Hydromorphological assessment and monitoring methodologies in coastal and transitional waters

This report summarises the collation of information from questionnaires sent to relevant member states in 2018 as part of the CIS ATG Work Programme, with information updates in 2020, primarily to determine the methods used by member states on Artificial/ Heavily Modified Water Body (A/HMWB) designation, Hydromorphological Status Classification and on preliminary Ecological Potential assessment approaches in Transitional and Coastal (TraC) waters. The interpreted outputs facilitate an overview of the main hydromorphological reporting approaches across member states. With focus narrowing to hydromorphological classification and HMWB designation in the later request, case study examples further narrowed the focus to present classification approaches only; the most relevant for future innovation needs, while linking also with potential HWMB designation updates. Ecological Potential assessment was decided to be further progressed through the ECOSTAT-GEP core group. The 5 hydromorphological classification case studies come from Ireland, Finland France, Germany and Romania providing representation from various regional typologies across Europe. A Mediterranean example was explored for a final draft however this was not possible within the timeframe. While a wide variety of metrics and approaches are outlined there are commonalities across many submissions. Expert judgement was used in the majority of approaches in both HMWB and hydromorphological classification approaches including where quantitative methods were predominant. CIS Guidance note 4 underpinned most HMWB designation approaches with modification/alteration data playing the central role in decision making. In hydromorphological classification a general consistent pattern of approach was observed with multiple quantitative metrics collated into an overall result which also used expert judgement in deriving a final classification. Biological and biogenic consideration were found to be considered in only a minority of hydromorphological classification methods. The role of plant, algal, and molluscan ecosystem engineers in TraC hydromorphological assessment was explored in the questionnaire. With no clear distinction between hydromorphological and biological/ biogenic structuring, consideration of such elements in hydromorphological assessment remains inconsistent across member states. Recent CEN guidance publications provide a foundation for more comprehensive assessment supporting a broader consideratio