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For high status to be achieved, the WFD requires that there are no more than very minor human alterations to the hydromorphological quality elements. At good, moderate, poor and bad status, the required values for the hydromorphological quality elements must be such as to support the required biological quality element values for the relevant class Each of the four surface water categories is ascribed specific hydromorphological quality elements.

• ·         Rivers - depth and width variation; structure and substrate of the river bed; structure of the riparian zone; river continuity.
• ·         Lakes - depth variation; quantity, structure and substrate of the bed; structure of the lake shore.
• ·         Transitional waters (estuaries) - depth variation; quantity, structure and substrate of the bed; structure of the intertidal zone.
• ·         Coastal waters - depth variation; structure and substrate of the coastal bed; structure of the intertidal zone.