Diatoms are microscopic small single-celled algae. Due to their great species diversity, their widespread occurrence and their sensitivity concerning the physical-chemical characteristics of their habitat they are excellent bio-indicators. During 2012/2013, 306 species of benthic…
Aquatic macrophytes (aquatic plants) may be used to assess the substance pollution of rivers, but they also reflect interferences with the discharge regime and structural conditions in water bodies. Within the measurement programme 2012/2013, 49 sampling stations were analysed,…
Plankton are mostly microscopic small organisms floating in the water. The major share of aquatic vegetation here consists of single-celled algae, the so-called phytoplankton. In 2012, within the Rhine monitoring programme ‘Biology’, the phytoplankton of the Rhine was analysed…
The "Habitat Patch Connectivity along the Rhine" is part of the ICPR programme "Rhine 2020" for the sustainable development of the Rhine. In preparation of the planned success control, the state of projects and measures implemented or planned within the "Habitat Patch…
The Rhine Chemistry monitoring programme was first drafted for the first river basin management plan, that is, the monitoring years 2007-2012. Due to new insights, a more vast adaptation of the Rhine Chemistry monitoring programme was required for the second river basin…
In order to appreciate new substances which might possibly be relevant in future, the ICPR decided to implement a special monitoring programme within the Chemistry monitoring programme for the Rhine for 2013. The aim is to detect new substances in the Rhine water by applying the…
The different international water quality assessment systems applicable to the Rhine catchment: (i) the EU environmental quality standards (EQS), (ii) the environmental quality standards for the Rhine catchment (EQS Rhine) and (iii) the ICPR target values have been brought…
In 2013, the Conference of Rhine Ministers charged the ICPR to present a provisional strategy on adapting to climate change for the Rhine catchment in 2014, which was to be based on the assessment of existing studies on the discharge regime (floods and low flow) and on water…
The objective of the Warning and Alarm Plan (WAP) is, to pass on reports on sudden pollutions with substances noxious to water in the Rhine catchment if the amount and concentration may detrimentally impact the water quality and/or biocoenosis of the Rhine and to warn the…
