Page 215 - Freshwater-Biology-and-Ecology-Handbook

As a reminder, investigative monitoring is usefully defined by the EU WFD as:

Investigative monitoring is designed to identify the causes of poor

environmental quality (diagnosis) and their timing and source so that an
appropriate programme of measures can be implemented to restore quality.

It is undertaken in close association with surveillance As previously stated, it is important to differentiate the data
monitoring which assesses long-term changes in the sets from these investigative monitoring activities, as the
environment due to natural and widespread anthropogenic data from investigative monitoring may bias classification
activity. Surveillance monitoring is the basis for formal toward a specific short-term event, such as a transitory
classification and reporting of water quality and drives the pollution incident.
infrastructure investment programmes.
Care must be taken in sample programme design to
Operational monitoring is used to confirm the status of optimise these complementary activities and yet ensure
water bodies at risk from known pressures and to assess high quality information for decision making and reporting.
the efficacy of improvement programmes.

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