STAR Standardisation of river classifications : Framework method for calibrating different biological survey results against ecological quality classifications to be developed for the Water Framework Directive

Country: EU Projects
Start Date:   31/12/2001         Duration: 36 months         Project Type: RTD
Contract Number: EVK1-CT-2001-00089
Organisation Type:  EC Project
Topics: 
Contaminated land-->Site investigation-->Sampling and analysis
Groundwater protection-->Groundwater processes-->Contaminant hydrology
Water and sanitation-->Water and sanitation Overview
Water resources and their management -->Stresses, quality and ecological status
Water resources and their management -->Water resources and their management Overview
Project objectives:
The variety of assessment methods for streams and rivers in Europe provides good opportunities for implementing the Water Framework Directive but their diversity 
may also result in serious strategic problems. The number of organism groups that will be used to assess Ecological Status, and the number of methods available
for doing so are so diverse that inter-calibration and standardisation of methods is crucial. Similarly, protocols need to be devised to integrate the information
gathered on the different taxonomic groups. The project aims to derive a detailed picture of which methods are best suited for which circumstances as a basis
for standardisation. We propose to develop a standard for determining class boundaries of Ecological Status and another for inter-calibrating existing
methods.
Project Summary:
The Water Framework Directive defines a framework for monitoring the EcologicalStatus of surface and ground waters. The Ecological Status of rivers will 
bedetermined from a range of taxonomic groups and a variety of methods. Most MemberStates will have their own assessment procedures but a common European Standard
isrequired. Through field sampling and desk studies we aim to: 1) cross-calibrateand integrate assessments using different methods and taxonomic groups
2)recommend which procedures to use in which situations 3) define the precision and reliability of each method and 4) assist the EU in defining the boundaries
ofclasses of Ecological Status. A decision support system will be developed for applying the project findings. The research will used to help establish a Europeanstandard
for assigning the Ecological Status of rivers from multiple sources ofecological data.
Achieved Objectives:
For the purposes of this project two 'core streams types' were recognised: small, shallow, upland streams and medium-sized, deeper lowland streams. Besides 
the evaluation of existing data, a completely new data set was sampled to gain comparable data on macroinvertebrates, phytobenthos, fish and stream morphology
taken with a set of different methods from sites representing different stages of degradation. This was the main source of data for cross-comparisons and the
preparation of standards. A number of 'additional stream types' was investigated in order to extend the range of sites at which field methods and assessment
procedures were compared. The participants were trained in sampling workshops. Using the project database, assessment methods based on benthic macroinvertebrates
were compared and inter-calibrated, particularly in terms of errors, precision, relation to reference conditions and possible class boundaries. The discriminatory
power of different organism groups to detect ecological change were tested through various statistical procedures. Two CEN Workshops were held during the contracted period. STAR benefited from clustering with the complementary Framework V Project, FAME. Project FAME developed European fish assessment protocols using existing
data. STAR fish sampling was based on FAME protocols and STAR field data was be used by FAME to test these new protocols.
Product Descriptions:
The variety of assessment methods for streams and rivers in Europe provides good opportunities for implementing the Water Framework Directive but their diversity 
may also result in serious strategic problems. The number of organism groups that will be used to assess Ecological Status, and the number of methods available
for doing so are so diverse that inter-calibration and standardisation of methods is crucial. The available products are: -STAR stream types and sampling sites (Report) -The waterview database contains a comprehensive compilation of assessment methods for rivers and streams in Europe using the 'biotic elements' macroinvertebrates,
macrophytes, phytobenthos,phytoplankton, fish and hydromorphology. -Database selection and overview (Acquisition of existing data), Report Objectives:To obtain readily available existing data, of sufficient quality, reliability and methodological compatibility, in order to enhance the
achievement of the project objectives. To maintain good lines of communication and co-operation with all other relevant European and national sampling and
assessment programmes and standardisation approaches. -Sampling workshops an overview, Report The aim of the sampling workshops, which constituted the main component of Work Package 6, was to ensure that all the project's participants had a clear and
common understanding of the sampling and laboratory protocols, in particular that there were no differences in interpretation of the written protocols.
The workshops were also to be used to collect replicate samples of diatoms and macro-invertebrates by every partner in order to quantify, compare and inter-calibrate
sampling variation in each form of macro-invertebrate and diatom sampling method applied in the project. -Results of the La Bresse diatom sampling and analysis workshop, Report -Results of the sampling programme
Additional Information:

            
Project Resources:

STAR Stream Types and Sampling Sites

Waterview Database

Report: Database selection and overview - Acquisition of existing data

Sampling workshops - an overview

Report: Results of the La Bresse diatom sampling and analysis workshop

Report: Results of the sampling programme
Weblink:
http://www.eu-star.at/frameset.htm
Funding Programme(s): 
EC Framework Programme 5
Link to Organisations:
Submitted by: EUGRIS Team Prof Paul Bardos  Who does what?  03/07/2003 17:48:00
Updated by: EUGRIS Team Professor Paul Bardos  Who does what?  03/10/2006 14:50:00