The problem

The Water Framework Directive (WFD) aims to improve the quality of coastal and inland waterways by setting targets and standards against which to measure them. This requires a sound understanding of the links between the ecological status of surface water and its physico-chemical quality, both natural and as a result of human influence. These associations need to be identified through the analysis of existing information and new models for designing and assessing monitoring programmes should be developed.

Overview:

REBECCA will assess the available data and develop new models to improve the scientific basis for the implementation of the WFD.

The project will:

• Collate and organise existing knowledge of relationships between physico-chemical and ecological status in EU waterways
• Determine gaps in the knowledge base and appropriate assessment models
• Identify and test appropriate biological indices of environmental stress
• Develop and validate models and statistical tools for assessing the links between the ecological and physico-chemical quality of water

Contribution to policy development:

• Improved scientific understanding to ensure the achievement and maintenance of the good status of surface and ground water
• The provision of more robust numerical models and monitoring protocols for the management and maintenance of high-quality inland and coastal waterways
• Harmonisation of the methods and criteria by which water quality is assessed and the WFD implemented

Project deliverables

• Review of current methods and knowledge for fresh and coastal waters – start December 2003, end December 2004
• A comprehensive range of biological indicators for monitoring the status of fresh and marine waters – start January 2004, end June 2006
• Statistical and modelling methods assessing the relationships between ecological and chemical status in different lake types and different geographical regions – start January 2003, end September 2006.
• A suite of standard monitoring and assessment protocols for use throughout the EU – start December 2004, end September 2006.

Dissemination

• Website update – at least quarterly
• Stakeholder workshops – December 2004 and December 2006
• Publicly accessible web-based ‘tool-box’ of models, methods and protocols updated regularly from December 2004 onwards

Technical information

Project acronym: REBECCA
Project’s official full title: Relationships between ecological and chemical status of surface waters
Research priority: 1.5. Environmental assessment (soil, water, air, noise, including the effects of chemical substances)
Specific webpage: Details not yet available
Proposal/contract no: 502158
Start date: 1 December 2003
Kick off meeting: February 2004
Completion date: December 2006
European Commission scientific officer: Mogens Gadeberg (mogens.gadeberg@ec.europa.eu)

Coordinator:
Name: Finnish Environment Institute 
Abbreviated name: SYKE
Address: Mechelininkatu 34a
P.O. Box 140
Helsinki
Finland
Country: Finland
Tel: +358 9 403 000
Website: http://www.environment.fi

Partners

Name: Joint Research Centre
Abbreviated name: JRC
Country: EC

Name: Norwegian Institute for Water Research
Abbreviated name: NIVA
Country: Norway

Name: National Environmental Research Institute
Abbreviated name: NERI
Country: Denmark

Name: DHI Water and Environment
Abbreviated name: DHI
Country: Denmark

Name: WL | Delft Hydraulics
Abbreviated name: WL|Delft
Country: The Netherlands

Name: Centre for Ecology and Hydrology
Abbreviated name: NERC/CEH
Country: United Kingdom

Name: Centre National du Machinisme Agricole, du Génie Rural, des Eaux et des Forêts
Abbreviated name: Cemagref
Country: France

Name: Water Research Institute
Abbreviated name: IRSA
Country: Italy

Name: Swedish Environmental Research Institute
Abbreviated name: IVL
Country: Sweden

Name: Trinity College Dublin
Abbreviated name: TCD
Country: Ireland

Name: Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute
Abbreviated name: SHMI
Country: Slovak Republic

Name: Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária e das Pescas
Abbreviated name: IPIMAR
Country: Portugal 

Name: University of Antwerp
Abbreviated name: UA
Country: Belgium

Name: Danube Delta National Institute
Abbreviated name: DDNI
Country: Romania 

Name: Norwegian Institute for Nature Research
Abbreviated name: NINA
Country: Norway

Name: Institute for Inland Water Management and Waste Water Treatment
Abbreviated name: RIZA
Country: The Netherlands 

Name: Tallinn Technical University
Abbreviated name: TTU
Country: Estonia

Name: Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
Abbreviated name: SLU
Country: Sweden