Lake hydromorphology assessment in Europe: where are we 20 years after the adoption of the Water Framework Directive?

The characterization of lake hydromorphology is crucial to understand the dynamics of biodiversity. In Europe, it is also a regulatory requirement of the Water Framework Directive. However, according to the literature, only few methods allow this characterization. The aim of this study is to review the state of the art of the methods currently used or under development in European countries to assess lake hydromorphological status for the implementation of the WFD. Our analysis is based on responses to a questionnaire distributed to national experts on hydromorphology of the 28 countries implementing the WFD. Our results highlighted significant progress in the assessment of hydromorphological feature and process. Water level regime through the range of water flow or existing water management, and structure of the shore zone through the macrophytes and substrate characteristics or measurement of lateral connectivity, are particularly well monitored. However, it was shown that, in most of the countries, the development of methods was still in progress to meet the WFD requirements.

ARGILLIER Christine;  CARRIERE Alexandra;  WYNNE Caroline;  HELLSTEN Seppo;  VARTIA Katarina;  POIKANE Sandra; 

2022-10-20

ELSEVIER

JRC130269

0048-9697 (online),   

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969722058806,    https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC130269,   

10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158781 (online),