From 22–24 May 2026, an intensive professional workshop focused on the assessment of the ecological status of water bodies was held as part of the IDEAL project. Over the course of three days, participants gained hands-on experience with the entire monitoring process, from field sampling to the evaluation of results in accordance with the requirements of the European Water Framework Directive.
The programme included lectures on the ecological and chemical status of waters, hydrobiology, bioindication, and hydromorphological monitoring. During the fieldwork, students collected water samples, sampled benthic invertebrates, and assessed the hydromorphological conditions of the stream.
In the laboratory sessions, participants focused on the identification of aquatic organisms, the analysis of chemical indicators of water quality, and the assessment of aquatic habitat structure. They then applied the knowledge gained to independently process the data and classify the ecological status of the monitored stream sections.
We would like to thank all participants for their active engagement and enthusiasm, and we look forward to future meetings in both the field and the laboratory.
