Tasks of stream revitalization in the light of water framework directive in Hungary E.Molnár Corvinus University,Budapest E.Bardóczy,St.Stephan University,Gödöllő J.Fehér,VITUKI Budapest

NEW DIRECTION IN THE EU WATER POLICY integration of different theories (elv) river basin approach water quality, quantity and ecology hydrology, hydraulics, chemistry, ecology, soil science, economics NGOs in decision making level of public discussions, stakeholders river basin management plans

River basin districts in Europe

Outline Surface water resources in Hungary Subsurface water resources in Hungary Water quality monitoring –Surface water monitoring –Subsurface water monitoring Implementation of Water Framework Directive in Hungary Revitalization of small water courses and wetlands in Hungary

WATER FRAMEWORK DIRECTIVE The EU Water Framework Directive requires the assessment for all kind of water bodies in order to describe their status and to prove the result of the process of reaching the good ecological status or potential >> deadlines Assessment of the structure of the physical environment and the flow regime of streams and rivers Reference conditions (river passports)

Position of Hungary in the Danube River Basin

CLASSIFICATION OF WATER BODIES According to WFD the followings must be –Natural water body –Heavily modified body –Artificial water body They are important because of the level of environmental objectives > good ecological status > good ecological potential

RBMP - TERRITORIAL COUNCIL FOR WATER MANAGEMENT PLANNING (MAX.25 PEOPLE State administration (max.40%) Public sector (max.20%): NGOs Economic sector (max.20%): regional representatives of the members in the National Water Management Council Primary in the national RBMP council the followings should be invited: Hungarian Trade and Industry Roll, Hungarian Agrarian Roll, Hungarian Water Work Association, National Association of the Water Boards, Hungarian Tourism Association, Associations of the Hungarian Engineers Professionals (linked to water management, local actors) (max.20%): representatives of the territorial Council of the Hungarian Academy of Science, representatives of the territorial professional-scientific Organisations, representatives of the universities on the sub-catchment

Who is doing what in WFD implementation Responsible for the planning Ministry of Env. and Water, VKKI Coordinator of the planning Env.and Water Management Directorates Other participants in the planning Env. Inspectorates; National Park Directorates Partners Other ministries, national and regional authorities, neighbouring countries Stakeholders Municipalities; Water Management Associations; Other professional associations; civil organisations; productive sector; public. Approver of the plan Water Management Committees (National, Regional); MoEW. Participants in the implementation of the plans Regional Env and Water Management Directorates; Designers, Contractors, Operators of investment projects

Surface water resources in Hungary

What are the responses of agriculture to the requirements of sustainable water management? Regional Development Plans (EU-controlled) Agricultural support mechanisms (EU-controlled Good agricultural practices and technologies Sparing water usage in agricultural production What are the agricultural demands against water resources management? Flood and excess water protection*, irrigation*, water recharge*, water storage*, thermal water utilization, … * These are the demands where management of streams and canals and revitalisation of them are primary important Integration of agricultural elements in to river basin management planning

Hungary is obliged to work on three level of river basin management plans as part of WFD implementation: Danube RBM Plan Scale: km 2 Programme of measures includes hydromorphological measures: –interruption of river and habitat continuity –disconnection of adjacent floodplains / wetlands –hydrological alterations No focus on stream revitalization because of the scale! 4 sub-basin plans (Danube, Tisza, Balaton and Drava) Scale: km 2 Programme of measures on hydromorphological measures deals with: –interruption of river and habitat continuity –disconnection of adjacent floodplains / wetlands –hydrological alterations –Future infrastructure projects No focus on stream revitalization because of the scale! 42 planning units Scale: much less than km 2 Programme of measures includes hydromorphological measures deals with: –As above in Danube and 4 sub-basin plans There is focus on stream revitalisation measures

RIVER BASIN MANAGEMENT PLANNING

Surface water quality monitoring network Rivers M River wb operative monitoring site  River wb surveillance monitoring site

Subsurface water monitoring in Hungary Subsurface water monitoring networks before WFD: basic network: 500 wells subsoil water quality network 700 wells production wells wells water works observation wells wells protected gr.water-basis 900 wells chemical („rutine”) parameters, + special micropollutants Furher developments: fulfilling the Water Framework Directive requirenments

The WFD came into force on 22 December Main milestones of the WFD implementation process in Hungary: 22 Dec 2003: Designation of competent authorities responsible for the implementation of WFD; determination of regional planning units. 22 Dec 2004: Designation of water bodies; determination of reference conditions; characterization of the state of water bodies; general economic analysis of water uses. 21 Dec 2006: Schedule of the river basin management planning process; Issue of the working programme of river basin management planning for period. 22 Dec 2006: Plan of the monitoring network and putting of it into operation. 22 Dec 2007: Release of the discussion paper of the significant water management issues (start of the public participation process of the river basin management planning) 22 Dec 2007: Schedule and working programme of the river basin management planning process (Revised final version) 29 Nov 2008: Summary of the societal discussion of the significant water management issues – revised proposal 31 March 2009: Issue of the river basin management plans for societal discussion. Implementation of WFD in Hungary

Revitalization of small water courses and wetlands The importance of wetlands and small creecks has increased because of –Habitants for rear plant and animals communities –Natural buffering capacity for harmful chemicals –Preserving landscape –Multifuncionalitiy of the area

Elements of stream revitalisations in river basin management plans Water retention on the area (deep ploughing, wetland) Filtration zone before inflow Water recharge of deep flood plain areas Cultivation flood plain using good agricultural practices on nutrient and pesticide application Hydromorphological revitalisation

Tasks of Municipal Self-governments in water management Hungarian Act LXV/1990 about the Municipal Self-governments determines the tasks of them. Among many others a self-government has tasks on stream revitalisation, such as –Rain water downpipe –Local water drainage and protection against water damages (floods, excess water)

Tasks to reduce water damages on natural streams Ensure flow capacity of the stream, regular maintenance of stream bed and riparian zone (Reaping and weed removal) Riparian zone plants (trees, bushes) caring Bed silt removal (dredging) Reconstruction of damaged stream bed Maintenance of hydraulic structures (culverts, gauges) Elimination of outside water from inner city areas, reducing the load of streams Reduction of surface runoff and erosion Increase green areas surface in inner cities Development of waste water collection system or build closed septic tanks.

Revitalization of small water courses and wetlands Case studies