Page 139 - Freshwater-Biology-and-Ecology-Handbook

Other evidence Other evidence

Reporting

Data analysis
Data analysis Data
biotic indices
biotic indices analysis &
& status diagnosis
& status
classification
classification
Compliance
Laboratory with Programme Laboratory
analysis Surveillance objectives of measures analysis
and PASS FAIL Investigative
operational monitoring
monitoring

Field Field
monitoring monitoring
and data Review Review and data
collection collection

WFD status classification Non-classification

Figure 3.1
The monitoring cycles with topic covered by this part of the handbook highlighted in red

It is important to record on databases the monitoring Flagging each sample in the database as surveillance,
programme for which the sample was collected, particularly operational or investigative allows the selection of data that
the samples that should or should not be used for status is fit for particular purposes, so that inappropriate data does
classification. For example, surveillance monitoring should not skew the analyses.
rely on an unbiased sampling programme to assess the
background status of a river basin or country. Biological classification data can be utilised in
a number of key reports:
Investigative monitoring can add many additional samples
to the database. If they were analysed with surveillance • at international level, via the EU State of the
monitoring samples they could skew the results and Environment reports
misrepresent the overall status of the river basin. • at national level, as key elements of the UK State of
the Environment Reports
Data from operational monitoring can also distort wider- • at more local catchment level as part of River Basin
scale analyses of long-term changes in river basins, Management Plans, stakeholder engagement and
because they are concentrated in water bodies where local reports.
quality issues are suspected, where measures to restore
quality are implemented or where the risks of failing quality Biological information is increasingly being used as the
standards are high, and because they are more numerous key environmental indicator to direct investment in the
than surveillance sites. Conversely, operational monitoring water industry and agriculture to achieve environmental
can under-represent unsuspected issues because it is improvement and protection. It also informs biodiversity
undertaken where issues are known. initiatives.

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