Integrated River Basin Management Strategies

To clarify and analyse ambiguous and conflicting interests of water course planning, the Baltic Sea Interreg III B project "Principles, tools and systems to extent spatial planning on water courses - WATERSKETCH" was being realised between 2004 and 2007. The main aims of the project include finding answers to the following questions:

1. What are the main directives and conventions related to the use of river basins as well as to river basin management?
2. How are these demands expressed in land use planning on a regional level now and in future, especially in relation to the development of river basin plans according to the Water Framework Directive?
3. What are the most common problems in the river basins of the Baltic Sea Region?
4. Are there any common tools to be utilised in river basin management?
5. How can we disseminate information on sustainable river basin planning?

"Watersketch" endeavours to produce a blueprint, which will lead to improved river basin management in the Baltic Sea region. The project partners will take a close look at the spatial planning and implementation of the European Water Framework Directive (WFD) for selected rivers and develop strategies for sustainable use.

The project takes economic, social and environmental aspects equally into account. The "Watersketch" results will also aid decision-making for spatial planners. A final manual and a web-based toolbox will make the results available to others. This way, efforts towards sustainable use and an improved river basin management can therefore be supported in other countries as well.