Assessing and predicting the hydromorphological and ecological quality of federal waterways in Germany: development of a methodological framework

Abstract

In Europe, the so-called Water Framework Directive was established to achieve a good ecological status of natural water bodies by 2015. In the case of heavily modified and artificial water bodies, the principle of a good ecological potential (GEP) applies. Methods have been developed for the evaluation of natural water bodies. However, these methods do not take the uniqueness of the assessment of heavily modified and artificial water bodies into consideration. On behalf of a working group on water issues of the federal states and the federal government (called LAWA), a nationwide assessment method of the GEP has been developed and its application has been verified within the framework of a practical project. Federal Waterways were not sufficiently considered. Hence we have been prompted to develop an assessment method for heavily modified and artificial water bodies, especially for federal waterways. Nearly 80% of the German federal water bodies are designated as heavily modified and artificial. The inclusion of federal waterways allows the unique characteristics of large rivers to be integrated in the methodological framework. Hereinafter, the results of the first working steps of the investigation as well as the methodological framework will be presented.