Hughes, MJ; Scoping project to investigate options for linking the standing waters database and the Lakes Inventory. ENSIS Ltd. Environmental Change Research Centre. University College London

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Abstract

The JNCC Standing Waters Database is a Microsoft Access database containing macrophyte, invertebrate and other biological survey data as well as water chemistry, geology and physical site data for standing water sites in the UK (England, Scotland and Wales). The Database uses a site/survey concept whereby the fundamental units of data storage are sites and surveys. The purpose of this scoping study is to provide a scope for the development of the Database including advice on improving accessibility, linking with other databases (e.g. GBLakes database) and an investigation of data provision via the National Biodiversity Network (NBN) Gateway. An analysis of the Database shows a large bias towards Scotland for sites and macrophyte data. However, other data types only occur for sites in England and Wales. Problems of linking sites to other databases were investigated. Inconsistencies in site names and grid references cause problems in linking. The full JNCC site list was linked with the GBLakes inventory. 94% of sites were matched to a resolution of 150m; the remaining 6% could not be matched. Potential links with the NBN Gateway were investigated. Some macrophyte data from the Database have already been uploaded. The NBN Gateway provides useful search and mapping tools but data cannot be identified to a particular water body as yet. There is currently no active management of the Database. Organisations are continuing to collect data which is being stored in custom databases or proprietary software (Recorder). It is thought that several versions of the Database are in use across these organisations. Future development of the Database is discussed with reference to 6 key questions. Four options are presented which range from doing nothing to developing the database to focus on macrophyte data with links to GBLakes and a web site. However, there is a need for a more detailed needs assessment to help inform the choice of development option.

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