Page 38 - Freshwater-Biology-and-Ecology-Handbook

CHAPTER 1 2.3 2.3 Types of monitoring

The WFD describes the three
main types of monitoring for
surface waters: surveillance,
operational and investigational.

Surveillance monitoring

Surveillance monitoring is undertaken to supplement and validate
the initial pressure and impact assessments, to assess long-term
changes in natural conditions, and to facilitate efficient and effective
design of future monitoring and management activities.

Operational monitoring Further types of
monitoring
Operational monitoring is undertaken to establish the status of those
water bodies identified as being at risk of failing their environmental
objectives, and to assess any changes in status resulting from the WFD The WFD also requires monitoring
improvement programme, known as the Programme of Measures. in relation to Protected Areas,
In this way, scarce monitoring resource is focused on waters at risk. where existing monitoring
requirements must be fed into
the management, protection and
improvement programmes.

Groundwater level monitoring is
Investigative monitoring also required to assess quantitative
status. In addition, groundwater
Investigative monitoring is carried out when the reason for failure qualitative status, especially the
of environmental objectives is not known, or to ascertain the upward trend in contaminants,
magnitude and impacts of accidental pollution. must be monitored.

Whilst these definitions of monitoring are useful, in practice information provided by a wide range of
monitoring programmes and historical data sets is used to ensure effective decision making. Predictive
modelling techniques are also an important component of decision making. These may be used to estimate
current and future water quality, water quantity and ecological status. However, models are only as good as
the information fed into them and monitoring programmes need to take this into account in their design.

38 | Freshwater Biology and Ecology Handbook
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