Integrated river basin management

Integrated River Basin Management Harmonised Modelling Tools and Decision-making Process... 

Since the Directive regulates management of water resources within each river basin district, the concept of integrated water resources management is implemented at the catchment scale (integrated river basin management). 

In order to fulfil the objectives of the Directive, it is necessary to manage water, land and related resources in an integrated manner. The need for integrated river basin management has arisen because managing processes independently (without integration)... 

Figure 4.2.2 Framework for model-supported participatory planning of measures and integrated river basin management (planning framework, Hattermann and Kundzewicz, 2007 Wenzel, 2005) (see Plate 4)...

Griffiths, M. (2002) The European Water Framework Directive an approach to integrated river basin management, European Water Association, available at http //www.ewaonhne.de/journal/ 2002.05.pdf. 

Harmoni-CA (2001) Harmonised modelling tools for integrated river basin management, Harmoni-CA, EU-funded concerted action. Contract EVKI-2001-00192, http //www.Harmoni-CA.info. 

EU Water Framework Directive Integrated River Basin Management for Europe... 

Another significant point raised in Fig. 3 is that the number of references related to the development of DSS to carry out an integrated water resources management is very scarce before 2000s, that is, when the WFD, which emphasizes integrated management as one of the key concerns in river basin management, was launched. 

Rekolainen, S., Kamari, J. and Hiltunen, M. (2004) Int. J. River Basin Manag, 1(4), p. 347. Soncini-Sessa, R., Castelletti, A. and Weber, E. (2007a) Integrated and Participatory Water... 

The previous sections have highlighted the need to integrate scientific and technical progress within the implementation of the WED. However, if the WFD provides some indications of where and when, in the implementation process, it is necessary to integrate new scientific and technical knowledge (economic analysis, standards for monitoring of quality elements, review and update of river basin management plans, identification of priority hazardous substances, etc.), it makes no recommendations on how to do this. 

The WFD further requires a management plan per river basin in which the program of measures is processed. In the meantime the Directive 76/464/EC is lifted as per December 22, 2013. As a consequence the policies regarding hazardous substances are integrated in the program of measures of the river basin management plan. 

Most efforts should be done to establish a direct connection between groundwater and the rest of the aquatic system (surface water, sediment, soil) in order to ensure an integrated management of the river basins. 

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