Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Conference papers
Title (Primary) Water management plans in Germany: is there a straightforward way towards healthy aquatic ecosystems?
Title (Secondary) Proceedings of the 13th IWA Specialist Conference Watershed and River Basin Management. September 9th-12th. San Francisco, USA
Author Völker, J.; Richter, S.; Borchardt, D.; Mohaupt, V.
Year 2014
Department ASAM
Language englisch
Keywords Agriculture; implementation status of measures; interim results 2012; Water Framework Directive
UFZ wide themes RU2;
Abstract During the river basin management planning that has taken place in accordance with the EU's Water Framework Directive (WFD) in Germany it has been shown that 90% of all bodies of water fail to achieve the WFD objectives of a ‘good status’ and a large number of measures will be necessary. Following the WFD timetable, a status and progress report on the planned measures was submitted to the European Commission in December 2012. In this study, the results of the interim report are presented with a focus on the implementation of measures and difficulties involved.
Important measures in Germany include the improvement of the hydromorphological situation and the reduction of nutrients input. Although straightforward, one third of all planned measures have not yet even commenced. The reasons for non-implementation are mostly lack of sufficient financial and human resources or opposition against planned measures by stakeholders. Implementation deficits exist particularly in the reduction of nutrients input from agriculture, although this represents the main source of pressure for surface water and groundwater. Under these circumstances, there is clearly an urgent need for more effective implementation strategies in order to achieve a ‘good status’ in the near future.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=15734
Völker, J., Richter, S., Borchardt, D., Mohaupt, V. (2014):
Water management plans in Germany: is there a straightforward way towards healthy aquatic ecosystems?
Proceedings of the 13th IWA Specialist Conference Watershed and River Basin Management. September 9th-12th. San Francisco, USA