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7.6. Definition of significant pressures and impacts

A key part of the characterisation of surface water bodies is the assessment of the risk that a surface water body may fail (in 2015) the objectives of the WFD unless appropriate measures are taken. The results of the risk assessment inform the monitoring of surface water bodies and the subsequent classification of status. It is crucial that methodologies used in risk assessment are fit for purpose in the sense of being able to identify and quantify all significant pressures within the RBD and their potential impact on status of surface water bodies (CIS Guidance Document No. 3). If not, (expensive) measures may be incorrectly targeted and objectives may (unexpectedly) not be met.

 

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Class SWPressures

  1. Please include here any comments which apply to all the schema elements in this Class.
  2. In addition to those general schema element level comments, we welcome your views on: a) whether you think this Class can be simplified;  and b) whether you think the linkages with other reporting Classes or Schemas can be improved, and how;
  • SI - Slovenia (invited by kristpet (disabled)) 22 Mar 2019 15:41:29

    Comment on significant hydromorphological pressures which are divided into two groups, i.e. 1) abstractions and 2) water flow regulations and morphological alteration.

    Proposed change:

    We propose that the list of possible significant hydromorphological pressures is revised in such a way take it would more consistently take into account hydromorphological elements supporting the biological elements, which are, in accordance with Annex V of the Water Framework Directive, hydrological regime, river continuity, morphological conditions.

    We propose that the list of possible significant hydromorphological pressures is revised, following three different groups of significant pressures:

    1. abstractions and water flow regulations,
    2. interruptions of river continuity,
    3. morphological alterations.

    Explanation for the proposed change:

    add1) Abstractions and water flow regulations are pressures that have impact on hydromorphological element "hydrological regime" (i.e. water abstractions, impoundments, hydropeaking, anthropogenic rapid water level fluctuations, etc.).

    add2) Interruptions of river continuity are pressures that have impact on hydromorphological element "river continuity" (i.e weirs, dams, ramps, etc. causing interruptions to migrations of organisms and sediment transport).

    add3) Morphological alterations are pressures that have impact on hydromorphological element "morphological conditions” (i.e river engineering works, dredging, removal of riparian zone, etc.).

  • NO - Norway (invited by kristpet (disabled)) 03 May 2019 13:10:29

    These changes are too disruptive. We wish to keep it as it is

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swPressuresNotAssessed - Required.(SignificantPressureType_Enum)

Select the pressure types from the enumeration list that have not been assessed (i.e. pressure types that have not been considered because they were not deemed to be important in the RBD, no information was available, or any other reason). If all pressures have been assessed report ‘Not applicable’. The option ‘No significant pressure’ is not valid.

  • LU - Luxembourg1 (invited by kristpet (disabled)) 26 Apr 2019 11:21:12

    We suggest to delete this schema element as significant pressures will be reported at WB level in schema element "swSignificantPressureType".

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swSignificantPressurePointSourceTools - Required.(SignificantPressureTools_Enum)

Report the tools that have been used to define significant pressures from point sources. ‘Numerical tools’ includes modelling tools.

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swSignificantPressureDiffuseSourceTools - Required.(SignificantPressureTools_Enum)

Report the tools that have been used to define significant pressures from diffuse sources. ‘Numerical tools’ includes modelling tools.

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swSignificantPressureWaterAbstractionTools - Required.(SignificantPressureTools_Enum)

Report the tools that have been used to define significant pressures from water abstractions. ‘Numerical tools’ includes modelling tools.

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swSignificantPressureWaterFlowTools - Required.(SignificantPressureTools_Enum)

Report the tools that have been used to define significant pressures from water flow regulation and morphological alterations. ‘Numerical tools’ includes modelling tools.

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swSignificantPressureOtherSourceTools - Required.(SignificantPressureTools_Enum)

Report the tools that have been used to define significant pressures from other sources. ‘Numerical tools’ includes modelling tools. 

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swSignificanceDefinition - Required.(YesNoCode_Enum)

Indicate whether significance been defined in terms of thresholds. 

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swSignificanceLinkFailure - Required.(YesNoCode_Enum)

Indicate whether the definition of significance is linked to the potential failure of objectives. 

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swPressuresReference - Required.(ReferenceType)

Provide references or hyperlinks to the relevant document and section where any other relevant information relating to pressure types can be found. Guidance on what should be included in this document is provided in Section 7.6.3.3. 

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Guidance on contents of RBMPs/background documents

(Please see the full text of this sub-section in the WFD Reporting Guidance 2016 or above chapter)

Include here any comments that relate to the information contained in this sub-section of the Reporting Guidance, namely concerning information you think could/should be reported electronically and information which you believe should not be included in the River Basin Management Plans or background documents.

  • EURELECTRIC-Union of the Electricity Industry (invited by kristpet (disabled)) 22 Mar 2019 11:43:54

    Indicate if it is, or not, an historical pressure.

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