Aquatic Environment 1999

Preface

Aquatic Environment 1999 is the first state-of-the-environment report under the Danish Aquatic Monitoring and Assessment Programme 1998-2003, commonly referred to as NOVA-2003. The former aquatic environment reports (Aquatic Environment 1990 to 1998) were all based on the forerunners for NOVA-2003, namely the Nationwide Monitoring Programme 1988-1992 and 1993-1997 under the Action Plan on the Aquatic Environment.

In several respects, NOVA-2003 differs considerably from the previous monitoring programmes. The most obvious change is that virtually all the subprogrammes now encompass the monitoring of hazardous substances andheavy metals. In addition, the sampling strategy has been optimized within each of the subprogrammes. The monitoring programme has thereby developed from one specifically directed towards documenting the effects of the 1987 Action Plan on the Aquatic Environment to a general nationwide monitoring programme for groundwater and surface waters.

The purpose of Aquatic Environment 1999 is to document and report the effects of the Action Plans on the Aquatic Environment from 1987 and 1998, as well as the effects of other action plans, etc. aimed at improving the quality of the aquatic environment.

Aquatic Environment 1999 has been prepared by the National Forest and Nature Agency and the Danish Environmental Protection Agency. The National Forest and Nature Agency has prepared and been responsible for the sections on agriculture, freshwater fish farms, watercourses and lakes. The Danish EPA - in addition to being responsible for the overall coordination of the report - has prepared the sections on all the other sources of pollution and nutrient loading, as well as the sections on groundwater and marine areas. The chapters on water and climate, overall objectives and measures, and the summary and conclusions were prepared jointly by the two agencies.

Part 1: Technical Status -- State and Pressures
Aquatic Environment 1999 is subdivided into a technical part and a political/administrative part. Part 1, "Technical Status - State and Pressures" (Chapters 2, 3, 4 and 5), examines the main pressures on the aquatic environment, discharges and losses of nutrients, hazardous substances and heavy metals, and the resultant environmental quality.

Part 2: Action for a Cleaner Aquatic Environment -- Status and Perspectives
Part 2, "Action for a Cleaner Aquatic Environment – Status and Perspectives ", (Chapters 6 and 7), examines the relevant action plans and fulfilment of their objectives, and assesses whether there is a correlation between the objectives stipulated and the measures it has been decided to implement.