SCHEDULE 1 - Criteria for identifying the Types of river, loch, transitional water or coastal water to which the environmental standards specified in Schedule 2, or the condition limits in Schedule 3, apply
RIVER TYPES
1. Insofar as is necessary for SEPA to determine the environmental standards or condition limits applicable to a river or part thereof:
(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2) below, SEPA shall classify the river or part thereof as being of the Type specified in Table 1.1 below which corresponds with the applicable site altitude and alkalinity range specified in that Table.
(2) SEPA shall classify any river or part thereof designated as a salmonid water for the purposes of Directive 2006/44/ EC( a)as being of the Type "salmonid".
(3) SEPA shall classify the river or part thereof as being of the Type specified in Table 1.2 below which corresponds with the applicable site altitude and alkalinity range specified in that Table.
(4) SEPA shall classify the river or part thereof as being of the Type "cyprinid" where the river or part is designated as a "cyprinid water" for the purposes of Directive 2006/44/ EC( 6). SEPA shall classify all rivers, or parts thereof, not so designated as being of the Type "non-cyprinid".
(5) Subject to sub-paragraph (6) below, SEPA shall classify the river or part thereof as being of the Type specified in Table 1.3 below which corresponds to the descriptions specified in that Table.
(6) Where, in accordance with sub-paragraph (7) below, the macrophyte community in the river or part corresponds to a macrophyte community specified in Table 1.4 below, SEPA shall classify the river or part thereof as being of the Type specified in Table 1.4 below which corresponds to the applicable macrophyte community specified in that Table.
(7) SEPA shall identify whether or not the macrophyte community in the river or part thereof corresponds to a macrophyte community specified in Table 1.4 below as follows:
(a) Subject to paragraph (c) below, SEPA shall assign a score of - 1 for every record of a macrophyte taxon specified in column 2 of Table 1.5 below with a "(- 1)" sign recorded against it in column 3 of that Table;
(b) Subject to paragraph (c) below, SEPA shall assign a score + 1 for every record of a macrophyte taxon specified in column 2 of Table 1.5 below with a "(+ 1)" sign recorded against it in column 3 of that Table;
(c) where the name of a macrophyte taxon specified in column 2 of Table 1.5 below is followed by a "(3)", SEPA shall only assign a score for a record of that species in accordance with, as applicable, paragraph (a) or (b) above if the percentage of the channel area covered by the taxon is greater than 5 %;
(d) SEPA shall calculate the total score for an identification step listed in column 1 of Table 1.5 below by summing the scores for records of those macrophyte taxa listed in column 2 of that Table which correspond to that identification step; and SEPA shall begin the identification procedure at identification step number 1;
(e) after having calculated the total score for an identification step, SEPA shall determine within which of the two possible ranges of total score specified for that step in column 4 of Table 1.5 below the calculated total score falls; and
( a) Directive 2006/44/ EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the quality of fresh waters needing protection or improvement in order to support fish life (O.J. No. L 264, 25.9.06, p.20).
(f) SEPA shall then-
(i) proceed to the identification step number given in column 5 of Table 1.5 below which corresponds to the range of total score within which the calculated total score falls; or
(ii) classify the macrophyte community associated with the river or part as being of the macrophyte community specified in column 5 of Table 1.5 below which corresponds to the range of total score within which the calculated total score falls.
(8) (a) Subject to paragraph (b) below, SEPA shall classify the river or part thereof as being of the Type specified in Table 1.6 below which corresponds to the applicable descriptions specified in that Table.
(9) Where, in SEPA's opinion, there are insufficient data to enable the Type of a river to be identified in accordance with paragraph (a) above, SEPA shall classify the river or part thereof as a "Type B" river.
(10) SEPA shall classify any river or part thereof that has been classified as "salmonid" in accordance with sub-paragraph (2) above as being of the Type in Table 1.7 below which, in its judgement, best describes the fish fauna expected in that river or part in the absence of more than very minor disturbance resulting from human activities.
Table 1.1: Criteria for identifying the Types of river to which the dissolved oxygen(i), biochemical oxygen demand(ii)and ammonia(iii)standards for rivers apply
Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | Column 4 | Column 5 | Column 6 |
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site altitude | Alkalinity (as mg/l CaCO 3) |
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= 10 | > 10 to = 50 | > 50 to = 100 | > 100 to = 200 | > 200 |
= 80 metres above mean sea level | Type 1 | Type 2 | Type 3 | Type 5 | Type 7 |
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> 80 metres above mean sea level | Type 4 | Type 6 |
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Notes to Table 1.1
(i) The environmental standards for dissolved oxygen are specified in Table C1.1 in Part C of Schedule 2.
(ii) The environmental standards for biochemical oxygen demand are specified in Table C1.2 in Part C of Schedule 2.
(iii) The environmental standards for ammonia are specified in Table C4.21 in Part C of Schedule 2.
Table 1.2: Criteria for identifying Types of river to which the phosphorus standards(i)for rivers apply
Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
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site altitude | Alkalinity (as mg/l CaCO 3) |
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< 50 | = 50 |
= 80 metres above mean sea level | Type 1n | Type 3n |
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> 80 metres above mean sea level | Type 2n | Type 4n |
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Note to Table 1.2
(i) The environmental standards for phosphorus are specified in Table C1.3 in Part C of Schedule 2.
Table 1.3: Criteria for identifying Types of river to which the environmental standards for river flows(i)apply
Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | Column 4 |
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Type | Standard Average Annual Rainfall mm (period 1961-1990 (ii) | Base Flow Index ( BFI) (iii) | Catchment area (km 2) |
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A1 | < 810.5 | < 0.715 | Any |
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= 0.715 | = 251.8 |
A2 | < 810.5 | = 0.715 | < 251.8 | = 100 (A2 headwaters) > 100 (A2 downstream) |
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= 810.5 to < 1413 | = 0.7495 | Any | = 100 (A2 headwaters) > 100 (A2 downstream) |
B1 | = 810.5 to < 1155 | = 0.3615 to < 0.7495 | < 267.4 |
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B2 | = 810.5 to < 1413 | = 0.3615 to < 0.7495 | = 267.4 |
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C2 | = 1155 to < 1413 | = 0.3615 to < 0.7495 | < 267.4 |
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= 1413 | = 0.3615 | = 32.33 |
D2 | = 1413 | = 0.3615 | < 32.33 |
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= 810.5 | < 0.3615 | Any |
Notes to Table 1.3
(i) The environmental standards for river flows are specified in Tables B1.1 to B1.7 in Part B of Schedule 2.
(ii) The period is 1st January 1961 to 31st December 1990.
(iii) "Base flow" is the volume of flow in a river resulting from groundwater inputs rather than direct water run-off. "Base flow index ( BFI)" is an expression of the volume of base flow in a river as a fraction of the total flow.
Table 1.4: Types of river to which the environmental standards for river flows(i)apply which are identified by the presence of particular macrophyte communities
Column 1 | Column 2 |
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Type | Macrophyte community (ii) |
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C1 | VII |
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D1 | IX |
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Notes to Table 1.4
(i) The environmental standards for river flows are specified in Tables B1.1 to B1.7 in Part B of Schedule 2.
(ii) "Macrophyte community" means an assemblage of macrophyte taxa characterised by the presence of particular macrophyte taxa and identified in accordance with sub-paragraph (7) above and Table 1.5 below.
Table 1.5: Identification of macrophyte communities listed in Column 2 of Table 1.4 above
Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | Column 4 | Column 5 |
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Identification step number | Macrophyte taxa | Score for presence | Total score | "Go to step number as indicated" and macrophyte communities |
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1 | Cladophora glomerata agg.(i) | (- 1) | -1 or less 0 or more | Relevant macrophyte
communities not present
2 |
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Epilobium hirsutum | (- 1) |
Pellia epiphylla | (+ 1) |
Racomitrium aciculare | (+ 1) |
Ranunculus flammula | (+ 1) |
Solanum dulcamara | (- 1) |
Sparganium erectum | (- 1) |
2 | Juncus bulbosus (3) | (+ 1) | -1 or less 0 or more | 3 4 |
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Phalaris arundinacea | (- 1) |
Polytrichum commune | (+ 1) |
Potentilla erecta | (+ 1) |
Rhynchostegium riparoides | (- 1) |
Sphagnum species | (+ 1) |
Verrucaria species | (- 1) |
3 | Chiloscyphus polyanthos | (+ 1) | 0 or less | Community VII |
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Glyceria fluitans (3) | (- 1) |
Hygrohypnum ochraceum | (+ 1) |
Lemanea fluviatilis | (+ 1) |
Thamnobryum alopecurum | (+ 1) |
Verrucaria species | (+ 1) |
4 | Eleocharis palustris | (- 1) | -1 or less | Community IX |
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Equisetum fluviatile (3) | (- 1) |
Glyceria fluitans (3) | (- 1) |
Hyocomium armoricum | (+ 1) |
Nardus stricta | (+ 1) |
Scapania undulata | (+ 1) |
Note to Table 1.5
(i) "Agg" in column 2 of this Table means "aggregations".
Table 1.6: Types to which the morphological condition limits for rivers apply
Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | Column 4 | Column 5 | Column 6 | Column 7 |
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Type | Channel descriptions | Typical Valley Form | Typical Channel slope (iv) | Typical Sinuosity (v) | Dominant Geology | Typical bed characteristics |
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A | Bedrock and Peat channels | Unconfined (i) Partly confined (ii) Confined (iii) | Variable | < 1.5 | Peat or Solid | Channel bed characterised by exposed bedrock or peat deposits. Occasional sediment deposits may be present. |
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Confined |
Cascading channels | Confined | > 0.04 | < 1.1 | Solid | Channel bed characterised by exposed bedrock and disorganised accumulations of boulders and cobbles. |
B | Step-pool channels | Confined to Partly Confined | 0.01-0.08 | < 1.1 | Drift | Channel bed characterised by accumulations of boulders and cobbles forming steps separated by intervening pools containing finer sediments. |
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Plane bed channels | Confined to Partly Confined | 0.005-0.03 | < 1.2 | Drift | Channel bed characterised by an armoured and relatively featureless gravel/cobble bed which tends to lack deep pools. Isolated boulders may be present. |
C | Pool-riffle channels and plane- riffle channels | Partly Confined to Unconfined | 0.002-0.03 | < 1.5 | Drift | Characterised at low flows by sequences of pools and riffles (typical spacing 5-15 channel widths). Bed material predominantly gravel with occasional patches of larger or smaller sediments. Gravel bar features typically located on outside of bends. |
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Wandering channels | Unconfined | 0.008-0.03 | < 1.1 | Drift | Bed characteristics similar to pool-riffle but may contain vegetated islands and larger bar features. Bed sediments typically include sand and gravel. |
Braided channels | Unconfined | 0.0005-0.03 | < 1.2 | Drift | Bed characterised by gravel bar deposits that split the channel into multiple threads. Pools and riffles will be present. |
D | Low gradient actively meandering channels | Unconfined | 0.0001-0.001 | > 1.4 | Drift | Pools and riffles associated with gravel bar formations on meander bends. Bed sediments dominated by sand and gravel. |
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F | Low gradient passively meandering channels | Unconfined | < 0.0001 | < 1.5 | Drift | Flows typically non-turbulent. Bed sediments dominated by sand and silts with occasional gravel and bar deposits. |
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Notes to Table 1.6
(i) "Unconfined valley form" means a valley whose shape and width is such that the lateral movement of the channel of the river that flows through it is not constrained by the narrowness of the valley.
(ii) "Partly confined valley form" means a valley whose shape and width is such that the lateral movement of the channel of the river that flows through it is restricted to a narrow flood plain.
(iii) "Confined valley form" means a valley whose narrowness is such as to prevent any lateral movement of the channel of the river that flows through it.
(iv) "Channel slope" means the ratio of stream length between two points and the drop in elevation between those two points.
(v) "Sinuosity" means the ratio of stream length between two points divided by the valley length between those two points.
Columns 3 to 6 in this Table describe a range of characteristics which are indicative of each river Type, in the absence of morphological alterationsColumn 7 in this Table describes further characteristics to be taken into account by SEPA where the river Type cannot readily be distinguished in accordance with columns 3 to 6.
The relative hazard to a river channel or river banks posed by different morphological alterations are specified in Tables 1.2 and 1.3 of Schedule 3.
For the purposes of this Table-
'boulder' refers to sediment with a diameter of > 256 mm;
'cobble' to sediment with a diameter of > 64 mm to 256 mm;
'gravel' to sediment with a diameter of > 2 mm to 64 mm;
'sand' to sediment with a diameter of > 62.5 µm to 2 mm; and
'silt' to sediment with a diameter of = 62.5 µm.
Table 1.7: Types to which Fish Fauna standards for rivers apply
Column 1 | Column 2 |
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River Type | Expected Fish Fauna |
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S1 | Migratory salmonids (i) and brown trout as well as other fish species are expected to be present. |
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S2 | Juvenile brown trout are expected to be absent or present only in very low densities but migratory salmonids (i) as well as other fish species are expected to be present. |
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S3 | Migratory salmonids (i) are not expected because of natural barriers to migration, the size and location of the river or its morphological characteristics but in which brown trout as well as other fish species are expected to be present. |
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Notes to Table 1.7
(i) For the purposes of Table 1.7, "migratory salmonids" means Atlantic salmon and sea trout.
LOCH TYPES
2. Insofar as is necessary for SEPA to determine the environmental standards or condition limits applicable to a loch or part thereof:
(1) SEPA shall classify the loch or part as being of the Type specified in Table 2.1 below which corresponds with the applicable description specified in that Table.
(2) SEPA shall classify the loch as being of the-
(i) loch geological Type in Column 1 of Table 2.2 which corresponds with the annual mean alkalinity in Column 2 of that Table which is applicable to the loch;
(ii) loch geological sub-type in Column 1 of Table 2.3 which corresponds with the description of the loch's characteristics in Column 2 of that Table;
(iii) loch depth Type in Column 1 of Table 2.4 which corresponds with the mean loch depth in Column 2 of that Table which is applicable to the loch;
(iv) loch water Type in Column 1 of Table 2.5 which corresponds with the annual mean concentration of dissolved organic carbon in Column 2 of that Table which is applicable to the loch;
(v) loch altitude Type in Column 1 of Table 2.6 which corresponds to the altitude of the surface of the loch's above mean sea level specified in Column 2 of that Table;
(vi) loch size Type in Column 1 of Table 2.7 which corresponds to the loch surface area in Column 2 of that Table which is applicable to the loch; and
(vii) loch basin Type in Column 1 of Table 2.8 which corresponds to the value of the equation (3 x D mean) ÷ D max in Column 2 of that Table which is applicable to the loch.
(3) Where SEPA has insufficient data to classify the geological Type of a loch in accordance with sub-paragraph (2) above, it shall classify the geological Type of the loch as being of the geological Type in Table 2.2 which corresponds with the annual mean conductivity in that Table which is applicable to the loch.
(4) Where SEPA has insufficient data to classify the geological Type of a loch in accordance with either sub-paragraph (2) or (3) above, it shall classify the geological Type of the loch as being of the geological Type specified in Table 2.2 which corresponds with the description of the solid geology of the catchment of the loch in that Table which is applicable to the loch.
Table 2.1: Criteria for identifying Types of loch to which the dissolved oxygen standards for freshwater lochs(i)apply
Column 1 | Column 2 |
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Type | Description |
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Salmonid | Freshwater lochs which would naturally support populations of salmonid fish |
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Cyprinid | Freshwater lochs in which populations of salmonid fish do not naturally occur |
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Note to Table 2.1
(i) The environmental standards for dissolved oxygen in freshwater lochs are specified in Table C2.1 in Part C of Schedule 2.
Table 2.2: Loch geological Types
Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | Column 4 |
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Geological Type | Annual mean alkalinity | Annual mean conductivity | Solid geology of the catchment of the loch |
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| Milli-equivalents per litre | Micro Siemens per centimetre | % of catchment area |
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Low alkalinity | < 0.2 | = 70 | > 90 % siliceous |
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Moderate alkalinity | 0.2 to 1 | > 70 to 250 | > 50 % siliceous to = 90 % siliceous |
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High alkalinity | > 1 | > 250 to 1000 | = 50 % calcareous |
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Table 2.3: Loch geological sub-types
Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|
Geological sub-type | Characteristics |
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Marl | High alkalinity lochs, other than peat or brackish lochs, with > 65 % of the solid geology of their catchment area being limestone |
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Peat | Any loch, other than brackish lochs, with: |
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(i) mean colour > 90 hazen units; or, where information on colour is unavailable, |
(ii) > 75 % of the soils of their catchment area being peat |
Brackish | Any partly saline lochs with an annual mean conductivity > 1,000 micro Siemens per centimetre |
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Table 2.4: Loch depth Types
Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|
Loch depth Type | Mean loch depth (metres) |
|---|
Very shallow | < 3 |
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Shallow | 3 to 15 |
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Deep | > 15 |
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Table 2.5: Loch water Types
Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|
Loch water Type | Annual mean concentration of dissolved
organic carbon (mg/l) |
|---|
Humic | = 5 |
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Clear | < 5 |
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Table 2.6: Loch altitude Types
Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|
Lake altitude Type | Altitude of loch surface above mean sea level (metres) |
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Lowland | < 200 |
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Mid-altitude | 200 to 800 |
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High-altitude | > 800 |
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Table 2.7: Loch size Types
Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|
Loch size Type | Loch surface area (hectares) |
|---|
Small | < 50 |
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Large | = 50 |
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Table 2.8: Loch basin Types
Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|
Loch basin Type | (3 x D mean) ÷ D max |
|---|
V | < 0.67 |
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L | = 0.67 |
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Notes to Table 2.8
For the purposes of sub-paragraph (2) above and Table 2.8: -
"D mean" means the mean depth of the loch basin in metres; and
"D max" means the maximum depth of the loch basin in metres.
TRANSITIONAL WATER AND COASTAL WATER TYPES
3. Insofar as is necessary for SEPA to determine the environmental standards or condition limits applicable to a transitional water or part thereof:
(1) SEPA shall classify the transitional water or part as being of the Type specified in Table 3.1 below which corresponds with the applicable description of the transitional water or part thereof in that Table.
(2) To determine the relative hazard posed to:
(i) the morphological characteristics of the intertidal zone of a transitional water or part thereof; or a coastal water or part thereof;
(ii) the morphological characteristics of the subtidal zone of a transitional water or part thereof; or a coastal water or part thereof; or
(iii) the characteristics of the hydrodynamic zone of a transitional water or part thereof; or a coastal water or part thereof
by the different morphological alterations specified in Table 5.1 of Schedule 3, SEPA shall classify the transitional water or part thereof, or the coastal water or part thereof, as being of the Type specified in Table 3.2 below which corresponds to the applicable descriptions specified in that Table.
(3) To determine the tidal regime condition limits applicable to a transitional water or any part thereof, SEPA shall classify the transitional water or part as being of the Type specified in Table 3.3 below which corresponds with the applicable description specified in that Table.
Table 3.1: Criteria for identifying Types of transitional water to which the dissolved inorganic nitrogen standards for transitional waters apply
Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|
Type | Annual mean concentration of suspended
particulate matter (mg/l) |
|---|
Very turbid | > 300 |
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Turbid | 100 to 300 |
|---|
Intermediate | 10 to < 100 |
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Clear | < 10 |
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Note to Table 3.1
The environmental standards for dissolved inorganic nitrogen in transitional waters are specified in Table C3.3 in Part C of Schedule 2.
Table 3.2: Types to which the morphological condition limits for transitional waters and coastal waters apply
Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | Column 4 | Column 5 |
|---|
Type | General characteristics | Annual mean salinity | Substrate | Fetch to the coastline of a coastal water; transitional water; or part thereof |
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T(1) | Sea loch | < 30 | any | any |
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C(1) | Sea loch | > 30 | any | any |
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T(2) | Lagoon | < 30 | any | any |
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C(2) | Lagoon | > 30 | any | any |
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T(3) | Estuary | < 30 | any | any |
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C(3) | Coastal waters other than those in Types C(1) and C(2) | > 30 | = 50 % exposed bedrock | > 10 km |
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C(4) | Coastal waters other than those in Types C(1) and C(2) | > 30 | < 50 % exposed bedrock | < 10 km |
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C(5) | Coastal waters other than those in Types C(1) and C(2) | > 30 | < 50 % exposed bedrock | > 10 km |
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Table 3.3: Criteria for identifying Types of transitional water to which the tidal regime condition limits for transitional waters apply
Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|
Type | Ratio of the total Qn 95 freshwater inflow (in cubic metres per second) into the transitional water, or part thereof, from rivers with a catchment area = 10 km 2; to the volume(V H) (in cubic metres) of water in the transitional water, or part thereof, at mean high water 
|
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High sensitivity ( HS) | > 60 |
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Medium sensitivity ( MS) | 35 to 60 |
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Low sensitivity ( LS) | < 35 |
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