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LHYMO: A new Water Framework Directive‐compliant multimetric index to assess lake hydromorphology and its application to French lakes

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Alexandra Carriere at ESAIP Higher education and research in Computer Science and Production, Angers, France
Alexandra Carriere
  • ESAIP Higher education and research in Computer Science and Production, Angers, France
Nathalie Reynaud at French National Institute for Agriculture, Food, and Environment (INRAE)
Nathalie Reynaud
Aurore Gay
Aurore Gay
Aurore Gay
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Jean‐Marc Baudoin
Jean‐Marc Baudoin
Jean‐Marc Baudoin
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Abstract

Hydromorphology provides a physical framework for aquatic biocenoses. Its condition directly affects the quality of habitats available for fauna and flora, and its assessment is therefore useful for biodiversity and water quality conservation, as well as for restoration programmes required by European and national directives. In this study, a site‐specific index of Lake HYdroMOrphology, LHYMO, was developed to provide a quantitative assessment of the hydromorphological status of natural and non‐natural lakes that is consistent with European Committee for Standardization (CEN) standards and that can be used for different purposes, including the implementation of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) and of the Habitats Directive. This new LHYMO index includes nine metrics related to the morphological WFD quality elements (QEs) and six metrics related to the hydrological WFD QEs, all of which are considered to support biological elements. The reference conditions were defined for each metric using an original approach: the degree of alteration is measured in relation to the natural characteristics of each lake, relative to a state that ‘would be expected in the absence of disturbances’. Besides its use for regulatory purposes, this index is also a suitable tool for monitoring the efficacy of hydromorphological restoration projects or to help target effective conservation measures on lakes. Application of this index to 72 French lakes provides the first quantitative and homogeneous assessment of the hydromorphological quality of lakes over a whole territory and gives the first overview of the hydromorphological status of lakes in France, with classification into five classes ranging from ‘high’ to ‘bad’. LHYMO is already operational for large French lakes as it relies mostly on reference datasets available at a national scale, and it may also be used in a wider scope through gathering or completing data from other sources.
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RESEARCH ARTICLE
LHYMO: A new Water Framework Directive-compliant
multimetric index to assess lake hydromorphology and its
application to French lakes
Alexandra Carriere
1,2,3
| Nathalie Reynaud
1,2
| Aurore Gay
4
|
Jean-Marc Baudoin
2,5
| Christine Argillier
1,2
1
INRAE, Aix Marseille Université, Aix-en-
Provence, France
2
Pôle R&D ECLA, France
3
CERADE, ESAIP, St Barthélémy d'Anjou,
France
4
EDF –DTG –Service Etudes Eau
Environnement, Saint Martin le Vinoux, France
5
OFB, DRAS, Aix-en-Provence, France
Correspondence
Alexandra Carriere, CERADE, ESAIP –18 rue
du 8 mai 1945, CS 80022 49180 St
Barthélémy d'Anjou Cedex, France.
Email: acarriere@esaip.org
Funding information
Institut National de Recherche pour
l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement;
Office Français de la Biodiversité
Abstract
1. Hydromorphology provides a physical framework for aquatic biocenoses. Its
condition directly affects the quality of habitats available for fauna and flora, and
its assessment is therefore useful for biodiversity and water quality conservation,
as well as for restoration programmes required by European and national
directives.
2. In this study, a site-specific index of Lake HYdroMOrphology, LHYMO, was
developed to provide a quantitative assessment of the hydromorphological status
of natural and non-natural lakes that is consistent with European Committee for
Standardization (CEN) standards and that can be used for different purposes,
including the implementation of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) and of
the Habitats Directive.
3. This new LHYMO index includes nine metrics related to the morphological
WFD quality elements (QEs) and six metrics related to the hydrological WFD
QEs, all of which are considered to support biological elements. The reference
conditions were defined for each metric using an original approach: the
degree of alteration is measured in relation to the natural characteristics of
each lake, relative to a state that ‘would be expected in the absence of
disturbances’.
4. Besides its use for regulatory purposes, this index is also a suitable tool for
monitoring the efficacy of hydromorphological restoration projects or to help
target effective conservation measures on lakes.
5. Application of this index to 72 French lakes provides the first quantitative and
homogeneous assessment of the hydromorphological quality of lakes over a
whole territory and gives the first overview of the hydromorphological status
of lakes in France, with classification into five classes ranging from ‘high’to
‘bad’.
6. LHYMO is already operational for large French lakes as it relies mostly on
reference datasets available at a national scale, and it may also be used in a wider
scope through gathering or completing data from other sources.
Received: 31 December 2022 Revised: 14 September 2023 Accepted: 26 September 2023
DOI: 10.1002/aqc.4029
Aquatic Conserv: Mar Freshw Ecosyst. 2023;1–22. wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/aqc © 2023 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. 1
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