1

WFD-Explorertool for the selection of measures

Joost Icke

WL | Delft Hydraulics

Contents of presentation

• The WFD Explorer:

• Why we made it

• How it looks like

• How it works

• Applications in The Netherlands

• Future developments

communication instrument

knowledge system

2

Example: waterboard Vallei & Eem

Waterboard Vallei and Eem~ 35 kilometers

Evaluation of ecological quality in present situat ion

3

The Vallei & Eem water system

shallow lake (turbid, no macrophytes)

brooks (meandering, fishes)

channel

inflow from the Rhine

Measures in the lake?Measures in the lake ?

• biomanipulation

• wetlands

• deep pits

4

Measures in the river basin ?

Reduce nutrient loading?

• agriculture

• Rhine inflow

• WWTP’s

Amersfoort

Ede

Selection of measures for the WFD

… should be done on the basis of:

• Systems analyses of the water system (understanding ) • Up-to-date, generally accepted knowledge about the impact

of measures on the water quality and the four ecolo gical quality elements

• Discussion with stakeholders• (etc.)

• and for this we developed the WFD Explorer

5

(2) select the measures

(1) select a waterbody

(3) Ecological Quality Ratios, Concentrations and Cost

6

The WFD Explorer

maps

(EQR and concentrations)

reports

(water balance, ecology, cost etc.)

pie charts of pollution sources

(point sources, catchments, upstream)

Objectives of the WFD Explorer

• Support the drafting of a River Basin Management Plan• Select the (most cost effective) measures for the R BMP• Determination of the good chemical and ecological st atus /

potential of our waterbodies• Stimulate the communication with stakeholders• Encourage uniformity in the knowledge that is being used

communicating vessels

7

• The WFD Explorer was developed by a consortium:• National Water Authority: Rijkswaterstaat• Several water boards• Several consultancy firms• Research Institutes (WL | Delft Hydraulics a.o.)

• Prototype (2005) ���� Version 1.00 (2007)

• Sponsored by ‘Leven met Water’ research programme

• The tool can be downloaded for free• The use of the WFD Explorer isn’t prescribed

Developed by a consortium

How it works…

8

measure ���� steering variabele ���� impact on ecosystem

flow velocitydepth phytoplankton

measure ���� substances ���� macrophytesconnectivity fisheslight climate macro invertebratesdirectly on ecology

How it works…

knowledge, data and models

River basin database

Knowledge database

computational core

User Interface for End Users

MS Access database

Components

9

Typical schematisation

Eemben. Barn. beek

Valleikanaal

Woudenbergse grift / Heiligenbergerbeek

Esv. beek /Hoev. beek

bov. Barn. beek

Modder /Moorster. beek

Lunterse beek

Eemmeer

Nederrijn

Eemnesservaart

30%

70%

~ 35 kilometers

Hydrology

• Water conservation• Water level fluctuations• Restoration of flow dynamics

Hydro-morphology

• Nature friendly river banks• Restoration of meanders• Construction of sediment traps

Water quality

• Reduction of point sources• Reduction of diffuse pollution• Manure policy• Waste Water Treatment Plants

Ecology

• Biomanipulation (fishing)• Nature friendly mowing• Helophytes / wetlands

Pre-defined set of 47 measures

10

Ecological Models and Expert Rules

• Database with (statistical) models and expert rules for ecology

• Description of reference situations:• Several (but not all) water types• Algae, Macrophytes, Fish and Macro Invertebrates• Associated ‘Ecological Quality’ for abundance and di versity of

species

• Information on habitat requirements of indicator sp ecies • Publications, literature• Statistical analysis of field data• Expert judgement

• Linking variables such as depth, flow velocity, con centrations to habitat preferences

Different habitats, different species!

deep shallow

clearturbid

bream

roach / perch

11

D7

heavily modified water body with limited diversity in water depth (D) and velocity (V)

D7

only 2 of 4 indicator species are present

D6 D6

D5 D5

D4 D4

D3 D3

D2 D2

D1 D1

V1 V2 V3 V4 V5 V6 V7 V1 V2 V3 V4 V5 V6 V7

Depth / velocity ���� indicator species (before)

D7

water body after restoration measures

D7

all 4 indicator species are presentincrease in diversity of depth (D) and velocity (V)

D6 D6

D5 D5

D4 D4

D3 D3

D2 D2

D1 D1

V1 V2 V3 V4 V5 V6 V7 V1 V2 V3 V4 V5 V6 V7

Depth / velocity ���� indicator species (after)

12

Top-down approach in computations

Use of WFD Explorer in The Netherlands

• In 2007, the WFD Explorer is being applied by:• Several river basins: Rhine (central, east), Meuse, Scheldt• Many individual water boards• Directorate-General of Public Works and Water Manag ement

(Rijkswaterstaat): Rivers and Lakes

• Originally developed as a communication tool, • However, the WFD Explorer mainly used for selection of measures

• The setup of applications is under a lot of time pr essure

• Most attention seems to go to the effectiveness of measures.

• An indication of the cost per measure is available in the documentation.

13

The Netherlands

+ two national applications, for Rivers and Lakes

+ river basins in Belgium and Romania

Training of modellers and water managers

• Courses, Lectures, News Letters• Pilot projects (2006), participation in projects (2 007)• Manuals, Website, Helpdesk

October 2006

14

Setup of an application for a River Basin

1. Definition phase• Important issues / waterbodies in River Basin• Pre-selection of measures that should be evaluated

2. Modelling phase• Data collection• Set up of schematisation, water & mass balance, meas ures

3. Validation phase• Validation of water quality model• Acceptance by experts

4. Application phase• Selection of measures for River Basin Management Pla n• Communication with stakeholders

Position of WFD-Explorer: between policy and research

detailed processand systemstudies

(interactive)policy process

WFD-Explorer:planning kitfor WFD

integration ofdetailed research /substudies

promotion ofinformationexchange

information requirementsof stakeholders

direction of moredetailed research

the idea in 2005

15

detailed processand systemstudies

(interactive)policy process

WFD-Explorer:planning kitfor WFD

integration ofdetailed research /substudies

promotion ofinformationexchange

information requirementsof stakeholders

direction of moredetailed research

Improve ecological knowledge rules !!

Improve the User Interface !!

reality in 2007

Peer review of knowledge database for Ecology• The ecological database has been reviewed twice by

independent experts• Many gaps in knowledge, confidence sometimes low• Succesfull application of the WFD Explorer depends on

further development and improvement of ecological knowledge

• So far, the database has been locked (uniformity)• We will open up the database for experts • Documentation by means of a ‘wikipedia’

• Development of ‘diagnosis tools’ is necessary

16

Watertype Omschrijving Vis Macrofauna Macrofyten Fytoplankton

R4 Permanente langzaam stromende bovenloop op zand

R5 Langzaam stromende middenloop/benedenloop op zand

R6 Langzaam stromend riviertje op zand/klei

R9 Langzaam stromende bovenloop op kalkhoudende bodem

R10 Langzaam stromende middenloop op kalkhoudende bodem

R11 Langzaam stromende bovenloop op veenbodem

R12 Langzaam stromende middenloop/benedenloop op veenbodem

R13 Snelstromende bovenloop op zand

R14 Snelstromende middenloop/benedenloop op zand

R15 Snelstromend riviertje op kiezelhoudende bodem

R17 Snelstromende bovenloop op kalkhoudende bodem

R18 Snelstromende middenloop/benedenloop op kalkhoudende bodem

M1 Gebufferde sloten

M3 Gebufferde (regionale) kanalen

M5 Ondiep lijnvorming water

M6 Grote ondiepe kanalen

M7 Grote diepe kanalen

M8 Sloten op veen

M10 Laagveen vaarten en kanalen

M11 Kleine ondiepe gebufferde plassen

M14 Ondiepe gebufferde plassen

M20 Matig grote diepe gebufferde meren

M21 Grote diepe gebufferde meren

M22 Kleine ondiepe kalkrijke plassen

M23 Ondiepe kalkrijke (grotere) plassen

M25 Ondiepe laagveenplassen

M27 Matig grote ondiepe laagveenplassen

M30 Zwak brakke wateren

M31 Kleine brakke tot zoute wateren

Legenda: Uitstekend

Goed

Voldoende

Matig

Onvoldoende

Niet van toepassing

Geen rekenregel beschikbaar

fish – macro invertebrates – macrophytes - fytoplankton

lakes and channles rivers and brooks

Peer Review March 2007

Example of Wikipedia - ‘Dare to share’

17

Stakeholder

Scientist

Policy maker

Operational manager

Consultant

Government Official(decision making)

Stakeholder

Scientist

Policy maker

Operational manager

Consultant

Government Official(decision making)

18

Stakeholder

Scientist

Policy maker

Operational manager

Consultant

Management summary (powerpoint presentation)

Detailed information…GoogleEarth

Operational WFD information system

Chemical and ecologicalstatus, exploration of

measures, field information

Information gatheringand communication

Scientifical knowlegde

Government Official(decision making)

Conclusions

• Widespread use of the WFD Explorer in The Netherlands• This encourages uniformity in the way WFD measures are

selected and founded by knowledge• The WFD Explorer bridges science and common practice in water

management

• However…• At the moment the tool is used for analysis by wate rboards and

consultants, is stead of communication by stakehold ers• Further development of the knowledge on ecology and the impact

of measures is necessary• Much more information is needed for a good discussi on (fact

sheets, diagnosis, advise on measures…)

19

More information

• The WFD-Explorer is freeware and can be downloaded from the website www.krw-verkenner.nl

• Contact via e-mail: joost.icke@wldelft.nl• Helpdesk: krw-verkenner@wldelft.nl