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ecologic.de
12/10/2007 - Belluno ESWG Conference
Heavily Modified Water Bodies(HMWB) in the WFD
Eleftheria Kampa, Ecologic
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12/10/2007 - Belluno ESWG Conference 2
Content of this presentation• Hydromorphology & HMWB in the WFD• Provisional identification of HMWB• Criteria used in Austria• Overview of HMWB & hydromorphological
pressures in Europe• Current issues & recent activities
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Hydromorphology in the WFD• New issue emphasised by the WFD• What is hydromorphology?
• Hydrological regime – quantity and dynamics ofwater flow
• Morphological conditions (shape) – river/channelwidth & depth variation, structure and substrateof bed, structure of riparian zone
• Important pressure type for mountain waterslittle affected by agricultural & industrial pollution
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What are HMWB?• Sometimes natural WB conditions are substantially
changed as a result of physical alterations by humanactivity, e.g. for hydropower or navigation
• WFD recognises that in some cases the benefits of suchuses need to be retained. If certain criteria are fulfilled (Art.2.9 & 4.3), WFD allows designation as HMWB, e.g.reservoirs
• HMWBs cannot meet good ecological status (GES). TheirWFD environmental objective is good ecological potential(GEP)
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Common Implementation Strategy• HMWB were subject of a European expert
working group (lead UK/DE; 2001-2003)• European Synthesis Project• WFD CIS Guidance Document on HMWB• European toolbox supporting the Guidance
see http://circa.europa.eu/Public/irc/env/wfd/library
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Provisional identification of HMWB1. Water body identification
2. Is the water body artificial?
3. “Screening”: Are there any changes in hydromorphology?
4. Description of significant changes in hydromorphology
5. Is is likely that water body will failgood ecological status due tochanges in hydromorphology?
6. Is the water body substantiallychanged in character due to physicalalterations by human activity?
Identify provisionally as HMWB
Hydromorphologicalrisk assessment
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Attention to the following:
• Physical alterations must result in changes bothin hydrology and morphology
• Some of the hydromorphologically ”at risk” WBsmay not be identified as pHMWB• HyMo risk assessment: steps 3-5 of process
(GES fails due to significant HyMo alterations)• pHMWB: step 6 of the process (WBs are
substantially changed in character)
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Meaning of “substantially changed in character”
• Very obvious that the WB substantially deviatesfrom its natural condition
• Extensive, widespread or profound change incharacter
• Permanent change in character (not temporary)• Many hydrological alterations, e.g. due to abstractions, are
not associated with morphological changes, and may oftenbe easily reversible and short-term. So, these alterations donot constitute substantial changes in character of WBs
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“Substantial changes” on a river with dam
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HMWB Natural WB(reservoirs: clear case)
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Criteria for pHMWB
• Several countries have developed criteria forHyMo risk assessment and pHMWB• Based on method/data availability in each
country• Dissimilar approaches even in the same country
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Exchange of European experience in 2005
• A European workshop on WFD andHydromorphology took place in Prague (17-19Oct 2005)
• 24 European countries discussed their progressof work on HyMo pressures and HMWB
• All country presentations available at:http://www.ecologic-events.de/hydromorphology/presentations.htm
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Key European workshop conclusions (I)
• HyMo risk criteria of different countries weresometimes comparable and sometimes not.
• Some countries used the risk criteria also ascriteria for pHMWB; other countries used twodifferent sets of criteria
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Key European workshop conclusions (II)
• Expert judgement played a role in all countries• There was a high degree of uncertainty in risk
assessment; some countries plan to revise theircriteria for HyMo risk assessment and pHMWB
• Mainly abiotic data were used in riskassessment. In the future, criteria for HyMo riskassessment and pHMWB should be biologicallyvalidated using the best available information
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HyMo risk assessment in Austria
• Risk assessment in 3 categories:not at risk/at risk/possibly at risk
• Risk assessment based on pressure/impactindicators for rivers (Screening Method):• hydrology (water abstraction, hydro-peaking,
impoundments)• artificial barriers/interruptions of river continuity• morphology (5 class-system)
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Examples of HyMo risk criteria in AustriaPressure/Impact indicator At risk Possibly at riskImpoundments(rivers > 100 km²: backwater > 500 m)(rivers < 100 km²: backwater > 100 m)
Large reservoirs (lakecharacter)
orChain of impoundments
orMany (small) impoundments
( > 15% of WB length)
One orfew (small)
impoundments
( < 15% of WB length)
Pressure/Impact indicator At risk Possibly at riskRiver assessment of morphologicalalterations
(5-class system)
Length of WB > class 2
> 70% in class >2or
> 30% in class >3
30%-70% in class >2
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Illustration of 5 classes for banks and bottom
Courtesy: H. Mühlmann
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From risk to pHMWB in Austria
• WBs „not at risk“ are not further considered• WBs „possibly at risk“: no decision on pHMWB
presently possible (additional data andinformation is needed)
• WBs „at risk“: also the question of „substantiallychanged in character“ was considered forpHMWB identification• Question of reversibility
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Where are we on a European level?• Art. 5 Reports submitted to EC (2005)
• Reports show that HyMo changes are the mainreason for failing to reach GES in rivers
• 23 % of WBs were provisionally identified asHMWB due to physical alterations
• Final designation of HMWB pending in theupcoming River Basin Management Plans(2008/9)
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SW
G C
onference21
HyM
o pressures in Europe
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
100Urban development
Flood defence
Power generation (incl.Hydropower)
Navigation
Agriculture
Recreation
Water & Wastewater
Other industrial uses
Coastal defence
Freshwater Fisheries
Mining
Forestry
Marine Fisheries
Driving forces
Percentage of Member States
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Based on CISGuidance Document
Courtesy: U.Irmer
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Upcoming HMWB designation
• Socioeconomic assessment part of designation• GEP not as „demanding“ as GES but GEP does
not mean „we do nothing“!• All mitigation measures compatible with the
specific use must be taken (should be seen aschance for HyMo degraded WBs)
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New modifications: E.g new dam/reservoir
• Art 4.7: we are not in breach of the WFD when”failure to achieve GES or GEP is the result of newmodifications to the physical characteristics of asurface water body”
• But under certain conditions:• Mitigate adverse impact (take all practicable steps)• Modifications are of overriding public interest• There is no other significantly better environmental
option
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New modifications: Relevant EU directives
• Carry out assessment of whether the conditionsof Art 4.7 are met in the planning stage• incorporate assessment in the EIA required for
specific projects (85/337/EEC)• incorporate assessment in SEA (2001/42/EC)
for plans and programmes affecting WFDobjectives
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Recent EU developments (I)
• Ongoing CIS activity on WFD & HyMo pressures• Recent Documents:• „Good practice in managing the ecological impacts of
hydropower, flood protection works and works fornavigation under the WFD“
• „Recommendations for better policy integration of theWFD with energy, transport and flood protection policies“
• seehttp://circa.europa.eu/Public/irc/env/wfd/library?l=/framework_directive/thematic_documents/hydromorphology&vm=detailed&sb=Title
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Recent EU developments (II)
• Ongoing CIS activity on WFD & HyMo pressures• Workshops / focus on information exchange:
• WFD & Hydropower Workshop, Berlin, June 2007see http://www.ecologic-events.de/hydropower/
• Upcoming activities (in 2008) on Navigation and FloodDefense structures
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Thank you for your attention
Eleftheria Kampa
Ecologic, Pfalzburger Str. 43-44, D-10717 Berlin���� +49-30-86880-0, ���� +49-30-86880-100
[email protected], www.ecologic.eu