Monitoring under the water framework directive : Guidance document No 7

This guidance document, produced by Working Group 2.7 Monitoring, proposes an overall methodological approach to monitoring for the implementation of the WFD. Because of the diversity of catchment pressures, water-body types, biological communities and hydromorphological and physico-chemical characteristics within the European Union, the appropriate implementation of programmes of measures in accordance with the requirements of the directive will vary between Member States and river basins. This proposed methodology will need to be tailored to specific circumstances. It is not the intention of this guidance to define prescriptive methods for the assessment and classification of ecological status. This is due to the following factors: there are a number of existing classification systems already in use throughout the EU that are potentially suitable for adaptation to meet the requirements of the WFD, some of which have been incorporated into national standards; individual Member States generally understand local natural variations in biological communities, hydromorphological conditions and physico-chemical variables; the level of habitat detail required varies for different indicators depending on their sensitivity to natural variation in habitat conditions; and there are existing international, European and national standards for a number of the required quality elements. This guidance, therefore, provides a framework within which Member States can either use/modify their existing methods, or where no appropriate monitoring and assessment systems exists, develop new systems that will incorporate all the requirements of the WFD.