1. LEPENEC RIVER PROTECTION VIA INTRODUCTION OF INTEGRATED WATER MANAGEMENT Katarina Georgievska, REC Shkoder, March 9, 2015

2. Bilateral cooperation between Kosovo and Macedonia Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation between the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning of Macedonia and Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning of Kosovo signed in 2013 Joint Committee for implementation of the MoU established in December 2013 As a priority for cooperation, a transboundary project on integrated water management was designed by REC and funded under the ENVSEC Initiative by the Government of Finland

3. Project “Lepenec River protection via introduction of integrated water management” Project Objectives: o To strengthen capacities of riparian countries` Governments on environmental governance; o To involve the river basin communities in the process of environmental decision making Water Expert Group formed in May 2014 The Expert Water Group consists of representatives from Ministries of Environment and Physical Planning; Ministries of Agriculture, Forest and Water Management; Ministries of Economy; Ministries of Transport and Communication; Public Health Institutes; National Hydro-meteorological Services; regional and municipal representatives, NGOs and experts from Kosovo and Macedonia Skopje, 29.05.2014

4. Project Activities and Achievements Held 3 preparatory national meetings in riparian countries; Held 3 meetings of the Water Expert Group; fourth meeting is planned. Two pairs of engaged national consultants developed national LRB AR REC compiled the national LRB ARs into a Joint LRB AR Skopje, 17.11.2014

5. Project Activities and Achievements Pristina, 16.12.2014 Water Expert Group provided feedback to the national and joint LRB AR reports Discussed the scope of future activities and eventual development of a LRB Management Plan Water Forum held in Pristina Political endorsement of deliverables

6. Outline of the Joint LRB AR I.BASIC OVERVIEW AND GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Geology and hydro- geology; Seismic risk; Soils, Climate; Hydrographical features; Groundwater, Protected areas; Legal and institutional framework; Multilateral and bilateral agreements. Kosovo Macedonia

7. Outline of the Joint LRB AR I.II. WATER QUALITY: Surface water categories and water quality classification; Identification of driving forces and pressures; Water quality monitoring of surface water; Monitoring of groundwater; Country River Town/ Location Latitude (d m s) Longitude (d m s) Distance from the river source (km) Altitude (m) Catchment (km 2 ) National code Loc. profile Remark RKS LepenciPrevala74977544669617 LepenciKaçanik75210104676555 LepenciHani Elezit75245684666858 NerodimeJezerc75013644688858 NerodimeKaçanik 75212044686097 MKD LepenecGranica4680646.64526921.39190,0300,0616,10 MK 63135 Border LepenecVliv4652223.89531653.95202,0256,0770,00MK 63139

8. Outline of the Joint LRB AR III. WATER QUANTITY: Water balance; Extreme events – floods and droughts; Hydropower Precipitation map, KosovoPrecipitation map, Macedonia Flood hazard, Kosovo

9. Data discrepancies (examples) Spring elevation in the national RLB AR for Kosovo (2212 m a.s.l.) and the Water Master Plan of the Republic of Macedonia (1860 m a.s.l.) Sub-catchment areas (Kosovo report – RKS 674 km2 / MKD144,8 км2; Macedonia report-RKS 650km2 / MKD 153,9km2); RLB catchment area (Kosovo report - 818,8 km2; Macedonia report - 770 km2);

10. Data discrepancies (examples) Sums of CORINE land categories for Macedonia; Annual average river discharges at measuring points at the border (8,79m3/sec in Kosovo and 7,84m3/sec in Macedonia); Values of specific surface water measured parameters (e.g. mean concentration of NH4-N is 2.421mg/l in Kosovo and 0,30 mg/l in Macedonia). CORINE 2000 LAND COVER/USE IN THE LRB RKSMKD AREA (km 2 )SHARE (%)AREA (km 2 ) SHARE (%) Total674.1100.00155,1100.00 Country RiverLocation Average water regime minmeanmax LepencH.Elezit4.94 8,7915.7 MK (1960-2001)LepenecGranica 7.84 CountryCodeLocation MinMeanMaxC50C90* Class mg/L RKS RV04-13Lep. H. Elezit0.4082.4215.647 MKD Lepen (gr)0,050,300,87//III-IV

11. Data gaps and uncertainties Water quality monitoring is not in line with the WFD Data on hydro morphology and hydro morphology changes is incomplete; interaction between hydro morphology and eco-system is unclear WBs delineation is pending; typology and WBs delineation not harmonized Data for assessment of impacts over surface water requires significant update Groundwater quality data missing; some quantity data exists in Macedonia; Identification of GWBs is pending; Data on influence of different pressures to the GWBs requires significant update. Data on economic analyses of water use is not available

12. Conclusions Discrepancies owed to different monitoring and research methodologies / measuring equipment should be corrected through joint fact-finding and collaborative problem-solving tools Water problems crossing physical, disciplinary, and jurisdictional boundaries should be further discussed with the aim to agree on common terms for sustainable use of shared water resources Reconciliation on potentially divergent views through adequate water diplomacy and commitment to adaptive management should be part of the process REC may offer assistance and guidance

13. Needs for the future The Joint LRB AR - a starting point for a coordinated approach in developing and managing water, land, and related resources. Proposed scope of future activities: I.Improved Water Governance: joint monitoring of surface and groundwater; GIS analyses, field work and water management database setting; capacity building on key WFD requirements; development of a Transboundary LRB Management Plan. II.Raised Awareness of Local Communities and CSOs (round tables, workshops, small grant programme) III.Improved Water Management Infrastructure (investments) at national and regional scale: monitoring equipment; municipal water supply, sewerage, flood protection, irrigation etc.

14. Thank you for your attention! KGeorgievska@rec.org www.mk.rec.org