Overview

This European Standard is applicable to standing water bodies with surface areas greater than 1 ha (0,01 km²) and maximum depths (at mean water level) greater than 1 m. All types of permanent standing water bodies, including natural, modified and artificial, freshwater and brackish, except for those systems which regularly connect to the sea, are included in this European Standard, though canals are excluded. Based on these criteria, it can be estimated that there are at least 500 000 natural standing water bodies across Europe, most of which are located in the glaciated landscapes in northern and western provinces and in Scandinavia. Lakeland districts also occur locally in areas such as the Danubian plain and around the Alps. Elsewhere, naturally occurring standing water bodies are relatively sparse and in such areas reservoirs or pits are more common. This European Standard is designed to a) support environmental and conservation agencies in meeting the monitoring requirements of the EU Water Framework Directive (Article 8, Annex II and Annex V); b) generate suitable data sets appropriate for monitoring and reporting of Natura 2000 sites designated under the Habitats Directive and the Birds Directive; c) provide information supporting other environmental reporting requirements (for example, in relation to biodiversity or environmental impact assessment); d) lake management and restoration initiatives. This European Standard a) defines the key term of "hydromorphology" and other terms relating to the physical characteristics of standing water bodies and their hydrological regimes; b) details essential features and processes of standing water bodies that could be characterised as part of a hydromorphological survey and for determining the hydromorphological condition of standing water bodies; c) defines the key pressures affecting European standing water bodies; d) provides guidance on strategies for collecting hydromorphological data depending on resources available and the anticipated use of the assessment. A hierarchy of approaches is recognised from the "overview method" utilising existing databases, maps and remote sensing data through to recognised field-based survey techniques such as Lake Habitat Survey (LHS); e) offers guidance on data presentation; f) establishes guidance on data quality assurance issues. This European Standard does not deal with biological assessments in standing water bodies such as the presence or absence of individual species or community composition, nor does it attempt to link specific hydromorphological features with their associated biological communities. However, it is relevant where plants or other organisms form significant structural elements of the habitat (for example, a gradation from riparian to littoral vegetation). With respect to the WFD, the hydromorphological condition only contributes to a classification at high ecological status. Hydromorphological conditions are not defined for good ecological status or the classes below but shall "conform with the results obtained for biological quality elements of every class", for example, moderate, unsatisfactory and bad ecological status. The preparatory work has been carried out by Working Committee "Biologisch-ökologische Gewässeruntersuchung" ("Biological ecological analysis of water") (NA 119-01-03-05-06 AK) of NA 119-01-03 AA "Wasseruntersuchung" ("Water analysis") and has been funded by the Länderfinanzierungsprogramm "Wasser, Boden und Abfall" (federal funding programme "Water, soil and waste").

Document: references other documents

Responsible national committee

NA 119-01-03-05-06 AK - Biological-ecological water examination  

Responsible european committee

CEN/TC 230/WG 2 - Biological methods co-ordination group