Are River Basin Management Plans answering the Problems related to Eutrophication and Climate Change?

Transcription

1 Waterpraxis Are River Basin Management Plans answering the Problems related to Eutrophication and Climate Change? Seppo Hellsten Finnish Environment Institute SYKE Part financed by the European Union (European Regional Development Fund and European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument) 09/12/2009-1

2 Content European River Basin Related Problems European Water Legislation European River Basin Management Plans Part financed by the European Union (European Regional Development Fund and European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument) - 2

3 "Water is not a commercial product like any other but, rather, a heritage which must be protected, defended and treated as such." Current status of EU waters Worse than expected The most significant and widespread pressures are diffuse pollution, physical degradation of water ecosystems (physical modifications) and, particularly in Southern Europe, overexploitation of water. Citation from COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL Towards sustainable water management in the European Union - First stage in the implementation of the Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC - 3

4 Art. 5 report of WFD in March-2005 No risk Insufficient data At risk Surface water bodies at risk of failing environmental objectives

5 Eutrophication of surface waters! Southern Finland waterbodies No data High Good Moderate Poor Bad Part financed by the European Union (European Regional Development Fund and European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument) - 5

6 Denmark Programme of measures at Limfjorden Bad ecological status of Limfjorden River basin dominated by agricultural land (70%) Too much nutrient loading and decline in oxygen condition Collapse of fish stocks Main reason => agriculture

7 Phosphorous load decreased Need to reduce nitrogen load! Agricultural load cannot be decreased without significant reduction of arable land

8 Heavily modified waterbodies! Waterbodies hydromorphologically modified for a specific use! Part financed by the European Union (European Regional Development Fund and European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument)

9 Art. 5 report of WFD in March-2005 Natural AWB HMWB Provisionally identified as heavily modified and artificial water bodies and natural surface water bodies

10 Art. 5 report of WFD in March-2005 Driving forces related to hydromorphological pressures

11 Main objectives of water level regulation in lakes Part financed by the European Union (European Regional Development Fund and European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument)

12 Regulated lakes and reservoirs in Norway Draw down in metres Number of reservoirs

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14 Priority substances! Hamburg Harbour and sedimentation problem Recipient of sediment load from transboundary river basin Highly toxic sediments Difficult to select disposal areas for dredged sediments Coastal zone protected by WFD Terrestrial areas protected by Natura 2000 sites

15 Development of the European Water Policy Three Phases of Water Policy Development : Setting water quality objectives Surface water directive 1975 => => Drinking Water Directive 1980 Main focus on water quality objectives or particular water types (such as fishing, shellfish and bathing waters, groundwater) : Approach for emission limit values New directives on urban waste water treatment and nitrates 1991 Revision of drinking water and bathing water directives Development of a groundwater action programme First approaches to adopt an ecological quality to water legislation Since mid-1990's : Harmonisation and integration of water policy By the mid-1990's the European water legislation had become very complicated => big demand for harmonisation and integration proposal of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) for ensuring the overall consistency of water policy throughout the European Union WFD into force in December 2000 Integrated River Basin Planning and Management

16 The Water Framework Directive establishes a legal framework to guarantee sufficient quantities of good quality water across Europe. Its key aims are: to expand water protection to all waters: inland and coastal surface waters and groundwater; to achieve "good status" for all waters by 2015; to base water management on river basins; to combine emission limit values with environmental quality standards; to ensure that water prices provide adequate incentives for water users to use water resources efficiently; to involve citizens more closely; to streamline legislation. Part financed by the European Union (European Regional Development Fund and European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument) - 16

17 Source:

18 Pollution from municipal wastewater - current implementation Directive 91/271/EEC on urban waste water treatment To regulate discharges of municipal wastewater from larger villages, towns and cities. To specify the kind of treatment to be provided. Checkup January 2003 Only 81% implementation of the Directive has been reported The main gaps are the lack of (appropriate) treatment the lack of designation of sensitive areas where more stringent treatment is needed to protect vulnerable lakes, coastal and marine waters from nutrient pollution. The EU has spent 9 billion euros were allocated to four of the EU-15 Member States 5.6 billion for the EU-10 in the period For the new EU-12 Member States 35 billion euros is needed over the next 10 years Part financed by the European Union (European Regional Development Fund and European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument) - 18

19 WFD Implementation Process Source:

20 River Basin Districts in Finland 8 River Basin Districts 2 International 1 Åland as separate RBD 4: Oulujoki-Iijoki River Basin District Part financed by the European Union (European Regional Development Fund and European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument) - 21

21 Oulujoki-Iijoki River Basin District km km 2 of inland waters (eg lakes more than 0.5 km 2 ) km 2 of coastal waters 58 municipalities, inhabitants Land-use: Agriculture, forestry, peat production, settlement Main problems: Eutrophication, hydromorphological change and regulation, acid sulphate soils 3 regional environment centres responsible for preparing the RBMPs. Part financed by the European Union (European Regional Development Fund and European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument) - 22

22 Ecological status of surface waters Problem with the rivers! All, pcs Lakes, km 2 Rivers, km Coastal waters, km 2 High Good Moderate Poor Bad - 23

23 Sources of eutrophication Phosphorous Natural background 29% Forestry 10 % Settlements 25 % Diffusive loading 59% Air deposit 7% Point source loading 7% Agriculture 57% Part financed by the European Union (European Regional Development Fund and European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument) - 24

24 Hydromorphological change Dams and other obstacles Fishways

25 How to reach environmental objectives? Diffusive loading Additional measures needed No additional measures No data Reduction of phosphorous load up to % Nitrogen 0-71 % - 26

26 When and how much it costs? Environmental goals reached Normal measures needed 2015 Normal measures needed 2021 Additional measures needed 2021 Additional measures needed 2027 No data NO No derogations! SUCH AMOUNTS Extended deadlines AVAILABLE!!! Normal measures 367 m investments, 115 m /annual costs Additional measures 52 m investments 19 m /annual costs - 27

27 Co-operation in RBM Common co-operation group Representatives of all possible organisations and NGO Landowners Nature protection around 40 people Public participation Possibilities to contact via web Official hearings Contacts via representatives in cooperation group Part financed by the European Union (European Regional Development Fund and European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument) - 28

28 Public participation Public hearings Written contact from 58! private person (0.012% of population) and 204 official announcement Public briefings 22 public briefings All feedback published Part financed by the European Union (European Regional Development Fund and European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument) - 29

29 Webpage as a main source of information Part financed by the European Union (European Regional Development Fund and European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument)

30 Brochures and reports Part financed by the European Union (European Regional Development Fund and European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument) - 31

31 Problems, obstacles Limited data Lack of cost-efficient methods Lack of funds Slow response of water bodies Climate change! Still very large scale approach limited public participation not my business Long lasting project I m already retired No data Expert judgement Some data Part financed by the European Union (European Regional Development Fund and European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument) - 32

32 Web based toolbox for river basin planners

33 WATERPRAXIS From theory and plans to eco-efficient and sustainable practices to improve the status of the Baltic Sea Identify and suggest improvements to present water management practices by analysing the contents and planning processes of RBMPs 2. Establish action plans based on RBMPs for pilot areas representing best practices and measures for water protection and public participation 3. Prepare investment plans (incl. technical and financing plans) for water protection measures for selected sites (pilot studies) in Poland, Lithuania, Denmark and Finland 4. Disseminate information of best practices and measures of water management via publications, seminars and websites 5. Offer education for planners of water management and environmental economy. Part financed by the European Union (European Regional Development Fund and European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument)

34 Thank you for your attention!