Title: Assessment of freshwater riverine environments using macrophytes : standard methodologies : final draft : biology laboratory procedures manual. Section C : test methods and procedures
Author: National Rivers Authority Anglian Region
Document Type: Monograph
Abstract:
This document contains guidance for test methods and procedures when undertaking a macrophyte assessment. Aquatic macrophytes influence or are influenced by many areas of the NRA's duties and functions including navigation, recreation, conservation, flood risk and land drainage, fisheries, water resources and water quality. Macrophytes are becoming increasingly important as a water quality monitoring tool, with the need to determine and monitor areas affected by nutrient enrichment. Many of the rivers in the Anglian region suffer from severe eutrophication problems. Eutrophication can produce a progressive, and sometimes severe, deterioration in environmental quality, including loss of species diversity, loss of amenity and problems for abstractors and other water users. Certain macrophyte species are tolerant to high levels of nutrients and this tends the community towards overall dominance and increase in abundance by one or more tolerant species and a decrease in diversity. The EC directive on Urban Waste Water Treatment, sets phosphorus limits on sewage works at fewer than 10,000 population equivalent, discharging into sensitive areas. These are defined as waters where enrichment is causing or may cause an accelerated growth of algae and higher forms of plant life to produce an undesirable disturbance to the balance of organisms present in the water. Under the Water Resources Act 1991 the NRA has duties which include a general duty to conserve and enhance the natural beauty and amenity of inland and coastal waters, and of land associated with them. The NRA is also specifically responsible for water quality in all controlled waters. Introduction of the Statutory Water Quality Objectives, in particular the Special Ecosystem class, for which nutrient level is a determinant, and other legislation including the EC UWWT, Nitrate and Habitat directives and PARCOM increase the need for macrophyte surveys. Paris Commission is involved in monitoring nutrients in the North Sea, into which the rivers in the Anglian region drain.
Publisher: National Rivers Authority
Publication Date: 1994
Publication Place: Peterborough
Subject Keywords: Macrophytes; Water quality measurements; Directives (European Union); Water quality surveys; Guidelines
Extent: 97; + appendices
Permalink: http://www.environmentdata.org/archive/ealit:4151
Total file downloads: 351
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