1. Water Framework Directive and Flood Risk Management
CIS Hydromorphology activity
Water Framework Directive and Flood Risk Management
26 – 27 February 2008, Manchester, UK
Maria Brättemark
Water Framework Directive Team
Unit D.2 – Water and Marine
DG Environment, European Commission

2. This presentation Background
Water Framework Directive (WFD) (2000/60/EC)
Floods Directive (2007/60/EC) & Flood Risk management (FRM)
Hydromorphology activities in the Common implementation strategy (CIS)
Artificial and heavily modified water bodies (AWB/HMWB)
Flood risk management in the first River Basin Management Plans (RBMP)
Measures
The importance of article 4.7
Notes for the Speaker:
More information on the Directive, the implementation process and also the guidance documents are available on the internet.

3. WFD & FD/FRM (1) Directive 2000/60/EC Directive 2007/60/EC 2009 2015
WG F
“Promoting early
action”
2009
2015

4. WFD & FD (2)
Administrative arrangements – competent authorities and units of management – river basin districts
Coordination and synchronisation of flood risk maps (characterisation of river basins) & flood risk management plans (river basin management plans)
Synchronisation with review cycles (6 years)
Similar arrangements for international cooperation
Coordination of public participation
Use of same Committee
Reporting - WISE
General purpose – mitigate the effects of floods
Designation of water bodies at risk from heavy modifications
Exemptions
temporary deterioration, extreme or exceptional floods, force majeur
new modifications to water bodies
Cost recovery of impoundments
Programme of measures
Controls of impoundments
Measures to prevent and/or reduce impacts of accidental pollution as a result of floods
Supplementary measures
wetland restoration
River Basin Management Plans
From 2015…

5. WFD Timetable Transposition into national law Dec 2003
Administrative arrangements Dec 2003
Environmental analysis:
Analysis of characteristics
Assessment of human impacts
Economic analysis of water use Dec 2004
Monitoring programmes Dec 2006
Public Participation &
Significant water management issues Dec 2007
Draft river basin management plans Dec 2008
Final river basin management plans Dec 2009
Implementation, adjustment till 2027

6. TITLE

7. TITLE

8. % HMWB, AWB and natural SWB

9. Driving forces

10. Common Implementation Strategy
Hydro-morphology activity
addressing navigation, hydropower first, now looking at flood defence infrastructure – why we are here !
Guidance and good practice examples of how to prevent, remedy or mitigate the adverse ecological effects of human alterations
focus on first RBMP - key link between WFD and FD
identify recommendations to WG F in preparing implementation of the Floods Directive
Working Group F on Floods
support implementation of the Floods Directive
promote early action “WFD, existing tools..”
links other CIS activities
Information exchange – i.e. land use
Strategic steering group Climate change & Water
Climate change chapter of 1st RBMP
Guidance, more in-depth recommendations 2/3rd etc RBMP

11. HYMO activities
Guidance document n°4 on Designation of Heavily modified water bodies, 2003
Technical report on WFD and Hydromorphological pressures, Nov 2006 “Good practice in managing the ecological impacts of hydropower schemes, flood protection works; and works designed to facilitate navigation”
Case studies “potentially relevant to the improvement of ecological status/potential by restoration /mitigation measures” – 11/47 floods cases -
Policy paper on WFD and Hydromorphological pressures – “Recommendations for better policy integration”, 2007
CIS workshop “WFD & Hydropower” 4-5 June 2007 Berlin & PIANC workshops on Navigation.
Living documents !

12. Recommendations General – different levels Flood defences
Flexibility, transparency and public involvement
Incorporation of external costs and benefits
Market based instrument
Integration other sectors and multipurpose solution
Early development common visions
SEA – EIA join processes for cost effective
Interdisciplinary dialogue and cooperation processes
Flood defences
Make more space for the river and coastal flooding
Coordination with land use planning policies
Work with agricultural/forestry measures that allow increased retention time of water
Make use of case studies – and take them further !

13. Artificial and heavily modified water bodies – Flood Risk aspects
Session 1a
Artificial and heavily modified water bodies – Flood Risk aspects

14. In-depth assessment Focus HMWB study - preliminary findings :
on the 5 MS with high proportion HMWB – NL, BE, SK, CZ & UK – internal report
HMWB study - preliminary findings :
Key reason for being at risk
Lack of transparency in how criteria have been applied
Comparability difficult
Expectations
Improve methodologies and close data gaps
Clarification of criteria
Reduction of the n° of Heavily modified water bodies in key MS
High number achieving good ecological potential or good ecological status
Next steps
Workshop (WG A) Ecological status
follow-up of indepth assessments HMWB
Further consideration of Good Ecological Potential

15. Links between RBMP and Flood Risk Management
Session 1b
Links between RBMP and Flood Risk Management

16. River Basin Management Plans
Principles
1-flexibility in WFD objective setting
2-integration with other policies
3-consider a wide range of measures
4-transparency in decision making
Integration with other policies
-co-ordination / integration of sectoral plans
-early development of common visions
-international commissions for river protection and navigation can play an important role
Notes for the Speaker:
More information on the Directive, the implementation process and also the guidance documents are available on the internet.

17. Challenges First RBMP in focus – towards the Floods Directive
WFD an integrated water management tool :
requires consideration of better environmental options to hard infrastructural flood defence measures
if inevitable - restoration and mitigation
Apply the Article 4.7 WFD impact assessment
non-deterioration applies now
Apply economic instruments more widely
also for impoundments
Public participation
citizen’s concerns regarding climate change - an “opportunity for early action” ?
Comprehensive approach to FRM in first RBMP ? Link to use of existing tools 2010? Summary developing a common vision
All relevant flood related measures should be part of the 1st RBMP – common sense AND the public will expect this
Notes for the Speaker:
More information on the Directive, the implementation process and also the guidance documents are available on the internet.

18. Session 2a
Measures

19. Expectations Focus on “win-win-win” measures (PPP)
Consider both coastal and inland floods !
No regret measures - keeping climate change in mind !
Further promotion of good practices :
in identifying better environmental options for flood defences
restoration and mitigation
Notes for the Speaker:
More information on the Directive, the implementation process and also the guidance documents are available on the internet.

20. Exemption under article 4.7
Session 2b
Exemption under article 4.7

21. Objectives & Exemptions
Policy papers :
Environmental objectives (2005)
Application of article 4.7 (2006)
Application of articles 4.4, 4.5 and 4.6 (2007 and …)
Workshop on exemptions, Denmark, April 2008
Focus case studies on application
Dis-proportionality and affordability
Guidance document on exemptions towards end of the year

22. 4.7 - A hot topic !
Balance between human safety and environmental protection clear – focus linking WFD & FD
1st RBMP must include all new modifications of water bodies in the period concerned
Guidance / policy paper on how to apply it
Complaints and questions from citizens; media and EP are frequent
COM expects thorough impact assessments, and will carefully examine if all procedures have been applied
Non-compliance : Commission to take legal action
Notes for the Speaker:
More information on the Directive, the implementation process and also the guidance documents are available on the internet.

23. Expectations
Additional case studies – continued information exchange on best practices – or ?
More emphasis on better environmental options
Improve the linkages between Water management and Flood risk management processes
Coherent approach to FRM in first RBMP
Climate change and hydro-morphology – no regret options
Notes for the Speaker:
More information on the Directive, the implementation process and also the guidance documents are available on the internet.

24. Follow-up ? Follow-up HMWB assessment Further consideration of GEP
Guidance on application of exemptions
Conclusions & recommendations :
Presented to WG F – April
WG F workshop on WFD/FD
Presentation to Water Directors June
Dissemination on web

25. More information WFD implementation Report 2007
WFD CIRCA Information Exchange Platform
Water Information System for Europe (WISE) Or Or
Notes for the Speaker:
More information on the Directive, the implementation process and also the guidance documents are available on the internet.