A Comparative Evaluation of Hydromorphological Assessment Methods Applied in Rivers of Greece

The ecological assessment of all surface water bodies in Europe according to the Water Framework Directive involves monitoring biological, physicochemical and hydromorphological quality elements. For particular, there are numerous methods that have been developed adopted by EU member countries. With this study, we compared three different (River Habitat Survey, Morphological Quality Index River Hydromorphology Assessment Technique) applied 122 river reaches part National Monitoring Network Greece. main objectives were (a) identify whether systems provide similar classifications status (b) distinguish strengths weaknesses associated with implementation each method. Our results show Technique (RHAT) (MQI) resulted same classification for 58% studied reaches, while 34% remaining cases differed only one class. Correlations between two indices per type (ICT) showed strongly correlated courses located at low altitudes. Concerning HMS index Survey (RHS), which is an reflects overall pressure, it larger differences other indices, mainly because classified more sites as “Poor” “Bad” classes. Based on our results, recommend RHAT MQI, can be implemented complementary RHS providing a rather easy quick status, least until national database compiled will allow proper adaptation (HQA) index.