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Assessing watercourse quality: challenges in implementing European and Swiss legal frameworks
Marianne Milano1, Nathalie Chèvre2, Emmanuel Reynard3
1Institute of Geography and Sustainability, University of Lausanne, Building Géopolis, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland. marianne.milano@unil.ch.
Environmental Science and Pollution Research International
|October 25, 2017
Summary
River health is declining due to climate change and pollution, with no sections meeting good environmental standards. Integrated approaches are needed to assess and restore river ecosystems effectively.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- River Ecology
- Water Quality Management
Background:
- Hydro-climatic changes and human pollution degrade river quality, impacting aquatic ecosystems and water availability.
- European and Swiss water policies are evolving towards holistic river system management.
- Existing frameworks aim to identify ecological deficits and improve water management plans.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare and implement European and Swiss river assessment frameworks in a Swiss agricultural catchment.
- To identify challenges in assessing and sustaining river health.
- To evaluate the hydromorphological, ecological, and ecotoxicological quality of the river.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of European and Swiss river assessment frameworks.
- Field implementation in a Swiss agricultural catchment.
- Evaluation of river quality parameters: hydromorphological, ecological, and ecotoxicological.
Main Results:
- No river sections surveyed were classified as being in a good environmental state.
- River quality deteriorates downstream due to tributaries and wastewater discharge.
- Hydro-climatic variations and management strategies impact chemical status and water quality.
Conclusions:
- Both frameworks are valuable for monitoring river quality changes over space and time.
- Significant challenges remain in chemical monitoring, target value definition, and integrating human pressures.
- Integrated indicators and ecosystem services approaches may offer solutions for river health assessment and restoration.
Keywords:
Ecological stateEcotoxicological stateEuropean Water Framework DirectiveHydromorphologySwiss modular stepwise procedureWater qualityMore Related Videos
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