Guidance for defining Good Ecological Potential

This document provides guidance on the process of classifying the ecological potential of Heavily Modified Water Bodies (HMWBs) and Artificial Water Bodies (AWBs). The guidance sets out a method for identifying whether a HMWB or AWB meets its ecological potential or not by:• Identifying the impacts affecting the water body;• Identifying the mitigation measures necessary that could be taken to improve the ecology; and• Assessing whether those measures have been taken.Further guidance on how the chemical and physico-chemical quality of the water body will be taken into account in the classification is included in section 3 of the guidance.