Institutional change in water management collaboration: implementing the European Water Framework Directive in the German Odra river basin

Water Policy ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 625-646 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claas Meyer ◽  
Andreas Thiel
Keyword(s):  
Water Management ◽  
Institutional Change ◽  
Mental Models ◽  
Water Framework Directive ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Cost Calculation ◽  
Management Problem ◽  
European Water ◽  
Odra River

The Water Framework Directive (WFD) is in the process of restructuring the European water policy towards river basin management (RBM). The transposition of the WFD requires institutional change in order to comply with its substantive and procedural requirements. This paper investigates changes in water management collaboration in a federally organised Member State with regard to the configuration of involved actors and the spatial scale at which issues are considered. Based on qualitative methods, the paper presents a case study of the German Odra river basin and the governance of nutrient pollution whose origins are located all along the river and which specifically impacts coastal zones. We looked at actors most relevant to this management problem, that is, public administrations operating within different administrative boundaries, the agricultural sector and environmental non-governmental organisations (NGOs). In order to capture institutional change, a conceptual framework was constructed to evaluate changes in collaboration on three interrelated levels: formal institutional change, informal institutional change and changes in actors’ mental models. We explain complex institutional change as a product of multiple dynamics, which includes the content of shared mental models and a benefit–cost calculation that takes transaction costs into consideration.

scholarly journals Management of Global Warming Effects in the European Water Framework Directive: Consideration of Social–Ecological System Features in the Elbe River Basin District

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (16) ◽  
pp. 9111
Author(s):  
Eva Sievers ◽  
Christoph Zielhofer ◽  
Frank Hüesker
Keyword(s):  
Water Management ◽  
Global Warming ◽  
Water Framework Directive ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Elbe River ◽  
Social Ecological ◽  
European Water ◽  
River Basin District ◽  
Elbe River Basin ◽  
The Elbe River

In this study, we examined the extent to which global warming management is currently integrated into the European Water Framework Directive (WFD), the central legal framework for water management in the EU. We focused on the Elbe River Basin District and how global warming is addressed in its water management. We used the social–ecological systems (SES) approach as our theoretical framework, representing an eminent analytical frame of biosphere-based sustainability science. In our study, we analysed core characteristics of SES in the context of global warming to evaluate the effectiveness of current water management in the Elbe River basin concerning long-term changing climate conditions. To determine to what extent each SES feature is considered in the Elbe water management, we applied a scale of 1 to 5. Our results show that the SES feature “scale and openness” is best addressed (score 4.0) by the Elbe River basin management, followed by “context dependency” (score 3.9); however, “non-linearity, uncertainty, unpredictability” (score 3.2), “self-organisation and adaptability” (score 3.1), and “dynamics” (score 3.0) have only moderate impacts. SES features can only be considered comprehensively if global warming is accounted for in an integrated way at a European level. In order to ensure effective implementation, explicit regulations and legally binding obligations are most likely required.

scholarly journals Law and Politics in River Basin Management: The Implementation of the Water Framework Directive in The Netherlands

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 3367
Author(s):  
Erik Mostert
Keyword(s):  
The Netherlands ◽  
Water Framework Directive ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
River Basin Management ◽  
Political Support ◽  
Basin Management ◽  
Binding Effect ◽  
Law And Politics ◽  
Environmental Objectives

This article discusses the implementation of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) in the Netherlands and shows how law and politics combine in river basin management. Initially, the implementation of the WFD in the Netherlands was approached as a technical and administrative issue, handled by water quality and ecology experts, but, in 2003, this approach was broken open by the agricultural sector, who feared stricter regulation. Subsequently, the environmental objectives of the WFD were set as low as possible and they play no role when authorising new projects. In July 2015, however, the European Court of Justice determined that the environmental objectives have a binding effect and that Member States have to refuse authorisation of projects that jeopardise the achievement of these objectives. This example shows the important role that law as a social phenomenon or “field” can play in river basin management, provided the courts enjoy sufficient social and political support and function relatively independently, as they do in the Netherlands. The article discusses the origin of the juridical field and its relation with politics and concludes that, to understand river basin management fully, it is essential to understand how (water) law functions.

Tanzanian water policy reforms—between principles and practical applications

Water Policy ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 203-220 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haakon Lein ◽  
Mattias Tagseth
Keyword(s):  
Water Management ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Water Policy ◽  
Management Problem ◽  
Policy Reforms ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Practical Applications ◽  
Main River ◽  
Water Legislation ◽  
Set Up

The paper presents and discusses different approaches to water management, termed “state centred”, “market-based” and “community-based”. Each provides different answers to how and by whom limited water resources best could and should be managed. They are based on different development ideologies and advocated by different professions. The article elaborates on the strengths, limitations and compatibility of the three models. These models provide a basis for discussing national water policy and water management reforms in Tanzania as well as the more practical implications of this in one of the main river basins in the country: the Pangani River Basin. Central to the water management problem in this basin are conflicts between communities and the water bureaucracy over what constitutes “proper” management of water. The policy and the activities of the river basin authorities continue to reflect a traditional top-down bureaucratic approach to water management, with colonial roots. The water legislation and the formal water management system seem neither to be set up to facilitate the active participation of local communities in water management, nor to facilitate the development of a water market.

scholarly journals Priorities and Preferences in Water Quality Management - a Case Study of the Alsterån River Basin

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 155-173
Author(s):  
Kristina Ek ◽  
Lars Persson
Keyword(s):  
Water Management ◽  
Water Quality ◽  
Water Framework Directive ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Water Status ◽  
Water Quality Management ◽  
Quality Attributes ◽  
Spatial Proximity ◽  
The European Union

AbstractSweden is a decentralised country where local managers, who are key actors in water management, often deal with relatively difficult prioritisations, tradeoffs and conflicting goals. Many of these challenges relate to the effective implementation of the European Union Water Framework Directive. As an input to these challenges, the present paper elicits and analyses local and semi-local citizens’ preferences for water quality attributes related to the European Water Framework directive in a river basin located in southeast of Sweden. Based on a choice experiment tailored to the case study area, the paper analyses preferences for selected attributes based on real criteria for ecological water status in the implementation of the directive. The target population lives in the municipalities through which the river passes, or in municipalities neighbouring those. Despite this spatial proximity to the river, the analysis reveals limited knowledge and interest in matters related to the environmental quality of the river. There is no evidence that preferences differ between respondents with regard to experience or knowledge about the water basin, nor with regard to recreational habits in the area. These results offer input to local water management by providing information about preferences for explicit water quality attributes.

De la delimitación de las demarcaciones hidrográficas: errores y contradicciones

2011 ◽  
pp. 271-304
Author(s):  
Isabel GALLEGO CÓRCOLES
Keyword(s):  
Water Management ◽  
Resource Management ◽  
Water Framework Directive ◽  
River Basin ◽  
River Basins ◽  
Water Law ◽  
Sustainable Resource Management ◽  
Distribution Of Power ◽  
Spanish Model ◽  
Model Water

LABURPENA: Espainiako Zuzenbidea Uraren Zuzentarau Markora egokitzeko prozesua asko ari da atzeratzen. Espainiako Zuzenbidean arroen araberako kudeaketa-irizpideak badu tradiziorik; hori horrela izanik, harrigarria dirudi plangintza- eremuak mugatzeak horrelako zailtasun larriak ematea. Zailtasun horien atzean, ordea, Estatuaren eta autonomia erkidegoen arteko botere-banaketaren arteko barne-kontraesanak daude, uraren kudeaketari dagokionez. Uren Legearen Testu Bategina koherentziaz aplikatu ezin denez, zenbait konponbide heterogeneo ari dira sortzen; horietako batzuek, ordea, nekez izango dute tokirik Konstituzioan, uraren kudeaketa jasangarriari traba egiten baitiote, bai ingurumenaren aldetik, bai gizartearen ikuspegia aintzat hartuta. RESUMEN: La transposición de la Directiva Marco de Aguas a Derecho español se está realizando con notable retraso. Y en este punto, resulta sorprendente que siendo el principio de gestión por cuencas tradicional en Derecho español, ya la mera delimitación de los ámbitos de planificación esté suponiendo graves dificultades. En realidad, tras estas dificultades lo que se esconde una acumulación de contradicciones internas en el reparto de poder entre el Estado y Comunidades Autónomas en el ámbito de la gestión hidrológica. Ante la incapacidad de aplicar de forma coherente el Texto Refundido de la Ley de Aguas, están surgiendo una serie de soluciones heterogéneas, algunas de las cuales de difícil encaje constitucional, que entorpecen una gestión sostenible del recurso tanto social como ambientalmente. ABSTRACT: Spain has not complied with the timetable established in the Water Framework Directive. Difficulties have started with the establishment of river basin districts. And this is surprising, because, according to the Spanish model, water management must be done in the natural framework of river basins. Furthermore, in fact, these difficulties what is left is an accumulation of internal contradictions in the distribution of power between the State and Autonomous Regions in the field of water management. Given the inability to consistently apply the Water Law, heterogeneous solutions are emerging, some of which doubtfully constitutional, that hinder the sustainable resource management both socially and environmentally.

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