3)

    Annual mean Salinity (psu)

    Type I

    Highly influenced by freshwater input

    < 25

    < 34,5

    Type IIA

    Moderately influenced by freshwater input (continent influence)

    25-27

    34,5 -37,5

    Type IIIW

    Continental coast, not influenced by freshwater input (Western Basin).

    > 27

    > 37,5

    Type IIIE

    Not influenced by freshwater input (Eastern Basin)

    > 27

    > 37,5

    Countries sharing the types that have been intercalibrated

    Type I:

    France, Italy

    Type IIA:

    France, Spain, Italy, Slovenia

    Type IIIW:

    France, Spain, Italy

    Type IIIE::

    Greece, Cyprus

    Phytoplankton: parameter indicative of biomass (Chlorophyll a)

    Results: Ecological quality ratios and parameter values

    The following results apply to all countries sharing the types. Parameter values are expressed in μg/l of Chlorophyll a, for the 90th percentile calculated over the year in at least a five year period. The results relate to geographic areas within the types as described in the technical report..

    Type

    Ecological Quality Ratios

    Values (μg/l, 90 %ile)

    High-Good boundary

    Good-Moderate boundary

    High-Good boundary

    Good-Moderate boundary

    Type IIA

    0,80

    0,53

    2,4

    3,6

    Type IIIW

    0,80

    0,50

    1,1

    1,8

    Type IIIE

    0,80

    0,20

    0,1

    0,4

    Biological Quality Element: Macroalgae

    Results: Ecological quality ratios of national classification systems

    The following results apply to the upper infralittoral zone (3,5 — 0,2 m depth) in rocky coasts:

    Country

    National classification systems intercalibrated

    Ecological Quality Ratios

    High-Good boundary

    Good-Moderate boundary

    Cyprus

    EEI- Ecological Evaluation Index

    0,75

    0,50

    France

    CARLIT — Cartography of Littoral and upper-sublittoral rocky-shore communities

    0,75

    0,60

    Greece

    EEI- Ecological Evaluation Index

    0,75

    0,50

    Slovenia

    EEI- Ecological Evaluation Index

    0,75

    0,50

    Spain

    CARLIT-BENTHOS

    0,75

    0,60

    WATER CATEGORY: Coastal and transitional

    GEOGRAPHICAL INTERCALIBRATION GROUP: Black Sea

    Description of types that have been intercalibrated

    Type

    Description

    CW-BL1

    Mesohaline, microtidal (< 1 m), shallow (< 30 m), moderately exposed, mixed substratum

    Countries sharing the types that have been intercalibrated:

    Bulgaria and Romania

    RESULTS

    Biological Quality Element: Phytoplankton

    Phytoplankton: parameter indicative of biomass

    Results: Ecological quality ratios and parameter values

    Season

    Ecological Quality Ratios

    Biomass values (mg/m3)

    High-Good boundary

    Good-Moderate boundary

    High-Good boundary

    Good-Moderate boundary

    Winter

    0,93

    0,78

    1 770

    3 420

    Spring

    0,93

    0,78

    3 515

    5 690

    Summer

    0,93

    0,78

    1 281

    2 526

    Autumn

    0,93

    0,78

    1 840

    3 640

    Biological Quality Element: Benthic invertebrates fauna

    Results: Ecological quality ratios of national parameters intercalibrated

    Member States must use at least one of the intercalibrated parameters (Shannon diversity index H’, AMBI, M-AMBI)

    National parameters intercalibrated

    Ecological Quality Ratios

    High-Good boundary

    Good-Moderate boundary

    Shannon diversity index H’

    0,89

    0,69

    AMBI

    0,83

    0,53

    M-AMBI

    0,85

    0,55


    (*1)  Intertidal seagrass values expressed as percentage areal loss from reference area.


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