Methodology for the development of river sub-basin management plans: Concept and application

Water is a natural resource that cannot be bounded and the consequences of pressures on water systems can be the cause for various local and cross-border conflicts. To resolve these conflicts, there is a growing need for integrated water management plans on international, European and local levels. River sub-basin management plans can play a key part in integrated water management as they can serve as building units for international river basin plans. This contribution concerns the establishment of a general methodology for the development of river sub-basin management plans. In accordance with the demands of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) an environmental analysis of the characteristics of the sub-basin has been established, as well as an analysis on the activities, problems and demands of the sectors that have a share in the water related problems of the basin. Based upon this information a methodology for defining issues and potentials has been developed. According to the general vision for the Flemish region, one or several sectoral claims will be allowed in respect to the carrying capacity of a given river or area. This area-oriented approach will be translated in a 'water opportunity map', with the conditions imposed by the WFD and by the water system as the starting point. In this paper, the emphasis lies on the issue analysis as a crucial step to come to vision forming. This methodology will have its direct application in the Nete basin, which is a sub basin in the Scheldt river basin district. An important aspect during the vision forming is the interactive collaboration with all stakeholders, as stated in the WFD.