Phases

Detailed analysis of the catchment area and water chemistry screening of Malse River and its tributaries will be performed (taking of point water samples in order to catch a significant pollution sources, identifying the clean reference flows) and the geochemical background of the region will be described.

Year-long monitoring of a network of 22 selected profiles will be performed: regular monthly monitoring of basic surface water parameters and other parameters important for freshwater pearl mussel habitat, including nutrients - nitrogen and phosphorus.

In these profiles, extreme situations will be monitored as well: snow melting or other high flow rates at low temperatures, summer flood flow or storm flow, and low flow at higher temperatures. In case of emergencies in the catchment, chemical analysis will be extended to other determinations.

Continuous recording of temperature and exposure will be performed, and other continuous measurement will be made in case of problems in the catchment.

According to ongoing results of chemical analyses, the sites for biomonitoring will be selected. Subsequently, standard biomonitoring of the environment will be carried out, using juvenile freshwater pearl mussels. The methodology comes out from the Action Plan (1+ individuals, continuous measurement of exposure and temperature, plus the analyses of detritus) and will represent all three parts of the monitored section of the Malse River.

Last update: 22 June 2016