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Joint Methodology for the Identification and Assessment of Groundwater Dependent Terrestrial Ecosystems in Estonia and Latvia

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Water Resources Quality and Management in Baltic Sea Countries

Part of the book series: Springer Water ((SPWA))

Abstract

Dynamic interactions between ground- and surface water are widely known, but the role of groundwater in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems is often poorly understood and documented due to the spatiotemporal complexity. Many countries have not yet completed the assessment of groundwater dependent ecosystems (GDEs). GDEs are valuable ecosystems that depend on groundwater input and can not be considered and assessed separately. Changes in the quantity and chemical composition of groundwater recharge may result in significant and permanent damage on GDE flora and fauna. Aquifers are dynamic systems which are not subject to administrative boundaries and borders, therefore should be managed in close cooperation between neighbouring countries. According to the European Union’s Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC, a groundwater body is considered to be in “poor status” if environmentally negative pressure on groundwater causes significant damage to related GDEs. The identification of GDEs in Estonia is currently underway. A theoretical approach on how to identify, assess, and monitor the groundwater dependent terrestrial ecosystems (GDTEs) has been developed. Similar climatic and hydrogeological conditions allow to adapt the methodology to Latvia and develop it jointly further. The first step in this joint methodology is to (i) find indicators and (ii) define criteria for (i) the evaluation of quantitative and qualitative effects of groundwater bodies on GDTEs and (ii) assessment of ecosystems. Subsequently, the quantitative and qualitative effects on GDTEs using assessment schemes must be identified. In this chapter, we are presenting a methodology for GDTE identification and assessment which could be used in similar situation in other countries.

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Acknowledgements

The study is carried out within the project “Joint management of groundwater dependent ecosystems in transboundary Gauja-Koiva river basin” (GroundEco, EstLat62) funded by ERDF Interreg Estonia-Latvia cooperation programme.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Ecology, School of Natural Sciences and Health, Tallinn University, Tallinn, Estonia

    Jaanus Terasmaa, Marko Vainu, Elve Lode, Raimo Pajula & Oliver Koit

  2. Hydrogeology Division, Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre, Riga, Latvia

    Inga Retike

  3. Nature Conservation Agency, Sigulda, Latvia

    Agnese Priede

  4. Geological Survey of Estonia, Department of Hydrogeology and Environmental Geology, Tallinn University, Tallinn, Estonia

    Siim Tarros

  5. Faculty of Geography and Earth Sciences, University of Latvia, Riga, Latvia

    Jānis Bikše & Konrāds Popovs

Authors
  1. Jaanus Terasmaa
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  2. Inga Retike
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  3. Marko Vainu
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  4. Agnese Priede
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  5. Elve Lode
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  6. Raimo Pajula
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  7. Oliver Koit
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  8. Siim Tarros
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  9. Jānis Bikše
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  10. Konrāds Popovs
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jaanus Terasmaa .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Engineering, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt

    Abdelazim M. Negm

  2. Technical University of Kosice, Kosice, Slovakia

    Martina Zelenakova

  3. Nicolaus Copernicus University, Toruń, Poland

    Katarzyna Kubiak-Wójcicka

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Terasmaa, J. et al. (2020). Joint Methodology for the Identification and Assessment of Groundwater Dependent Terrestrial Ecosystems in Estonia and Latvia. In: Negm, A., Zelenakova, M., Kubiak-Wójcicka, K. (eds) Water Resources Quality and Management in Baltic Sea Countries. Springer Water. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-39701-2_12

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