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Implementing the Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003: Proposals for Assessing the Status of Scotland's Water Environment - A Consultation

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ANNEX A: RELEVANT QUALITY ELEMENTS TO BE CONSIDERED WHEN ASSESSING ECOLOGICAL STATUS IN THE DIFFERENT SURFACE WATER CATEGORIES

Table A1: Relevant quality elements to be considered when assessing the ecological status of rivers

Ecological classification

High

Good

Moderate

Poor

Bad

Biological quality elements

Invertebrates

Fish

Macrophytes & phytobenthos

Invertebrates

Fish

Macrophytes & phytobenthos

Invertebrates

Fish

Macrophytes & phytobenthos

Invertebrates

Fish

Macrophytes & phytobenthos

Invertebrates

Fish

Macrophytes & phytobenthos

General chemical and physico-chemical quality elements

Dissolved oxygen

Soluble reactive phosphorus

Temperature

pH

Dissolved oxygen

Soluble reactive phosphorus

Temperature

pH

Dissolved oxygen

Soluble reactive phosphorus

Temperature

pH

Dissolved oxygen

Soluble reactive phosphorus

Temperature

pH

Dissolved oxygen

Soluble reactive phosphorus

Temperature

pH

Specific pollutants

Specific pollutants as listed in the 2008 Directions

Specific pollutants as listed in the 2008 Directions

Hydro-morphological quality elements

River flows

River morphological conditions

Continuity for fish

River flows

River morphological conditions

Continuity for fish

River flows

River morphological conditions

Continuity for fish

River flows

River morphological conditions

Continuity for fish

River flows

River morphological conditions

Continuity for fish

Table A2: Relevant quality elements to be considered when assessing the ecological status of inland lochs

Ecological classification

High

Good

Moderate

Poor

Bad

Biological quality elements

phytoplankton; macrophytes and phytobenthos; and

benthic invertebrates

phytoplankton;

macrophytes & phytobenthos; and

benthic invertebrates

phytoplankton;

macrophytes & phytobenthos; and

benthic invertebrates

phytoplankton; macrophytes & phytobenthos; and

benthic invertebrates

phytoplankton; macrophytes and phytobenthos; and

benthic invertebrates

General chemical and physico-chemical quality elements

Dissolved oxygen;

salinity (as conductivity);

acid neutralising capacity; and

total phosphorus

Dissolved oxygen;

salinity (as conductivity);

acid neutralising capacity; and

total phosphorus

Dissolved oxygen;

salinity (as conductivity);

acid neutralising capacity; and

total phosphorus

Dissolved oxygen;

salinity (as conductivity);

acid neutralising capacity; and

total phosphorus

Dissolved oxygen;

salinity (as conductivity);

acid neutralising capacity; and

total phosphorus

Specific pollutants

Specific pollutants as listed in the 2008 Directions

Specific pollutants as listed in the 2008 Directions

Hydro-morphological quality elements

Loch levels; and

loch morphological conditions.

Loch levels; and

loch morphological conditions.

Loch levels; and

loch morphological conditions.

Loch levels; and

loch morphological conditions.

Loch levels; and

loch morphological conditions.

Note on Table A2
We also expect SEPA to ensure that pressures that could affect fish in loch water bodies are considered by assessing impacts on other quality elements also sensitive to those pressures (see Section 4.3.2).

Table A3: Relevant quality elements to be considered when assessing the ecological status of estuaries and other transitional waters

Ecological classification

High

Good

Moderate

Poor

Bad

Biological quality elements

Phytoplankton;

macroalgae;

angiosperms;

benthic invertebrates; and

fish

Phytoplankton;

macroalgae;

angiosperms;

benthic invertebrates; and

fish

Phytoplankton;

macroalgae;

angiosperms;

benthic invertebrates; and

fish

Phytoplankton;

macroalgae;

angiosperms;

benthic invertebrates; and

fish

Phytoplankton;

macroalgae;

angiosperms;

benthic invertebrates; and

fish

General chemical and physico-chemical quality elements

Dissolved oxygen; and dissolved inorganic nitrogen

Dissolved oxygen; and dissolved inorganic nitrogen

Dissolved oxygen; and dissolved inorganic nitrogen

Dissolved oxygen; and dissolved inorganic nitrogen

Dissolved oxygen; and dissolved inorganic nitrogen

Specific pollutants

Specific pollutants as listed in the 2008 Directions

Specific pollutants as listed in the 2008 Directions

Hydro-morphological quality elements

Freshwater flows into transitional waters; and

transitional water morphological conditions

Freshwater flows into transitional waters; and

transitional water morphological conditions

Freshwater flows into transitional waters; and

transitional water morphological conditions

Freshwater flows into transitional waters; and

transitional water morphological conditions

Freshwater flows into transitional waters; and

transitional water morphological conditions

Table A4: Relevant quality elements to be considered when assessing the ecological status of coastal waters

Ecological classification

High

Good

Moderate

Poor

Bad

Biological quality elements

Phytoplankton;

macroalgae and angiosperms; and

benthic invertebrates

Phytoplankton;

macroalgae and angiosperms; and

benthic invertebrates

Phytoplankton;

macroalgae and angiosperms; and

benthic invertebrates

Phytoplankton;

macroalgae and angiosperms; and

benthic invertebrates

Phytoplankton;

macroalgae and angiosperms; and

benthic invertebrates

General chemical and physico-chemical quality elements

Dissolved oxygen; and dissolved inorganic nitrogen

Dissolved oxygen; and dissolved inorganic nitrogen

Dissolved oxygen; and dissolved inorganic nitrogen

Dissolved oxygen; and dissolved inorganic nitrogen

Dissolved oxygen; and dissolved inorganic nitrogen

Specific pollutants

Specific pollutants as listed in the 2008 Directions

Specific pollutants as listed in the 2008 Directions

Hydro-morphological quality elements

morphological conditions

morphological conditions

morphological conditions

morphological conditions

morphological conditions

Table A5: Relevant quality elements to be considered when assessing the chemical status of any surface water body, including heavily modified and artificial water bodies

Chemical classification

Good

Failing to achieve good

Priority substances

Priority substances and other dangerous substances listed in the Priority Substances Directive

Priority substances and other dangerous substances listed in the Priority Substances Directive

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Page updated: Thursday, September 4, 2008