Page 186 - Freshwater-Biology-and-Ecology-Handbook

CHAPTER 4 2 2

REVIEW AND

INVESTIGATIONAL

SURVEY DESIGN

The review stage of an investigation is very similar to the
review stage for operational and surveillance monitoring.
Its aims are to review information available (not only
from monitoring but also from other sources), to identify
knowledge gaps and what is needed to fill them (including
the need for further monitoring), and also to plan the
investigation such that it identifies cost-beneficial measures
to restore environmental quality in order to meet the
environmental objectives.

An example of the review process, used by the Environment
Agency, is shown in Figure 4.2. One of the first steps is to
check the certainty of the classification that identified the
failure to meet environmental objectives.

If the failure is identified by the invertebrate classification,
RIVPACS suitability is checked. In addition, the probability
of the class and any notes that accompany the data,
including problems with sampling or analysis that may
compromise the data, are checked. Greater certainty is
needed for more expensive measures to restore quality.
These may include improvement to sewage treatment
works, storm sewage overflows, industrial discharges, or
changes to urban or rural land use.

186 | Freshwater Biology and Ecology Handbook
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