Rev Paula 1 Final 15-6-11.pdf - Waterways Forward

Protecting Water Quality in
Inland Waterways
Monitoring Programme and
Classification Tool to Assess
Ecological Potential of Canals
under the
Water Framework Directive

OVERVIEW
• Water Framework Directive Requirements
for Canals
• Mitigation Measures
• SNIFFER Project

Changing Face of the Waterways…

Native Protected Species
Opposite-leaved Pondweed
(Groenlandia densa)

The white-clawed crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes) which is
under threat t from a lethal l fungus

Objectives of the Practice
• Development of WFD Monitoring Programme for
Canals
• Classification of Ecological Potential
• Research the development of WFD
Classification Tool for Canals
• Development of mitigation measures to ensure
the Canals meet Good Ecological Potential
(GEP)
• Using ecological information to improve
maintenance practices

WFD OVERVIEW
Water Framework
Directive
Good Ecological
Status
Good Chemical
Status
Quality of
Biological
Community
Hydromorphological
Characteristics
Physico-Chemical
Characteristics
Quality Standards for
Chemical
Substances

Water Quality Parameters
Physico- Chemical Status
Parameter Threshold Source
Total P
mg/L
MRP
mg/L
Ammonia
mg/L
≤ 0.063
≤ 0.02
≤ 0.12
B.O.D. < 2.5
Inland Fisheries - Expert Judgement
Inland Fisheries - Expert Judgement
SNIFFER WFD61
Research project to develop tool for assigning status to
canals
mg/L O 2
DO
mg/L
Total
Coliforms
Feacal
Coliforms
>5

Macroinvertebrates
Macroinvertebrates
are the larger
invertebrates
visible to the eye.

Biological Status
Parameter Threshold Source
Macro-invertebrates 45 4.5 SNIFFER WFD61
ASPT
(Range 4.0 - Macroinvertebrates
5.0) within range of 4-5
(Average score per
deemed suitable for
taxon)
Irish canals based
on expert opinion
Macrophytes
Tool required, under
development

WFD Monitoring Requirements for Canals
Quality Elements No. of Sites Frequency
General physicochemical
Benthic invertebrate
fauna
40 (each year) 4 times per year
c. 13 (per year) Once per three
years
Macrophytes 40 (each year) Annually
Hydromorphology c. 7 (each year) Once per six years
Fish c. 13 (per year) Once per three
years
Annex X Substances
To be considered when
discharged into an RBD
and dthen to a canal
12 times per year
for 1 year in 3
year cycle
Annex VIII Other
pollutants
To be considered when
discharged into an RBD
and then into a canal
12 times per year
for 1 year in 3
year cycle

Hydromorphology
Parameter
Source
Various mitigation measures UKTAG Guidance
(see detailed spreadsheets)

MITIGATION MEASURES
• WFD requires member states to define by mid
2008 what mitigation measures should be taken
in AWBs in order to ensure the adequate
mitigation of the negative impacts.
• The aim is to ensure that we can identify the set
of measures that support achieving MEP, GEP.

MITIGATION MEASURES
Covers mitigation measures for:
• maintenance and operation of existing waterway
channels (including dredging, bank protection, water
control, aquatic weed control, use by boats),
• maintenance of existing waterway structures and
customer facilities (including bridges, locks, weirs,
wharves, moorings and marinas),
• construction of new waterway structures and customer
facilities,
• restoration of abandoned waterways to navigable
condition,
• construction of new lengths of waterway.

Elodea canadensis & nuttalli
Canadian & Nuttalls Pondweed
Fallopia japonica
Japanese Knotweed

RBD AWB Interim Ecological Pot.
ROYAL CANAL
EA (ERBD) GEP
SH (ShRBD) East of Lough Owel GEP by Extrapolation
SH
(ShRBD) West of Lough Owel
Less than GEP. Under
Restoration.
SH Lough Owel Feeder GEP by Extrapolation
SH Longford Branch Non-functional
GRAND CANAL
EA (ERBD) East of Lowtown GEP
SE (SERBD) East of Lowtown GEP
SE (SERBD) West of Lowtown GEP
EA (ERBD) West of Lowtown GEP
SH (ShRBD) GEP
EA Naas & Corbally Branch GEP
EA Edenderry Branch GEP by Extrapolation
EA Grand Canal Basin Poor
BARROW
SE Milltown Feeder & Old Barrow Line GEP
SE Barrow Line GEP
SE Barrow Navigation (15 canal cuts)
Less than GEP Assigned
based on River Barrow
SHANNON-ERNE
NW Shannon Erne Waterway (NWRBD) GEP
SH Shannon Erne Waterway (ShRBD) GEP

SNIFFER PROJECT
• Scottish and Northern Ireland Forum For
Environmental Research (SNIFFER)
-Project to develop a WFD compliant canal
classification tool.
• EPA and Waterways Ireland co-funded this
project along with British Waterways, SEPA and
EA.
• Dr. Nigel Wilby, University of Stirling, Scotland

SNIFFER PROJECT
• Devised a canal classification tool that will be used to
classify canal waterbodies by comparing their ecological
l
condition to their expected ecological potential.
• Will provide sufficient information to determine GEP of a
canal water body based on the relevant biological,
hydromorphological and physico-chemical quality
elements as defined by the WFD-standardised sampling
• Boat traffic integral component
• Outputs from this project including the classification
tool and monitoring gprotocols will influence how
canals are managed for WFD in Ireland.

Lessons Learnt from
Best Practice
• Cooperation by government agencies is essential in
implementation of WFD
• Acknowledgement of importance of canal primarily as
navigation system and obtaining i the necessary balance
with WFD objectives
• Cooperative research to solve common problems
• New insights into ecological value of resource
• New insights into enhancing maintenance practices to
meet WFD objectives
• New insights into the variety of ecosystems in canals in
different countries

An Assessment of the Potential ti Environmental Impact of Proposed Dry Dredging
on Grand Canal – Circular Line:
A Report Prepared for Waterways Ireland