evaluation of the study visit - Mekong River Commission

MRC Study Visit to the Danube River Basin 2012
straightening) and disruptions of the hydrology because of too little residual water being discharged
at intakes or due to hydro-peaking of power plants.
Impacts are assessed via a complex national monitoring network and programme. It focuses on
biological data evaluation to gain a complete picture of the ecological water status with information
on all biological quality elements. These quality elements include fish, mactoinvertebrates,
macrophytes, phytobenthos and phytoplankton.
The monitoring programmes aim to assess the current ecological status and if the ecological water
status required by the EU WFD is met. Pre-conditions for these assessments are (i) the availability of
detailed biological data and (ii) the knowledge of environmental baseline/reference conditions. The
ecological assessment is the deviation from the reference condition and expressed in five classes of
water status (high, good, moderate, poor, bad).
The biological assessment is based on methods that have been developed over the last three
decades but it was emphasised that the starting point were simple and rough methods that have
been continuously refined over the years.
For Austria, natural surface water bodies without modified or artificial waters account for 88% of the
network. 16 % of these have a high ecological status, 23% have a good one, 51% show moderate, 8%
a poor and 2% a bad ecological status.
Around 12% of this network is heavily modified or consists of artificial waters (e.g. such areas where
water is retained for energy production). Of these, at present 87% do not have a good potential,
since in particular measures for improving hydromorphological conditions are still possible.
Each of the 62 lakes >50 ha has been identified as a separate surface water body. The total surface
area is 1,034 km². Altogether, 61% of these have good ecological status or good ecological potential,
and 34% even have a high ecological status
4.3.3 Addressed MRC Learning Points
The discussions of the delegates of the Study Visit with the Austrian Ministry representatives focused
on the link between national and international river basin management and the operation of
respective coordination mechanisms as well as the contribution of Austria in the framework of the
ICPDR.
In summary, the following MRC learning points have been addressed in detail and achieved:
European Water Framework Directive
� National implementation of the EU WFD in Austria;
� Challenges on the basin-wide scale during the first WFD planning cycle.
Preparation and implementation of the Danube River Basin Management Plan
� Inter-linkage of the national River Basin Management Plans with the international Danube River
Basin Management Plan;
� Implementation of the EU WFD and the respective development of the DRBM Plan seen from a
contracting state’s perspective;
� Contributions of Austria to the development of the DRBM Plan;
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