The process of investigating water quality and its effects on saline lagoons should follow the principals of any risk assessment, i.e. determining the risk of exposure of features of interest (in this case of conservation interest) to factors or processes to which they are sensitive and identifying activities or operations which contribute to such factors. The degree to which all of these aspects are investigated will depend on the site but in most cases the process should begin with defining the features of interest; in the case of European marine sites this is done through the conservation objectives.

As an example, the process in investigating nutrients in the Fleet in relation to conservation features is shown in the linked figure.

Key studies

Features of conservation interest

Activities

Water quality

Review of historical information

Hydrological regime

Co-ordination of studies and organisations

Resources required

References

Next Section - Guidance on managing water quality impacts in saline lagoons