Monitoring Assistance for the Water Framework Directive

Description

The monitoring programme for the first cycle of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) was established in 2006. The programme comprises 222 lakes and consists of 2 networks, surveillance and operational for which biological, physico- chemical, chemical and hydromorphological monitoring are prescribed for along with specifying the organisations responsible for undertaking the monitoring. Biological monitoring of macrophytes, phytobenthos, invertebrates, phytoplankton and fish is required at all surveillance waterbodies with the selected appropriate element/s being monitored on operational waterbodies. The EPA is responsible for and carries out the biological monitoring of macrophytes, phytobenthos, invertebrates and phytoplankton and Inland Fisheries Ireland are responsible for monitoring fish for all freshwater surface waterbodies i.e. rivers and lakes. Both macrophytes and phytoplankton are monitored on all lakes. Macrophytes are surveyed from a boat once every three years between June 15th and September 10th with approximately a third of lakes covered in any one year. For health and safety reasons, 2 person teams are required for the sampling of lakes when a boat is required (and occasionally for river monitoring for deep rivers, river monitoring is undertaken between June and September). An assistant is required to accompany each of the 4 EPA personnel on lake sampling where a boat is required and on occasion for river sampling and to input field data subsequently. It is to be expected that such fieldwork will involve overnight stays. The EPA is therefore seeking field assistance in the area of biological monitoring of lakes and other field duties as may be required in support of the Water Framework Directive and the input the data collected into the data management system.