Tasks of stream revitalization in the light of water framework

directive in HungaryE.Molnár Corvinus University,Budapest

E.Bardóczy,St.Stephan University,Gödöllő J.Fehér,VITUKI

Budapest

NEW DIRECTION IN THE EU WATER POLICY

• integration of different theories (elv)• river basin approach• water quality, quantity and ecology• hydrology, hydraulics, chemistry,

ecology, soil science, economics• NGOs in decision making• level of public discussions, stakeholders• river basin management plans

River basin districts in Europe

OutlineOutline

• Surface water resources in Hungary• Subsurface water resources in Hungary• Water quality monitoring

– Surface water monitoring– Subsurface water monitoring

• Implementation of Water Framework Directive in Hungary

• Revitalization of small water courses and wetlands in Hungary

WATER FRAMEWORK DIRECTIVE• The EU Water Framework Directive requires the assessment for all kind of water bodies in order to describe their status and to prove the result of the process of reaching the good ecological status or potential >> deadlines• Assessment of the structure of the physical environment and the flow regime of streams and rivers • Reference conditions (river passports)

Position of Hungary in the Danube River Basin

CLASSIFICATION OF WATER BODIES

• According to WFD the followings must be – Natural water body– Heavily modified body– Artificial water body

They are important because of the level of environmental objectives

> good ecological status> good ecological potential> good ecological potential

RBMP - TERRITORIAL COUNCIL FOR WATER MANAGEMENT PLANNING

(MAX.25 PEOPLE

• State administration (max.40%)• Public sector (max.20%): NGOs• Economic sector (max.20%): regional representatives of

the members in the National Water Management Council • Primary in the national RBMP council the followings should

be invited: Hungarian Trade and Industry Roll, Hungarian Agrarian Roll, Hungarian Water Work Association, National Association of the Water Boards, Hungarian Tourism Association, Associations of the Hungarian Engineers

• Professionals (linked to water management, local actors) (max.20%): representatives of the territorial Council of the Hungarian Academy of Science, representatives of the territorial professional-scientific Organisations, representatives of the universities on the sub-catchment

Who is doing what in WFD implementation

Responsible for the planning Ministry of Env. and Water, VKKI

Coordinator of the planning Env .and Water Management Directorates

Other participants in the planning

Env. Inspectorates; National Park Directorates

PartnersOther ministries, national and regional authorities, neighbouring countries

StakeholdersMunicipalities; Water Management Associations; Other professional associations; civil organisations; productive sector; public.

Approver of the planWater Management Committees (National, Regional); MoEW.

Participants in the implementation of the plans

Regional Env and Water Management Directorates; Designers, Contractors, Operators of investment projects

Surface water resources in Hungary

What are the responses of agriculture to the requirements of sustainable water management?

Regional Development Plans (EU-controlled)Agricultural support mechanisms (EU-controlledGood agricultural practices and technologiesSparing water usage in agricultural production

What are the agricultural demands against water resources management? Flood and excess water protection*, irrigation*, water recharge*,

water storage*, thermal water utilization, …

* These are the demands where management of streams and canals and revitalisation of them are primary important

Integration of agricultural elements in to river basin management planning

Hungary is obliged to work onthree level of river basinmanagement plans as part ofWFD implementation:•Danube RBM Plan

• Scale: 4 000 km2 • Programme of measures includes hydromorphological measures:

– interruption of river and habitat continuity– disconnection of adjacent floodplains / wetlands– hydrological alterations

• No focus on stream revitalization because of the scale!

•4 sub-basin plans (Danube, Tisza, Balaton and Drava) • Scale: 1 000 km2

• Programme of measures on hydromorphological measures deals with:– interruption of river and habitat continuity– disconnection of adjacent floodplains / wetlands– hydrological alterations– Future infrastructure projects

• No focus on stream revitalization because of the scale!

•42 planning units• Scale: much less than 1 000 km2

• Programme of measures includes hydromorphological measures deals with:– As above in Danube and 4 sub-basin plans

• There is focus on stream revitalisation measures

RIVER BASIN MANAGEMENT PLANNING

Surface water quality monitoring networkRivers

M River wb operative monitoring site

River wb surveillance monitoring site

Subsurface water monitoring in Hungary

Subsurface water monitoring networks before WFD:

• basic network: 500 wells• subsoil water quality network 700 wells• production wells 7 000 wells• water works observation wells 1 800 wells• protected gr.water-basis 900 wells

12-15 chemical („rutine”) parameters, + special micropollutants

Furher developments: fulfilling the Water Framework Directive requirenments

The WFD came into force on 22 December 2000.

Main milestones of the WFD implementation process in Hungary: • 22 Dec 2003: Designation of competent authorities responsible for the

implementation of WFD; determination of regional planning units.

• 22 Dec 2004: Designation of water bodies; determination of reference conditions; characterization of the state of water bodies; general

economic analysis of water uses. • 21 Dec 2006: Schedule of the river basin management planning process; Issue

of the working programme of river basin management planning for 2006-2009 period.

• 22 Dec 2006: Plan of the monitoring network and putting of it into operation. • 22 Dec 2007: Release of the discussion paper of the significant water

management issues (start of the public participation process of the river basin management planning)

• 22 Dec 2007: Schedule and working programme of the river basin management planning process 2006-2009 (Revised final version)

• 29 Nov 2008: Summary of the societal discussion of the significant water management issues – revised proposal

• 31 March 2009: Issue of the river basin management plans for societal discussion.

Implementation of WFD in Hungary

Revitalization of small water courses Revitalization of small water courses and wetlandsand wetlands

• The importance of wetlands and small creecks has increased because of – Habitants for rear plant and animals

communities– Natural buffering capacity for harmful

chemicals – Preserving landscape– Multifuncionalitiy of the area

Elements of stream revitalisations in river basin management plans

Water retention on the area(deep ploughing, wetland)

Filtration zone before inflow

Water recharge of deep flood plain areas

Cultivation flood plain using good agricultural practices on nutrient and pesticide application

Hydromorphological revitalisation

Tasks of Municipal Self-governments in water management

Hungarian Act LXV/1990 about the Municipal Self-governments determines the tasks of them. Among many others a self-government has tasks on stream revitalisation, such as– Rain water downpipe– Local water drainage and protection against water damages (floods,

excess water)

Tasks to reduce water damages on natural streams

• Ensure flow capacity of the stream, regular maintenance of stream bed and riparian zone (Reaping and weed removal)

• Riparian zone plants (trees, bushes) caring• Bed silt removal (dredging)• Reconstruction of damaged stream bed• Maintenance of hydraulic structures (culverts, gauges)• Elimination of outside water from inner city areas, reducing the load

of streams• Reduction of surface runoff and erosion• Increase green areas surface in inner cities• Development of waste water collection system or build closed septic

tanks.

Revitalization of small water courses and wetlands

Case studies