1. Interdisciplinary dialogue on IWT infrastructure preparation
in the Danube River Basin
2nd Meeting Working Group on Rivers, 2 October, 2009, Brussels
Philip Weller, ICPDR

2. Joint Statement
Growing need to coordinate and harmonise new IWT projects with WFD, N2000 and flood protection programmes
Stakeholder process (12 basin governments and 22 industry and environmental interest groups) during 3 workshops.
Result: New commitment by ICPDR, Danube Commission and Sava Commission (2007)

3. Key Principles of the Joint Statement
Integrated planning process from the beginning (environment, water management and transport;
via interdiscipl. teams -> joint planning objectives)
Minimize the impacts of engineering interventions, use non-structural measures
Apply EIAs with public input
Respect the WFD’s river basin management plans 2009 (protect / restore ecology and reduce negative impacts)
Define goals for IWT and the river/floodplain ecological integrity
Use best practise to achieve the required objective.

4. JS Criteria for river engineering
The designers of technical measures should apply:
Case-by-case approach
Working with nature
Integrated design (hydraulics, morphology and ecology)
Adaptive form of measures
Use of restoration potential
Ensure no worsening of
flood water levels
JS - Annex: Examples of
possible measures

5. NAIADES: EU Action Programme to promote inland waterway transport in Europe (2006-2013)
Platina: a coordination action (8.35 M€) providing targeted NAIADES actions until 2012 within FP7 for Research and Technology Developmt.
The Platina consortium is formed by 22 institutions from 9 European countries, incl. via donau (Austria - coordinator), Voies Navigables de France, Bundesverband der Deutschen Binnenschiffahrt, Promotie Binnenvaart Vlaanderen (BE) and the Rijkswaterstaat Centre for Transport and Navigation (NL).
5 work packages addressing the policy areas:
Markets, Fleet, Jobs & Skills, Image and Infrastructure.

6. SWP5.3 Support interdisciplinary dialogue on environmentally sustainable waterway development
Lead: ICPDR
Deliverable no.
Task
Description
Implementation
Partner
Due Month
D5.1
5.3.1
Integrative study on Danube‘s hydro-morphological alterations
BOKU, ICPDR
Sept 2009
D5.8
5.3.2
Best practice manual on sustainable waterway planning
ICPDR, VIA, BOKU, INE
Dec 2009
D 5.10
5.3.3
Content for training and dissemina-tion workshops on IWT planning
ICPDR, VIA
May 2011
D 5.12
Result of 3-4 training workshops
ICPDR, VIA, INE
October 2011

7. Concepts of SWP 5.3
Objective: Ensure the proper integration of environmental aspects in the development and maintenance of IWT infrastructure.
The BOKU study has analysed the effects of navigation on the Danube hydro-morphology (considering also other pressures) at catchment, reach and local scales.
It includes recommendations for future IWT projects.
The Manual and the training workshops follow up on the Joint Statement and assess good practise examples for sustainable waterway planning.

8. Key findings of the BOKU study on Danube hydromorphology
Hydromorphology alterations are a result of multiple and often overlapping impacts from navigation, flood protection and hydropower generation.
Navigation infrastructures decrease from the upper to the lower reaches and are more numerous again in the Delta:
The impacts at the Upper and Middle Danube are significant, the impacts at the Lower Danube still small.
For the future there is a likely trend in the opposite direction.

9. Hydromorphology study: The Danube is seriously altered in its entire length

10. Hydromorphology study Recommendations
For the planned improvement of navigation:
Along the upper and middle reaches, combine with the needed river restoration
At the Lower Danube, combine with the needed preservation of the morphodynamics and restoration of floodplains
Preserve and/or restore/improve the sediment continuum (i.e. sediment transport) along the Danube and its tributaries across hydropower plants and torrent control (re-) structures
Develop a catchment-wide sediment management concept.

11. PLATINA Manual on Good Practices in Sustainable Waterway Planning
Basics on river ecology and legal requirements
Explain the Joint Statement and similar planning concepts
Practical steps to approach and achieve integrated planning (from IWT policy planning over expert and stakeholder involvement to post-project monitoring)
Organisational needs – framework conditions
Practical examples – experiences gained in IWT projects

12. Environmental Impact Assessment (SEA/EIA-D) Nature Impact Assessment (BH-D) WFD assessment - Art. 4 (7)
What is needed from IWT projects to meet these requirements? How to achieve an efficient and secure planning result?
Definition of sub-basin and sub-unit
report form

13. Manual: Prepare the practical planning
Pre-conditions: Waterway policy Waterway development programme (NAP) Waterway management capacities Specify integrated planning Relevant issues – key stakeholders (local – foreign) Project goals – planning objectives Working rules – operational capacities
Definition of sub-basin and sub-unit
report form

14. Responsibilites and tasks during the integrated planning
Steering Committee
Supervision, responsibility
Government, funding institutions
Integrated Planning Group
Project vision, objectives, other user interests.
Planng. principles, interdiscipl. assessment of options/alternatives/scenarios, feasibility
Project Team
Technical planning (database, calculation & modelling) + EIS
Definition of sub-basin and sub-unit
report form
Experts for navigation, river engineering, ecology, hydro-morphology, water quality etc.
Waterway Agency, consultants
Moderation - Mediation

15. 9-10 June 2009 Zagreb Training Workshop
EU and PIANC guidances for integrated planning. Good practise examples of integrated IWT projects (east of Vienna, Thames, Main, Rhine) to illustrate the P & C of the Joint Statement Discussion of the draft structure of the Platina Manual on good practises in sustainable waterway planning Draft results of the Task Hy-mo Study Specific issues & status of a local case: The Sava waterway rehabilitation and development project. Subjects for the 2nd workshop Sept. in Ruse.
Definition of sub-basin and sub-unit
report form

16. How to ease and achieve integrated planning:
15-16 Sept Ruse Training Workshop
How to ease and achieve integrated planning:
Comment the draft Manual (in plenary & small groups)
Example of the new German WFD-oriented waterway development and their guidance for combined EIAs.
Presentation of the 2nd local case (RO/BG ISPA II project).

17. New RO/BG ISPA projects ( ) aim at improving navigability (TEN-T) between the Iron Gate and the delta.
These plans could conflict with the Water Framework Directive and the Natura 2000 network.

18. Road Map for integrated planning
Definition of sub-basin and sub-unit
report form

19. Road Map II for integrated planning
Definition of sub-basin and sub-unit
report form

20. Next steps in the practical planning – Road Map II
Communicate agreed results (e.g. formal adoption, publication) Transfer results into detail planning / submission of EIS Execute EIA process incl. public hearings and information Receive all required permits Assure funding Start monitoring Execute (adaptive) works Assure post-project activities (corrective actions, monitoring).
Definition of sub-basin and sub-unit
report form

21. Applying the Joint Statement and the PLATINA Manual
Success or failure of integrated planning will depend on the quality of interdisciplinary planning and the exchange of practical experience with new engineering structures under a comprehensive monitoring programme.

22. WG on Rivers
INTEGRATED IWT PLANNING aims to enable navigation development and sustainable management of rivers to achieve all required environmental objectives.
The JS and the PLATINA outputs (hymo study, training and new manual) can support and stimulate the next steps.

23. Good practice examples
EU-WFD - CIS Guidance on Hydro-morphology 2006: Good
practise in managing ecological impacts …– Case Studies.
New EU guidances on estuaries and soon on rivers.
Rhine (CCR/ICPR): Introduction of new best practice measures to improve the water body structure (side-arms, banks, fairway structures, fish passages etc.).
German guidance docs. for coordinated EIA processes in IWT.
Ecological re-orientation of federal waterway management.
PIANC guidelines ( : e.g. Working with Nature)
USA (US ACE): New structures to reduce or eliminate dredging maintenance requirements. Innovative dredging equipment and processes.
etc.