EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 A new Guidance Document No.37 on the ecological potential of heavily modified water bodies: What for?
1.2 Overview of CIS activities relevant to HMWB and GEP
2 ROLE OF HYDROMORPHOLOGY IN WFD
2.1 Overview
2.1.1 Characterization
2.1.2 Pressure and impacts and risk analysis
2.1.3 Monitoring
2.1.4 Ecological status
2.1.5 Reference conditions and typology
2.1.6 Measures
2.1.7 Exemptions
2.2 Hydromorphology in HMWB designation and assessment of ecological potential
3 WATER USES, WIDER ENVIRONMENT AND OTHER SUSTAINABLE HUMAN DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES
4 RE-CAPPING THE DESIGNATION OF HMWB
4.1 Recap of key issues relevant to the designation of HMWB
4.1.1 Substantial changes in character
4.2 Review of HMWB designation in the river basin management planning cycles
5 STEPS FOR DEFINITION OF ECOLOGICAL POTENTIAL
5.1 Approaches for defining ecological potential in 1st & 2nd RBMPs
5.2 Approximation of ecological continuum
5.3 Overview of key steps for defining ecological potential in a comparable way
5.3.1 “Route” of the reference approach
5.3.2 “Route” of the mitigation measures approach
5.3.3 Overview of individual steps
5.4 Detailed key steps for defining ecological potential in a comparable way
5.4.1 Information from earlier planning cycles (pre-step)
5.4.2 Identification of the closest comparable water category and related quality elements (Step A)
5.4.3 Is the closest comparable water category for HMWB always clear?
5.4.4 Identification of relevant mitigation measures (MEP) (Step B)
5.4.5 Derivation of hydromorphological conditions for MEP (Step C)
5.4.6 Derivation of physico-chemical conditions for MEP, taking into account the closest comparable water body type (Step D)
5.4.7 Derivation of BQE conditions for MEP (Step E)
5.4.8 Derivation of BQE conditions for GEP (Step F)
5.4.9 Derivation of supporting quality elements (SQE) conditions for GEP (Step G)
5.4.10 Identification of mitigation measures (GEP) (Step H)
5.5 Moderate, poor and bad ecological potential
6 IMPLEMENTATION OF MEASURES TO ACHIEVE GEP
7 INTERCOMPARISON OF ECOLOGICAL POTENTIAL
ANNEX I - ILLUSTRATIVE CASE STUDIES ON THE STEPS FOR DEFINING ECOLOGICAL POTENTIAL
Case study 1: River impoundment (reference approach and mitigation measures approach)
Case study 2: River straightening and bank fixation for navigation (reference approach and mitigation measures approach)
Case study 3: Estuary with flood defence/embanking (mitigation measures approach)
Case study 4: River affected by drainage (reference approach)
ANNEX II – EXAMPLE ARTIFICIAL WATER BODIES: Ditches - hydromorphological mitigation as an exception, mitigation by maintenance as a rule
ANNEX III – GLOSSARY