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The Rhine, a European river

The Rhine - from an Open Sewer to a Living River how to develop a river basin management plan at river Rhine level International Commission for the Protection of the Rhine Dr. André Weidenhaupt President. The Rhine, a European river. Rotterdam. Mean annual discharge (D/NL): 2.200 m³/s

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The Rhine, a European river

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  1. The Rhine -from an Open Sewer to a Living Riverhow to develop a river basin management plan at river Rhine levelInternational Commission for the Protection of the RhineDr. André WeidenhauptPresident

  2. The Rhine, a European river

  3. Rotterdam Mean annual discharge (D/NL): 2.200 m³/s HQlow : 1000 m³/s HQextrem : env. 10.000 m³/s inhabitants: 58 millions Cologne Frankfurt Luxembourg length: 1233 km navigable: 825 km (Basle-Rotterdam) Drinking water: est. 30 millions of consumers Strasbourg Basle portofrotterdam.com 3

  4. The Rhine river basin 9 states • Italy • Austria • Liechtenstein • Switzerland • France • Germany • Belgium • Luxembourg • Netherlands 4

  5. 196 years of riperian cooperation at the German-Luxembourg border (treaty of 16.6.1816): 3 shared rivers in a condominium two autorities Germany and Luxembourg

  6. Changes during the centuries 1838 1872 1980

  7. International Rhine Commission ICPR Established 1950, amended in 1963 and 1999 Members Switzerland, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Netherlands, European Community Observers • Countries • Austria • Liechtenstein • Belgium / Wallonia • Intergovernmental Organizations (IGO's) • Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO's)

  8. What makes the ICPR effective? Regular budget • Regular budget (1.000.000 €/a) • 80% salaries (Secretariat) • Rent, publications, computers, communication Rules of cooperation • De-centralised organization • National delegations • political mandate • technical know how • funds • Consensus • Decisions are recommendations • Obligation to report on the implementation of measures • Political trust, no sanctions • Neutral Secretariat • Rhine Convention • Rules of procedure and financial regulations

  9. Organisational Structure

  10. Landmarks 1986 - Accident at Sandoz (Basle, CH) 1987 - Rhine Action Program 1993 and 1995 - Flooding 1999 - New Convention 2000 - Programme Rhine 2020 2000 - EU Water Framework Directive 1950 - Foundation 1963 - Treaty of Berne 1972 - 1st Rhine Ministers’ Conference

  11. Management by disaster (1) 1986: Fire at Sandoz, CH causing the death of all aquatic life downstream (e.g. eels on 400 km) 10-30 tons of highly toxic pesticides flowed into the river

  12. Rhine Action Programme (1987) Main results Main elements • Duration:1987 – 2000 • The Salmon as symbol • Reduction of discharges with 50-70% in the period till 1995 • Water quality has considerably improved • Accidents have been considerably reduced • The Rhine fauna has recovered

  13. Management by disaster (2) - Dec. 1993 and - Jan./Feb. 1995: Major flooding in Germany and the Netherlands 1995: 200.000 people evacuated

  14. Programme - Rhine 2020 Program on the sustainable development of the Rhine Ecosystem improvement Flood prevention Water quality improvement Groundwater protection Duration 2000 - 2020

  15. Rhine 2020: Ecosystem improvement Permit natural flooding Enhance extensive agricultural use of alluvial areas Preserve the freely flowing sections of the Rhine Objectives Restoration of mainstream as backbone of the Rhine system Improvement of habitat for flora and fauna Examples of Measures

  16. Rhine 2020: Flood prevention Objectives 10% reduction of damage risks and 25% reduction by 2020 Increase flood awareness Improve flood warning systems Measures (expl.) Increase water retention by reactivating inundation areas Maintain and strengthen dikes Draft flood risk maps (illustrative e.g., for spatial planners)

  17. Results (1)

  18. Results (2) Reduction of point source inputs between 1985 – 2000: ~ 60 substances

  19. Results (3) Annual loads of substances at the german-dutch border

  20. Results (4)

  21. Results (5) Flood prevention, progress report 2006 • Reduction of damage risks:  and  depending specific situation! • Reduction of water levels (up to 30 cm)  at Oberrhein, less at other stretches • Flood risk maps  for the main stream and partly for tributaries, e.g., Moselle/Saar • Flood forecasting  100% increase of forecasting period (be it with loss of reliability)

  22. Salmons returning to the Rhine

  23. But still a lot to do …. But still a lot to do ….

  24. WFD, levels A & B for RBMP National and regional states: competent authorities for watermanagement EU members (7): Italy, Austria, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium, Netherlands Others (2): Liechtenstein, Switzerland (Germany = 8 German states) 9 international working areas: Crossing borders countries and/or (german) states 24

  25. The Moselle/Saar sub-basin

  26. Respect for responsibility of member states towards European Commission Coordination of water management issues at the appropriate level river basin working area (e.g. Moselle/Sarre) national/state Carefulselection of the appropriate level in advance; special attention for upstream – downstream relations WFD coordination in Rhine river basin district

  27. Reporting to EC Coordination RBMP Rhine river basin district Issues for whole Rhine district Part A issues issues working working Part B areas areas Sub RBMP’s for national or state level Issues for member states - if applicable - or states WFD coordination in Rhine river basin district

  28. Issues to be coordinated at A-level River continuity and development of habitats Reduction of diffuse pollution Further reduction of point sources of pollution Better matching various functions of rivers (shipping, ecology, drinkingwatersuppy, flood protection, etc)

  29. Result at A-level: international RBMP Rhine River continuity and development of habitats Reduction of diffuse pollution Further reduction of point sources of pollution Better matching various functions of rivers (shipping, ecology, drinking water supply, flood protection, etc)

  30. RBMP at A-level: River continuity Masterplan for long-distance migrating fish species(salmon, eel etc) in whole river basin Main elements of masterplan in international river basin management plan (A-level) Agreement on measures in most nations/states. Implementation is EU-obligation

  31. RBMP at A-level: diffuse pollution reduction Agreement on reduction of nutrients to protect lakes and coastal waters 20 % reduction expected from ongoing measures, monitoring and studies to see if more is needed. New Environmental Quality Standards derived (Directive 2008/105/CE and Rhine substances) Not implemented in all countries Pesticides difficult: much depend on EU policy

  32. RBMP at A-level: reduction of point sources ´traditional substances´ no major problems (high level of wastewater treatment); New substances (emerging pollutants) become a problem (e.g. human and veterinary medicines and related products) International working group active combining data from all countries (PG MIKRO) Measures in next River Basin Management plans (2015 and 2021)

  33. RBMP at A-level: matching functions Ongoing process, not many concrete results yet workshops addressing conflicts with all stakeholders • Hydro-power and river continuity • Flood protection and habitat development • Navigation and more natural embankments

  34. Thank you for your attention! Homepage: www.iksr.org www.waasser.lu

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