1. on Identification and Designation of Heavily Modified and
CIS Working Group 2.2 HMWB Guidance Document
on Identification and Designation
of Heavily Modified and
Artificial Water Bodies
Water Directors Meeting 21 November 2002 in Copenhagen

2. Progress to Date
=> 12 Working Papers were produced until December 2001
=> 34 Case Studies have been undertaken by 11 States with having reported by July web site:
=> 1st draft of the Synthesis Report has been circulated for comment in April 2002 (summary is provided) – final version will be available in early 2003
=> Final draft Guidance Document and Policy Summary are available upon CIRCA
=> 1st draft toolbox was produced by June, 2nd draft by 31 Oc tober 2002 – final version will be available in Dec. 2002

3. Development of Guidance
=> 3rd draft guidance distributed by 2nd August for comments
=> 1st final guidance and policy paper (13. September 2002) were discussed and mostly agreed at the SCG meeting on st October 2002 in Brussels
=> Development of a „broad“ HMWB definition – negotiations with A, E, F, I, NL, SF and EUROELECTRIC
=> 2nd final guidance (14. October 2002) was discussed and a „narrow“ HMWB definition was agreed at the SCG meeting on 7./8. October 2002 in Brussels
=> 3rd final guidance and policy paper (15. November 2002) was distributed for final agreement („narrow“ HMWB def.)
A box with a broader HMWB definition will be presented by Spain

4. Artikel 4 (3)
Identification and Designation of Artificial and Heavily Modified Water Bodies OVERVIEW „Step by Step“ approach: 11 steps

5. Artikel 4 (3)
Identification and Designation of Artificial and Heavily Modified Water Bodies STEP 2: Is the Water Body artificial?

6. Definition of ”Artificial Water Body”
WFD Article 2 (8)
"Artificial water body“ means a body of surface water created by human activity.

7. What means „created by human activity“ ?
An AWB means a surface water body
=> which has been created in a location where no water body existed before and
=> which has not been created by the direct physical modification or movement or realignment of an existing water body
Note ! MS have the option to identify such WB as AWB or to identify them as natural WB !

8. AWB Definition of the GD - Examples -
All WB created by man are „artificial“ e.g.
=> canals constructed for navigation
=> drainage chanals for irrigation
=> man-made ponds and dug ponds
=> harbours and docks
=> dredging pools, surface mining lakes
=> storage reservoirs for hydropower use

9. Artikel 4 (3)
Identification and Designation of Artificial and Heavily Modified Water Bodies STEP 6: Is the WB sub-stantially chan-ged in character due to physical alterations?

10. Definition of ”Heavily Modified Water Body”
WFD Article 2 (9)
"Heavily modified water body" means a body of surface water which as a result of physical alterations by human activity is substantially changed in character, as designated by the Member State in accordance with the provisions of Annex II.

11. What does „physical alterations“ mean?
Physical alterations do concern the hydro- morphological elements, i.e. „physical alterations“ result in „hydromorphological changes“ => changes in hydrology and morphology
WFD Art. 2(9) => physical alterations
WFD Art. 4(3)a => changes to the hydromorphological characteristics
WFD Annex V => hydromorphological conditions

12. What does „substantially changed in character“ mean?
Considering the „specified uses“ the hydromorpholo-gical changes are
=> very obvious in the sense of a major deviation from the original natural characteristics
=> extensive/widespread or profound. Typically substantial change to both the morphology and the hydrology is involved
=> permanent and not temporary nor intermittent
Many alterations to the hydrological characteristics like abstractions and discharges are not associated with morphological changes, and may there-fore often be easily reversible, temporary or short-term. Consequently such alterations would not constitute substantial changes in character of WBs.

13. „Narrow“ HMWB Definition
Substantial changes in both hydrology and morphology
Water Body 1 (river upstream)
Water Body 2 (reservoir)
Water Body Water Body (river downstream)
Natural WB
WB shows substantial changes in hydrology only
HMWB
WB is part of a former river, shows subst. changes in both hydrology and morphology
HMWB
WB shows subst. changes in hydrology and subsequent subst. changes in morphology
Natural WB
WB shows substantial changes in hydrology and subsequent non-subst. changes in morphology

14. Example: River Rhein at Breisach
Substantial changes are
* very obvious * extensive/ widespread * profound * permanent
Loss of structural diversity caused by channelisation, straightening etc.
* 1828 (nearly) natural status
* 1872 flood protection measures have been taken (Tulla)
* 1963 after further channelisation

15. Future Development
1. Presumably a need exists for a focal point dealing with the future AWB/HMWB activities - facilitate contacts in and between the MS, make information available concerning the understanding of the GD and case study results
2. An information exchange mechanism is needed for the exchange of gathered experiences in the application of the GD; therefore from time to time meetings or work- shops should be organised to facilitate the exchange of experiences concerning the future AWB/HMWB work
3. In the context of the application and harmonisation of the links of all GD, a cluster of the different CIS WGs might be appropriate as proposed