Catchment News

"Morphology" is a description of the shape and direction water flows in a waterbody, for example a river, and how they change in shape and direction over time.

Through a series of literature reviews, benchmarking with other Member States, data collection and analysis, fieldwork and consultation with river management experts;
recommendations have been made on the key elements that contribute towards an overall management framework for Freshwater Morphology, and inform River Basin
Management Plans. The key elements are as follows:

• Classification and Monitoring
• Risk Assessment
• Programmes of Measures for Morphology

Morphological Assessment for WFD is undertaken with the objective of classifying waterbodies as high, good, moderate, poor, or bad morphological status. The
morphological status of a surface waterbody should support ecological status. In accordance with WFD, a waterbody cannot be classified as high ecological status, if the
morphology status is not high. Therefore morphological assessment is an important part of the overall classification process.

Prior to the introduction of the WFD, classification and monitoring of morphological condition was not systematically undertaken in Ireland. Therefore a methodology had to
be established to provide a field survey and associated scoring system to allow classification of morphology in terms of WFD status. The main output of this is determining if morphology status supports overall High Ecological Status. It is also important in confirming impact of morphology pressures acting on waterbodies.