Water Policy and Governance in Transition: The EU Water Framework Directive

2020 ◽  
pp. 23-40
Author(s):  
Elisa Kochskämper ◽  
Jens Newig
Keyword(s):  
Water Framework Directive ◽  
Water Policy ◽  
Eu Water Framework Directive ◽  
The Eu

scholarly journals Good Status in the Changing Climate?—Climate Proofing Law on Water Management in the EU

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 517
Author(s):  
Suvi-Tuuli Puharinen
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Water Management ◽  
Water Framework Directive ◽  
Surface Waters ◽  
Water Policy ◽  
Climate Change Impacts ◽  
Eu Water Framework Directive ◽  
Management Objectives ◽  
Policy Objectives ◽  
The Eu

Climate change impacts constitute a major risk to the attainment of water policy objectives. This article analyses the resilience of the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) in the light of the challenges that climate change brings to achieving the Directive’s objectives, no-deterioration and good status of surface waters and groundwater. The WFD includes mechanisms to adapt the water management objectives to climate change impacts, including redefining good status and application of exemptions. However, more harmonised efforts at the EU level would be needed to ensure an equal level of ambition and continuity in the water management objectives capacity to steer towards sustainable regime shifts.

scholarly journals Land-use and agriculture in Denmark around year 1900 and the quest for EU Water Framework Directive reference conditions in coastal waters

AMBIO ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bent T. Christensen ◽  
Birger F. Pedersen ◽  
Jørgen E. Olesen ◽  
Jørgen Eriksen
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Water Framework Directive ◽  
Coastal Waters ◽  
Root Zone ◽  
Reference Conditions ◽  
Ecological Status ◽  
Agricultural Activity ◽  
Eu Water Framework Directive ◽  
Alternative Approach ◽  
The Eu

AbstractThe EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) aims to protect the ecological status of coastal waters. To establish acceptable boundaries between good and moderate ecological status, the WFD calls for reference conditions practically undisturbed by human impact. For Denmark, the nitrogen (N) concentrations present around year 1900 have been suggested to represent reference conditions. As the N load of coastal waters relates closely to runoff from land, any reduction in load links to agricultural activity. We challenge the current use of historical N balances to establish WFD reference conditions and initiate an alternative approach based on parish-level land-use statistics collected 1896/1900 and N concentrations in root zone percolates from experiments with year 1900-relevant management. This approach may be more widely applicable for landscapes with detailed historic information on agricultural activity. Using this approach, we find an average N concentration in root zone percolates that is close to that of current agriculture. Thus, considering Danish coastal waters to be practically unaffected by human activity around year 1900 remains futile as 75% of the land area was subject to agricultural activity with a substantial potential for N loss to the environment. It appears unlikely that the ecological state of coastal waters around year 1900 may serve as WFD reference condition.

There is a Conflict at the Heart of EU Water Pollution Policy

2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 426-430
Author(s):  
David Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Water Pollution ◽  
Water Framework Directive ◽  
Simple Solution ◽  
Hazardous Substances ◽  
Eu Water Framework Directive ◽  
Current Application ◽  
The Eu

The current application of the hazardous substances provisions of Article 16 of the EU Water Framework Directive are in fundamental conflict with a number of other Directives and Regulations controlling the use of those hazardous substances that are currently essential to the wellbeing of the Community and its citizens. There is a simple solution to this conflict although reaching political agreement in such a polarised area may prove to be impossible.

scholarly journals Governance of Water Resources in the Phase of Change: A Case Study of the Implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive in Sweden

AMBIO ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 210-220 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monica Hammer ◽  
Berit Balfors ◽  
Ulla Mörtberg ◽  
Mona Petersson ◽  
Andrew Quin
Keyword(s):  
Water Resources ◽  
Water Framework Directive ◽  
Eu Water Framework Directive ◽  
The Eu

scholarly journals Monitoring Scotland’s transitional water fish communities under the EU Water Framework Directive

2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 48-67
Author(s):  
M. O’Reilly ◽  
J. Boyle ◽  
S. Nowacki ◽  
M. Elliott ◽  
R. Foster
Keyword(s):  
Water Framework Directive ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Reference Conditions ◽  
Ecological Status ◽  
Fish Communities ◽  
High Status ◽  
Eu Water Framework Directive ◽  
Transitional Waters ◽  
Water Fish ◽  
The Eu

The history of monitoring transitional water fish in Scotland is briefly outlined. The requirements of the EU Water Framework Directive are explained and how this applies to the monitoring of transitional water fish communities in Scotland is described. The development of a monitoring programme for Scotland is outlined, including sampling methods and strategies. Six transitional waters were selected as representative for Scotland covering three different types of transitional water. A multi-metric tool, the Transitional Water Fish Classification Index was used to assess the ecological status of the fish communities in these waters and the operation of the different metrics and the creation of appropriate reference conditions is explained. The assessment tool was applied to survey data from 2005 to 2018, although only the more recent data fully met the tool requirements. The species composition and abundances in the respective transitional waters were compared. The fully valid surveys were all classed as of Good or High status, indicating the fish communities in all the representative transitional waters appeared to be in good ecological health. The efficacy of the different metrics is considered and some issues with Metric 2, enumerating migratory species, are discussed at length. A new multi-metric tool, the Estuarine Multi-metric Fish Index, is briefly discussed and its introduction for the assessments in Scotland is recommended.

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