The EU’s Water Framework Directive,
the overall European law on water, is intended to ensure that all aspects of
water management are in future integrated and designed for each river basin.
The Water Framework Directive came into force in December 2000; its purpose is
“to establish a framework for the protection of inland surface waters,
transitional waters, coastal waters and groundwater”.
“Gaming” the Water Framework Directive
In order to
test the Water Framework Directive in actual practice, the Reinwater Foundation arranged a workshop for water managers,
representatives of provinces, environmental organisations and nature managers.
Some of the participants were familiar with the contents of the Water Framework
Directive while others knew the area or were ecologists. The group was divided
into three regional teams, each of which “gamed” the Water Framework Directive
applying to a water body (i.e. went through the main
steps). A jury or surrogate “European Commission” then assessed the results.
This method made it possible to quickly get an idea of the Water Framework
Directive and what it will mean for the areas concerned. The workshop studied
six water systems: the Berkel, the Barchem Veengoot, the Ruiten Aa, the Ruiten Aa canal, the Botshol lakes and the Groot
Mijdrecht polder. This is a brief overview of the results for three of the six
areas.
The Water Framework Directive can
give a boost to the ecology of Dutch water systems. However, for this to
happen, water managers will need to take the Water Framework Directive
seriously and implement it effectively in actual practice.
A concrete package of measures,
including for hydrology and morphology, will be necessary to ensure that the
objectives for 2015 are actually achieved. Water quality needs to be the object
of special attention given that it is still too low in many areas, a fact that
will prevent the ecological objectives being achieved. The “status quo”
principle is not sufficient. Demonstrable improvements will need to be made so
as to achieve at least the existing standard for water quality. Efforts will be
necessary, for example for eutrophicating substances, to come down to the
natural background concentration. In order to actually achieve ambitious
objectives in practice, it is essential to have the participation by various
organisations. Nature and environment organisations can share their expertise
and knowledge in the respective areas with water managers. Other river users
can involve their rank and file when developments are taking place in the area.
We hope that all stake holders will
grasp the opportunity provided by the Water Framework Directive to create
high-quality nature areas within their management area.