ALPINE CONVENTION | WATER AND WATER MANAGEMENT ISSUES
B.2
PRESSURES AND IMPACTS
B.2.1
MONITORING PROGRAMMES
Substantial efforts have been made within the states of the Alpine Convention in order to record the status of Alpine waters. Biological quality elements, hydro-morphological quality elements, general physical-chemical quality elements and other pollutants, such as the ones on the priority substances list (Directive 2008/105/EC) for instance, but also water quantity of surface waters are monitored periodically and strategically aligned with possible pressures occurring within the catchments of Alpine river systems. As maps 10 to 13 indicate, an adequate coverage of monitoring sites for administrative means is in place. Since monitoring networks had to be established accordingly to the provisions of the EU Water Framework Directive at the latest by the end of 2006, the collection of additional data on biological and hydro-morphological quality elements is currently under way. A revision of the monitoring network takes place following a six-year cycle – which corresponds to the period during which the river basin management plans apply to EU countries.
© BMLFUW Photo B2-1: The existence of stone flies is a typical indicator for high water quality. In their larva life-cycle, their habitat is the interstitial space of gravel in the river bed. Regarding groundwater, the list of measured parameters naturally differs from surface waters due to the absence of biological and hydro-morphological quality elements. Therefore, the Alpine monitoring network, which was recently rearranged and modernised with the implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive for EU Member States but also in Switzerland, is considered to be prepared for future challenges with the provision of continuous and area-wide data series on Alpine waters.
17
However, a question that still needs to be further assessed is the adequate coverage of higher Alpine regions within the national monitoring programmes. More particularly, long-term data series for waters in such areas could provide valuable information for further research activities. This applies in particular to ongoing research on climate change, where gathering additional data would provide an enhanced basis for scientific projects.
© BAFU/AURA Photo B2-2: Hydrological Gauging Station at ReussSeedorf (Switzerland).