evaluation of the study visit - Mekong River Commission

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� Outline of added values of an international RBM Plan; MRC Study Visit to the Danube River Basin 2012 � Approach of the DRBM data collection and management of the ICPDR databases as well as Geographical Information System for consolidated data analyses involving all contracting parties; � Approaches to fill information gaps in order to improve knowledge exchange; � Overview on the Joint Programme of Measures as part of the DRBM Plan and its basin-wide implementation via the national level; � Outline and estimation of challenges regarding the implementation of the Joint Programme of Measures in the DRB taking into account the first interim evaluation report for measures that is due 2012; � Harmonisation of different national approaches and methodologies for effective basin-wide management; � Strategy of Climate Change adaptation in the DRB and its consideration as part of the DRBM Plan; � Implementation challenges and solutions between EU Member States and Non EU Member Sates in the DRB. Development of basin-wide environmental objectives and baseline indicators � Outline of the ICPDR’s Transnational Monitoring Network as basis to assess water status and baselines; � Current situation on water status as presented in the DRBM Plan. Transboundary issues and conflict management � Outline of the ICPDR’s joint statement on navigation to ensure environmental sustainability. Transboundary assessment of significant water infrastructure projects � Brief outline of the ICPDR’s role as coordination platform regarding future infrastructure development and transboundary assessments (focus: navigation; current activities regarding hydropower development); � Outline of on-going ICPDR activities regarding hydropower development in the DRB; � Outline of hydropower development in the Austrian Danube mainstream and alignment with environmental requirements according to the EU WFD and other standards (current mitigation measures and retro-fitting of already existing hydropower dams) � Respective involvement of relevant stakeholder including NGOs. 4.3 Danube Study Visit Item 3 Meeting and technical exchange at the Austrian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management – Department of International Water Management (Vienna, Austria; www.lebensministerium.at) 27 March 2012 4.3.1 Presentations and experts Staff of the national and international Department for Water Management at the Austrian Environment Ministry presented on key national water resources management issues as well as on the contributions and role of Austria within the ICPDR cooperation framework. Besides international cooperation, the Austrian representatives presented on national EU WFD implementation, [9]
MRC Study Visit to the Danube River Basin 2012 approaches to develop and basin-wide environmental assessments and future infrastructure development. In this respect, the following presentations were given: � Water Management in Austria: an Overview – Karl Schwaiger (Head of the International Department for Water Management, AT Environment Ministry) � Development and Assessment of Basin – Wide Environmental Objectives within the Frame of the Danube River Basin Management Plan and Implementation of EU WFD seen from a Contracting State’s Perspective (Veronika Koller – Kreimel (National Department for Water Management, AT Environment Ministry) � Legal Frame for Future Infrastructure Development in the Danube Basin - Guidances in Elaboration – Karl Schwaiger / Veronika Koller Kreimel (AT Environment Ministry) 4.3.2 Summary Austria holds a surface area of 83.871 km 2 and a population of approximately 8 million people. Austria is a federal state with nine provinces sharing national competences including the water management sector. 1995 Austria became a member of the European Union providing strong input in particular in the area of water resources management. Austria has to comply with the requirements of the EU Water Framework Directive and this brings along that all water bodies must achieve a good water status by 2015 at the latest by 2027. The first national River Basin Management Plan according to the EU WFD was reported to the European Commission by end 2009 and is currently checked for compliance. Surface waters in Austria are characterised by: � the predominantly mountainous nature of Austria and the resulting scarcity of land that can be used for agriculture; � the efforts that have been made for centuries to protect the limited natural living space against natural hazards – particularly in the inner-Alpine valley; � due to the lack of sufficient resources of coal, oil and gas, efforts that have been made for many years to cover energy needs from hydroelectric power; � the efforts to ensure self-sufficiency in food which have been made for centuries, also spurred on by the years of scarcity after two world wars – this was not achieved until the 1960s through the reclamation of wetlands by drainage. Austria is sharing three international river basins for which international coordination mechanisms are in place. 96% of the country’s water network drains into the Danube River, 3% into the River Rhine and 1% into the River Elbe. The cooperation with riparian countries sharing these basins takes place via international River Commissions and/or formal transboundary water commissions. The Austrian river network of 7,335 surface water bodies with a catchment area >10 km 2 is about 31,000 km in length. Key human pressures to surface waters include alteration of the physic-chemical conditions and hydromorphological alterations. Due to impairments of river morphology or the hydrological conditions, about two thirds of running waters do not achieve good status. Examples for this include power plants, weirs and river bottom sills, regulation (including channelizing and [10]
Page 1 and 2: MRC Study Visit to the Danube River
Page 3 and 4: LIST OF ACRONYMS AEWS Accident Emer
Page 13: MRC Study Visit to the Danube River
Page 17 and 18: � Added values of an internationa
Page 23 and 24: � Information on an basin wide ea
Page 31 and 32: Summary Box MRC Study Visit to the
Page 37 and 38: Study Visit Programme MRC Study Vis
Page 39 and 40: 8 ANNEX 2: FINAL PROGRAMME Programm
Page 41 and 42: 29.03.2012 Thursday, 29.03.2012 Thu
Page 43 and 44: 10 ANNEX 3: DETAILED PROGRAMME Deta
Page 51 and 52: 7.00-8.00 Check out at the Hotel Da
Page 55 and 56: 21.00 Dinner at the Intercity Hotel
Page 59 and 60: Day 11 - Tuesday, 3 April 2012 MRC
Page 61 and 62: 12 ANNEX 5: WEBLINK TO THE PRESENTA
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MRC Study Visit to the Danube River
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MRC Study Visit to the Danube River
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30 March 2012 - Meeting at VITUKI,
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