River Basin Management

Abstract

Sustainable river basin management can be achieved through the conservation-utilization balance between sustainable use of water and conservation of its quality. Turkey, as a European Union (EU) candidate country, is conducting studies to ensure compliance with EU norms and requirements on river basin management. River Basin Management Plans (RBMPs) are prepared in accordance with the EU Water Frame Directive (WFD) for 25 river basins in the country to achieve “good status” by 2036 in all water environments by implementing the required measures. In this context, previously completed Basin Protection Action Plans (BPAPs) are transformed into RBMPs. Important projects related to river basin management, taking into consideration both water quality and quantity, were carried out in Turkey in the past decade. In particular, the establishment of the basin institutional structure and delegation in the country has been an important step in terms of water basin management. The stream network forming river basins in Turkey have a more complicated structure than those in other EU countries, and this makes basin management more difficult. The problems encountered in water resource management in Turkey have originated from institutional structures, water management based on administrative boundaries, insufficient databases, poor monitoring and surveillance, and insufficient sanctions and policies because the national Draft Water Law has not been finalized yet.