Monitoring sites for river basin districts, Surface water

According to Section 9 of the Act on the Organisation of River Basin Management (1299/2004), monitoring of surface waters in a river basin management area must be organised in such a way as to provide a coherent and diverse overall picture of their status. The ecological and chemical status of surface waters is classified on the basis of the data collected from the monitoring. The dataset includes the monitoring sites for rivers, lakes and coastal waters (bodies of water) that were officially reported to the EU in 2022. There are extensive monitoring sites throughout Finland. Monitoring data has been collected from surface waters since the 1960s, and the existing observation sites were linked to the monitoring sites. Samples of water quality, benthic fauna, aquatic plants and fish shall be taken in each water body from observation points linked to the monitoring point of the water body. The coordinates of the monitoring site shall be determined according to the calculated centre of gravity of the water body or marked as the same as the long-term observation site of the lakebed or coastal water quality. In the river, the most significant water quality observation point of the river observation unit is selected as the coordinates of the area. Monitoring sites are either part of the initial monitoring or operational monitoring, or both. In a sufficient number of surface water bodies, basic monitoring shall be carried out in order to assess the overall state of surface water in all catchments and sub-basins of the river basin management area. Operational monitoring shall be carried out in all water bodies for which, according to either the impact assessment or the basic monitoring, it is possible that environmental objectives will not be met or to which priority list substances (harmful substances as provided for in the Directive) will be released. More detailed information on the water quality of the monitoring sites can be found in the Environmental Administration's information system on the status of surface waters. The dataset includes monitoring sites for rivers, lakes and coastal waters reported to the EU in 2022. Purpose: The dataset includes monitoring sites for rivers, lakes and coastal waters reported to the EU. The data is included in SYKE's open data (CC BY 4.0). An INSPIRE data product has been published from the data. Further information: http://www.ympäristö.fi/fi-FI/Vesi/Pintavesien_tila/Pintavesien_tilan_seuranta https://geoportal.ympäristö.fi/meta/julkinen/dokumentit/VHS_seurantapisteet.pdf According to 9 § of the Act on the Organization of Water Management (1299/2004), the monitoring of surface waters in a River Basin District (RBD) must be organized in such a way that a uniform and diverse overall picture of their status is obtained. The ecological and chemical status of surface waters is classified on the basis of data collected from monitoring. The data includes those monitoring sites for rivers, lakes and coastal waters (water bodies) that were officially reported to the EU in 2022. There are monitoring sites comprehensively throughout Finland. Monitoring data have been accumulated from surface waters since the 1960s and existing observation sites were linked to monitoring sites. Samples for water quality, benthic fauna, aquatic plants and fish in each water body are taken from observation sites linked to a water body monitoring site. The coordinates of the monitoring site are determined according to the exact center of the water body or are marked as the same as the long-term observation point for water quality in the lake basin or coastal area. In the river, the monitoring site has usually the same coordinates as the most significant water quality observation point of each river water body. Monitoring sites include either surveillance monitoring or operational monitoring, or both. A sufficient number of surface water bodies must be subject to basic monitoring in order to assess the status of all surface waters in all catchment areas and sub-catchments in the RBD. Operational monitoring must be carried out in all water bodies for which, according to either the impact assessment or the surveillance monitoring, it is possible that environmental objectives will not be met or to which priority list substances (harmful substances provided for in the Directive) will be released. Investigative monitoring is needed in some special cases. More detailed information on the water quality of the monitoring sites can be found in the Environmental Administration's Surface Water Status Information System. The data includes river, lake and coastal water monitoring sites reported to the EU in 2022. This Syke’s dataset can be used according to open data license (CC BY 4.0). INSPIRE compatible dataset has been published.