Page 184 - 7. State Of Environment Report Of Türkiye

points representing these areas were determined in 853 water bodies. In 25 basins, Reference
Monitoring Network and Reference Monitoring Programmes were established for each biologi-
cal quality component, including the monitoring points determined in the reference areas, the
parameters to be monitored at these points and the monitoring frequencies.
The “Communiqué on Biological Monitoring”, which entered into force after being published
in the Official Gazette dated 21 June 2019 and numbered 30808, covers the determination of
biological sampling points/areas, sampling periods and monitoring frequencies, sampling met-
hodology and equipment used for each biological quality component to be used in biological
monitoring studies, transportation and preservation of samples, analysis and identification of
samples.
Within the scope of ecological water quality monitoring and assessment studies, biological qu-
ality elements and physicochemical and hydromorphological quality elements supporting the-
se elements should also be monitored. Hydromorphological monitoring aims to determine the
changes in aquatic habitat due to anthropogenic pressures and habitat potential. In order to be
used in hydromorphological monitoring and assessment studies, MoAF has developed hydro-
morphological monitoring and assessment indices for rivers, lakes, coastal and transition waters
specific to Türkiye. These indices are used within the scope of water quality monitoring studies.
The “Communiqué on Hydromorphological Monitoring (Communiqué No: 2023/19) published
in the Official Gazette dated 25 April 2023 and numbered 32171 covers the issues regarding the
selection of monitoring areas, basic parameters to be monitored, monitoring periods, monito-
ring frequencies and hydromorphological monitoring trainings to be used in hydromorpho-
logical monitoring studies in surface waters. Within the scope of the Communiqué, guidance
documents have been prepared for rivers and lakes for the application of hydromorphological
indices. Guidance documents for coastal and transitional waters are planned to be completed
in 2024.
Hydromorphological Pressure Assessment Process is one of the important stages within the
scope of River Basin Management Plans (RBMP). This stage includes the identification of Subs-
tantially Modified Water Bodies (MSWBs) and pressure and impact assessment studies. In this
context, studies on the development of pressure assessment criteria specific to Türkiye for hyd-
romorphological pressures were carried out by MoAF. As a result of the study, hydromorpho-
logical pressure assessment methods consisting of hydromorphological pressure assessment
parameters for rivers, lakes, coastal and transition waters suitable for the conditions of Türkiye
were established.
On the other hand, with the “By-law on the Protection of Groundwater against Pollution and
Degradation”, which entered into force after being published in the Official Gazette dated
07.04.2012 and numbered 28257, the provisions of the Council Directive on the Protection of
Groundwater against Pollution and Degradation (2006/118/EC) and the Water Framework Dire-
ctive (2000/60/EC) on groundwater have been transposed into national legislation and basi-
cally the quantity and quality of groundwater are managed together.
In order to fulfil the requirements related to groundwater management with the said by-law
and to determine the quantity and quality of groundwater in our basins, a programme of mea-
sures has been established for the identification of groundwater bodies, pressure-impact analy-
sis, characterisation of bodies, risk assessment, groundwater quantity and quality monitoring,
determination of threshold values, determination of quality and quantity status of bodies, and
finally, protection of the current status of the bodies in good condition and improvement of
those in poor condition. Guidance documents specific to Türkiye have been prepared for each
implementation step listed above. These studies have been completed in 12 basins and are on-
going in 6 basins.

183