Comparing Chemical and Ecological Status in Catalan Rivers: Analysis of River Quality Status Following the Water Framework Directive

2012 ◽  
pp. 243-265 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antoni Munné ◽  
Lluís Tirapu ◽  
Carolina Solà ◽  
Lourdes Olivella ◽  
Manel Vilanova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Framework Directive ◽  
Ecological Status ◽  
River Quality ◽  
Quality Status ◽  
Chemical And Ecological Status

scholarly journals Land-use and agriculture in Denmark around year 1900 and the quest for EU Water Framework Directive reference conditions in coastal waters

AMBIO ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bent T. Christensen ◽  
Birger F. Pedersen ◽  
Jørgen E. Olesen ◽  
Jørgen Eriksen
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Water Framework Directive ◽  
Coastal Waters ◽  
Root Zone ◽  
Reference Conditions ◽  
Ecological Status ◽  
Agricultural Activity ◽  
Eu Water Framework Directive ◽  
Alternative Approach ◽  
The Eu

AbstractThe EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) aims to protect the ecological status of coastal waters. To establish acceptable boundaries between good and moderate ecological status, the WFD calls for reference conditions practically undisturbed by human impact. For Denmark, the nitrogen (N) concentrations present around year 1900 have been suggested to represent reference conditions. As the N load of coastal waters relates closely to runoff from land, any reduction in load links to agricultural activity. We challenge the current use of historical N balances to establish WFD reference conditions and initiate an alternative approach based on parish-level land-use statistics collected 1896/1900 and N concentrations in root zone percolates from experiments with year 1900-relevant management. This approach may be more widely applicable for landscapes with detailed historic information on agricultural activity. Using this approach, we find an average N concentration in root zone percolates that is close to that of current agriculture. Thus, considering Danish coastal waters to be practically unaffected by human activity around year 1900 remains futile as 75% of the land area was subject to agricultural activity with a substantial potential for N loss to the environment. It appears unlikely that the ecological state of coastal waters around year 1900 may serve as WFD reference condition.

scholarly journals The Use of Biological Indices for the Assessment of the River Quality (Ruda River, Poland)

2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 285-298 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aneta Spyra ◽  
Justyna Kubicka ◽  
Małgorzata Strzelec
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Benthic Invertebrates ◽  
Ecological Status ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Human Pressure ◽  
Dam Reservoir ◽  
River Quality ◽  
Water Field ◽  
Study Sites

AbstractRecognition of the deteriorating conditions of rivers worldwide has called for increased efforts to improve the ecological quality of impacted river systems. This is particularly important in areas that have suffered from a significant impact of human pressure on the ecological status of water. Field studies were conducted in the Ruda River in an area that had undergone anthropogenic disturbances. The objectives of our survey were to test the biological metrics based on benthic macroinvertebrates at four study sites. Spring and autumn surveys of benthic invertebrates indicated that based on the BMWP and BMWP(PL) indices, water quality was higher in comparison with the value of Multimetric index at all of the sites that were studied. Our results revealed that the water quality was higher at the study sites that are located above the dam reservoir based on both the chemical and biological parameters. This study also indicated that both spring and autumn constitute appropriate periods for carrying out monitoring studies. The values of multimeric index indicated the same water quality (except for site 1) in both sampling periods. Anthropogenic transformations of a riverbed influence the flora and fauna and affect the ecological status of rivers.

scholarly journals Chemical Quality Status of Rivers for the Water Framework Directive: A Case Study of Toxic Metals in North West England

Water ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 649-666 ◽  
Author(s):  
Phil Rowland ◽  
Colin Neal ◽  
Darren Sleep ◽  
Colin Vincent ◽  
Paul Scholefield
Keyword(s):  
Water Framework Directive ◽  
Toxic Metals ◽  
Chemical Quality ◽  
North West ◽  
Quality Status

scholarly journals Monitoring Scotland’s transitional water fish communities under the EU Water Framework Directive

2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 48-67
Author(s):  
M. O’Reilly ◽  
J. Boyle ◽  
S. Nowacki ◽  
M. Elliott ◽  
R. Foster
Keyword(s):  
Water Framework Directive ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Reference Conditions ◽  
Ecological Status ◽  
Fish Communities ◽  
High Status ◽  
Eu Water Framework Directive ◽  
Transitional Waters ◽  
Water Fish ◽  
The Eu

The history of monitoring transitional water fish in Scotland is briefly outlined. The requirements of the EU Water Framework Directive are explained and how this applies to the monitoring of transitional water fish communities in Scotland is described. The development of a monitoring programme for Scotland is outlined, including sampling methods and strategies. Six transitional waters were selected as representative for Scotland covering three different types of transitional water. A multi-metric tool, the Transitional Water Fish Classification Index was used to assess the ecological status of the fish communities in these waters and the operation of the different metrics and the creation of appropriate reference conditions is explained. The assessment tool was applied to survey data from 2005 to 2018, although only the more recent data fully met the tool requirements. The species composition and abundances in the respective transitional waters were compared. The fully valid surveys were all classed as of Good or High status, indicating the fish communities in all the representative transitional waters appeared to be in good ecological health. The efficacy of the different metrics is considered and some issues with Metric 2, enumerating migratory species, are discussed at length. A new multi-metric tool, the Estuarine Multi-metric Fish Index, is briefly discussed and its introduction for the assessments in Scotland is recommended.

scholarly journals Assessing pollution of aquatic environments with diatoms’ DNA metabarcoding: experience and developments from France water framework directive networks

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vasselon Valentin ◽  
Rimet Frédéric ◽  
Domaizon Isabelle ◽  
Monnier Olivier ◽  
Reyjol Yorick ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Framework Directive ◽  
High Throughput Sequencing ◽  
Ecological Status ◽  
Aquatic Environments ◽  
Morphological Identification ◽  
The Past ◽  
Sequencing Technologies ◽  
Dna Metabarcoding ◽  
Morphological Approach ◽  
Status Assessment

Ecological status assessment of watercourses is based on the calculation of quality indices using pollution sensitivity of targeted biological groups, including diatoms. The determination and quantification of diatom species is generally based on microscopic morphological identification, which requires expertise and is time-consuming and costly. In Europe, this morphological approach is legally imposed by standards and regulatory decrees by the Water Framework Directive (WFD). Over the past decade, a DNA-based molecular biology approach has newly been developed to identify species based on genetic criteria rather than morphological ones (i.e. DNA metabarcoding). In combination with high throughput sequencing technologies, metabarcoding makes it possible both to identify all species present in an environmental sample and to process several hundred samples in parallel. This article presents the results of two recent studies carried out on the WFD networks of rivers of Mayotte (2013–2018) and metropolitan France (2016–2018). These studies aimed at testing the potential application of metabarcoding for biomonitoring in the context of the WFD. We discuss the various methodological developments and optimisations that have been made to make the taxonomic inventories of diatoms produced by metabarcoding more reliable, particularly in terms of species quantification. We present the results of the application of this DNA approach on more than 500 river sites, comparing them with those obtained using the standardised morphological method. Finally, we discuss the potential of metabarcoding for routine application, its limits of application and propose some recommendations for future implementation in WFD.

Hurdles for implementation of constructed wetlands as Nature-based Solutions in Sweden

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julián Andrés García Murcia ◽  
Fernando Jaramillo ◽  
Sofia Wikström
Keyword(s):  
Water Framework Directive ◽  
Constructed Wetlands ◽  
Ecological Status ◽  
Nutrient Loads ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
The Status ◽  
Natural Wetlands ◽  
The Baltic ◽  
Good Ecological Status ◽  
Background Context

<p>Eutrophication in the Baltic Sea has been one of the major environmental issues during the last century partly due to extensive land-use change, loss of natural retention systems, and insufficient management. European legislation such as the Water Framework Directive (WFD) attempts to guide the recovery of good ecological status from freshwater to the sea, and suggests wetlands as ecosystems that can potentially contribute to achieving this goal. Wetlands are considered remarkable Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for improving water quality by diminishing the nutrient loads. This study aims to set a background context of the WFD implementation in Sweden, determine the status of constructed wetlands, and evaluate the stakeholders’ perspectives to identify the main administrative hurdles of wetland implementation in Sweden. For this purpose, we conducted a narrative review, database analysis, and semi-structured interviews with members of the institutions involved in water management. Our results show that it is essential to find synergies among the WFD and other directives to expand cross-sectoral cooperation, implement adjustments on the funding scheme that includes restoration and maintenance of natural wetlands, and increase compensation periods and cost ceiling. Likewise, it is crucial to perform significant improvements in the monitoring system, including more frequent data collection, as well as exploring new strategies to capture landowners’ interest in the implementation of NbS, such as the Catchment Officers program. Finally, we suggest paludiculture as a promising farming practice to increase proprietors’ attention on novel market alternatives, and in turn, to provide benefits for climate, water, and biodiversity.</p><p><strong>Keywords </strong>Wetlands management · Water Framework Directive · Nature-based Solutions · Eutrophication · Semi-structured interviews · Sweden</p>

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