Transboundary River Basin Management Research Articles

Integrated Water Resources Management under different hydrological, climatic and socio-economic conditions

The International Water Research Alliance Saxony (IWAS) project (2009–2014) was dedicated to investigate global challenges concerning integrated water resources management (IWRM) in different model regions in Eastern Europe (region R1), Central and Southeast Asia (R2 and R3), the Middle East (R4) and Latin America (R5). This thematic issue compiles the most important scientific results of the second phase of the IWAS project which was introduced by Kalbus et al. (2012). The main results and lessons learned from the transdisciplinary IWRM project are presented in Seegert et al. (2014). The IWAS project was structured into the above-mentioned model regions (R1–5) and into cross-cutting topics: Q1—Model based scenario analysis, Q2—Technology development, Q3— Governance, and Q4—Capacity development (Fig. 1). The first cross-cutting topic Q1 was dedicated to modelbased scenario analysis of hydrological and climate related processes. Within the first project phase of IWAS a ToolBox for hydrological process simulation was developed and exemplary applied to the IWAS investigation regions (Kalbacher et al. 2012). The toolbox concept has been completed by invoking data integration as well as model visualization methods (Rink et al. 2014; Bilke et al. 2014). Within the second IWAS project phase, the toolbox has been extensively applied to several IWAS model regions: R1 (e.g. Fischer et al. 2014; Koerner et al. 2014; Pavlik et al. 2014), R2 (e.g. Karthe et al. 2014), R4 (e.g. Kloss et al. 2014; Graebe et al. 2013; Subagadis et al. 2014; Walther et al. 2014), R5 (e.g. Borges et al. 2014; Da Anunciacao et al. 2014; Goncalves et al. 2013) to address a variety of questions for surface water and groundwater management. More general works were Barfus and Bernhofer (2014) who applied global climate models (GCM) to different model regions and Pluntke et al. (2014) dealing with uncertainty in hydrological modeling due to data scarcity. The second cross-cutting topic Q2 was focused on technology development, implementation and transfer. Three work packages in Q2 were dealing with the Sewchar concept for sustainable sanitation systems (Fuehner et al. 2012), hydrothermal carbonization for treatment of domestic waste and sewage sludge (Poerschmann et al. 2014), and the development of multisensory systems for the detection of pathogens. The remaining transdisciplinary topics were dealing with aspects of governance (Q3) and capacity development (Q4). Dombrowsky et al. (2014) were discussing socioeconomic questions of water governance in transition countries as well as institutional and legal constraints for transboundary river basin management. Capacity development is an important method for the implementation of IWRM concepts (Leidel et al. 2014). As a result of the IWAS capacity development activities an E-learning platform has been established (Leidel et al. 2013, see http:// www.iwrm-education.de). IWAS Ukraine (R1) was dealing with a variety of IWRM aspects elaborating on socio-economic as well as natural science questions (Dombrowsky et al. 2014; Hagemann et al. 2014) discussing the role of water governance in transition countries as well as institutional and legal constraints on transboundary river basin management. A decision support concept was developed by Leidel et al. J. Seegert O. Kolditz (&) P. Krebs D. Borchardt Technische Universitat Dresden, Dresden, Germany e-mail: ees-editor@ufz.de

Transboundary Water Management of the Amazon Basin

In this paper the Amazon Basin is presented and its hydrology and natural environment are described. Monitoring this large river basin is necessary and becomes more and more important when different scientific institutions show alarming forecasts of increase in temperature and decrease in precipitation in the basin as a result of climate change. The monitoring scheme developed by Brazil and its neighbours shows the importance of this activity and its role as a mechanism to improve co-operation among countries in the basin. The institutional mechanism for transboundary river basin management is the Amazon Basin Co-operation Treaty, signed by the nine countries of the basin. This treaty is described and can serve as a good example of how this type of problem can be tackled in other regions of the world.

Managing the world's most international river: the Danube River Basin

Transboundary river-basin management is a challenging task emerging from lack of on-site expert knowledge, high administrative and socioeconomic complexity, various stakeholder interests, and difficulties enforcing international and national law. Therefore, an efficient ‘science–policy interface’ is a crucial ingredient for the successful development and implementation of adequate management strategies. The Danube River Basin (DRB) drains areas of 19 countries with different cultural, political, and environmental legacies. The European Water Framework Directive (WFD) has provided the guiding legal instrument for DRB management since 2000, supported by several multilateral agreements. The International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR) is responsible for the implementation of the WFD in the DRB. It stimulates management-oriented research and coordinates the various activities of the contracting parties and observers, including those of many NGOs and stakeholders. The development of the first DRB Management Plan in 2009 constituted a milestone of cooperation among scientific, political, and public organisations. Key stressors and pressures have been identified, a new basin-wide monitoring network has been established, and numerous conservation and restoration sites have been designated. A major challenge in DRB management will be to establish synergies among the competing interests of navigation, hydropower production, flood protection and nature conservation. This paper examines the strengths and weaknesses of DRB science–policy interactions and outlines future strategies for sustainable development of the DRB as a template for transboundary river basin management.

Transboundary river basin management in Europe<br> Legal instruments to comply with European water management obligations in case of transboundary water pollution and floods

The Utrecht Law Review is an open-access peer-reviewed journal which aims to offer an international academic platform for cross-border legal research. In the first place, this concerns research in which the boundaries of the classic branches of the law (private law, criminal law, constitutional and administrative law, European and public international law) are crossed and connections are made between these areas of the law, amongst others from a comparative law perspective. In addition, the journal welcomes research in which classic law is brought face to face with not strictly legal disciplines such as philosophy, economics, political sciences and public administration science.The journal was established in 2005 and is affiliated to the Utrecht University School of Law. If you wish to receive e-mail alerts please join the mailing list.

A methodological framework supporting trans-boundary water agreements: the case of the Nestos/Mesta river basin

Management of trans-boundary river basins is a major issue that has attracted great attention in recent years. The European Water Framework Directive (WFD) recommends management at a river basin level, overlooking any national or administrative borders. This new managerial approach impels water managers to disregard the trans-boundary nature of the water resources while considering an integrated river basin where only geographical boundaries exist. The new challenge for scientists and water managers is the establishment of water agreements between countries sharing water resources. These agreements should aim at the settlement of tensions and conflicts while providing the essential framework for cooperation and consensus building. Apparently, the content of these agreements should comply with international law and the relevant international conventions especially, as noted by the WFD, the UNECE Convention on the Protection and Use of Trans-boundary Watercourses and International Lakes (known as the Helsinki Rules), approved by the European Council in 1995. This paper examines the efficiency of water agreements and their precedent negotiations using the best known international examples while focusing on the Greek–Bulgarian agreement for the waters of the Nestos/Mesta River and its compliance with the WFD and the Helsinki Rules. As shown, the two countries have failed to implement a joint effort to put it into action; hence a methodological framework is proposed including certain strategic steps that can guide the two countries to a more effective and applicable water agreement taking into account the peculiarities of this trans-boundary area.

A Combined Methodology for Transboundary River Basin Management in Europe. Application in The Nestos–Mesta Catchment Area

Water management has been the focus of research, not only because of water scarcity, but also as a result of its sharing across national boundaries. Approximately 40% of the global population lives in tranboundary water basins, shared by more than one country, emphasizing the need for concerted management of transboundary water bodies and harmonization of policies. Under this view, water should be managed in an internationalized way, integrating methodologies and techniques used in natural as well as social sciences. Public participation and information are vital procedural safeguards of transboundary water recourses management and sustainable regional development. The paper presents a combined methodology based on traditional engineering oriented tools on the one hand and interactive public participation procedures on the other, applied in the Greek–Bulgarian transboundary Mesta/Nestos river basin.

Harmonization of transboundary groundwater bodies delineation and characterization in Körös/Crişuri river basin, a Tisza/Tisa sub-Basin

The Water Framework Directive (WFD) definition of a Groundwater Body (GWB) permits a large palette of approaches for the groundwater body's delineation process. This fact leaded to many GWB types and, as a consequence, to many misfits between the transboundary GWB's delineated on each side of the borders. Therefore, the WFD implementation implies also a harmonization process between the Member States for the transboundary groundwater body's delineation and characterization. An example of such a process is that one carried out in the framework of the Project: “Transboundary River Basin Management of the Körös/Crişuri River, a Tisza/Tisa sub-Basin”. The paper presents both countries' approaches and the GWB's delineations that resulted from those approaches. It is presented also the agreement reached in the frame of the project. Common criteria for GWB's delineation where adopted and a harmonized GWB delineation in the Körös/Crişuri basin was performed.

The legislative framework and policy for the water resources management of transboundary rivers in Europe: the case of Nestos/Mesta River, between Greece and Bulgaria

Abstract This paper describes the current legislative framework with respect to the management of transboundary river basins within the geographical area of Europe. It analyses the main aspects of the European Water Framework Directive as well as the important role of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN/ECE) on the management of international rivers. Finally, it presents the case study of the transboundary river Mesta/Nestos which flows through Bulgaria and Greece. It describes the cooperation of the two countries since 1964, when the negotiations started, and the current situation, whereas Bulgaria is a candidate Member State of the European Union and a new regime on the cooperation of the two countries will be developed.

Scientific concepts and implementation of sustainable transboundary river basin management. Summary report on the 35th IAD-Conference, April 19-23, 2004, in Novi Sad (Serbia and Montenegro)

Scientific concepts and implementation of sustainable transboundary river basin management. Summary report on the 35th IAD-Conference, April 19-23, 2004, in Novi Sad (Serbia and Montenegro)

Sustainable management of transboundary river basins: a line of reasoning

This paper identifies a line of reasoning based on a number of concepts and tools to facilitate river basin management, which have been applied in a case study. For long-term sustainable river basin management, a balance is needed between the human use of the river and its basin, the ecological functioning of the river and receiving waters, and the river's capacity to supply goods and services. To find such a balance a framework is needed that illustrates and clarifies possible trade-offs between economic use and environmental supply by integrating scientific information on cause–effect chains on a catchment scale. A number of concepts and tools are proposed as a basis for this framework. The tools are: (1) indicators that describe the complex interactions and processes in rivers; (2) a suite of linked models that predict the economic, environmental and ecological effect of management measures; (3) an evaluation framework to rank different management alternatives on the basis of three objectives: economic efficiency, spatial equity in costs and benefits and environmental quality of the river and receiving lakes. The concept of environmental quality defines the potential of the river environment (i.e. natural capital) to contribute to human welfare. The concept of environmental functions is used to identify societal interest in natural capital. The concept and tools have been applied in a case study involving the evaluation of four management strategies on nutrient abatement in the Rhine basin. The result of the case study is that economic efficiency is in conflict with spatial equity and environmental quality. Spatial equity is in agreement with environmental quality.

Indicators for transboundary river management.

The aim of this paper is to analyze the potential of indicators for integrated river basin management and to develop a set of indicators for the management of transboundary river basins. An indicator, comprising a variable or some aggregation of variables, describes a system or process such that it has significance beyond the face value of its components. Integrated river basin management takes into account policies and measures for the multifunctional use of rivers on a catchment scale and associated institutional changes. Indicators are useful instruments for this process for two reasons. Firstly, they meet the information need of policy- and decision-makers. Secondly, indicators can be used to structure the definition and description of information needs and collection of information between the different international, institutional, and sectoral management levels. The development of indicators involves a number of steps: definition of aim, construction of conceptual model, selection of variables, comparison with selection criteria, database assessment, and indicator selection. In this paper these steps are discussed and specified for integrated river basin management. This results in a set of indicators describing the pressure to the river, the state of the river ecosystem, the impact to goods and services provided by the river, and the societal response. The proposed set of indicators measured at a river basin scale provides integrated information on the use and supply of goods and services, underlying cause-effect relationships and possible trade-offs and their spatial distribution (e.g., upstream versus downstream). Furthermore, we propose a division of tasks and responsibilities for river basin management with regard to the development of indicators, data collection, and their application in decision-making.