Template (to be filled in)
Observations
Country: / Austria
Title of Good Practice selected example: / Integrated River Catchment Management
at the Upper Traun
Link of Good Practice selected example: /
Download link for the “Guidance for Integrated River Catchment Management in Austria” (only available in German: “Leitfaden für Flussraumbetreuung in Österreich”)
Contact persons: Tanja Nikowitz, ;
Leopold Feichtinger,
Issues to which the selected GP is addressed: /
water quality management; water quantity management;
flood protection; urban development;;
biodiversity;, agriculture;
transport; energy,
spatial planning others
Summary of Good Practice selected example / “Integrated River Catchment Management(IRCM) - Upper Traun” is a model project for integrative river catchment management.
In this case study, the River Catchment Manager was introduced as the person who supports the local water management authorities in the integrated implementation of EU WFD, BHD and EU FD. Main tasks are the promotion of integrated river developmentby organizing networks of different stakeholders, of participation processes and public awareness raising aiming at river restoration and ecological flood protection. The River Catchment Manager acts as a link between the key stakeholders, namely the executive national and provincial water management authorities, the stateforests, nature conservation authorities, fishermen, hydropower plant operators, landowners, municipalities, NGOs and citizens, who are involved into or affected by river restoration and flood protection measures. The River Catchment Manager is supervised and sustained by a steering group consisting of four local water management authorities plus provincial and ministry level representativesfrom water management as well as an NGO (in this case WWF). The project area is located in the Provinces of Upper Austria and Styria in Austria (8 communities). It extends from the spring of the Traun River in Styria until Lake Traunsee in Upper Austria (ca. 100 km, 1258 km² catchment area). / If needed
Description of Good Practice selected example /
- Integrative: IRCMis an instrument to enable integrated river catchmentmanagement and hence to implement EU Water Framework Directive, Natura 2000 and ecological flood protection. The “Integrated River Development Concept Upper Traun” (Gewässerbetreuungskonzept Obere Traun) forms the basis for all restoration and flood protection measures which was developed by an integrated landscape planning office (REVITAL) and involved several stakeholders during concept development.
- Harmonization: As IRCMtargets the implementation of restoration measures and flood protection measures to implement EU WFD and EU FD, the different needs have to be harmonized in an integrated planning approach. This is ensured in the planning phase (“Integrated River Development Concept”) and in the implementation phase (“River Catchment Manager Upper Traun”).
- Crossing sector policy: The example of IRCMUpper Traun involves the individual policies of four local executive water management authorities (Water Management body responsible for the Traun River plus the Torrent and Avalanche Control which is responsible for the tributaries) from two provinces. Furthermore, the policies of the Austrian Federal Forests as main landowner and the fisherylicenseholders, private landowners, farmers, hydropower dam operators and nature conservation areaddressed.
- Stakeholder engagement and involvement: Cross sectorial stakeholders (Austrian Federal Forests as main landowner and fisherylicense holders, private landowners, farmers, hydropower dam operators, nature conservation and communities) are involved as well as several provincial and national authorities (local and ministerial water management and nature conservation). One of the main strengths of the IRCMUpper Traun is the focus on involving stakeholders ininformation and discussion forums prior to the planning and implementation of measures. Beyond those key stakeholders, citizens from the local communities areinformed and engaged in the process.
- Sustainable management: The involvement of stakeholders into the planning and implementation process guarantees a more sustainable river management due to a more open and coordinated approach. Even if the integrated approach takes more time in the first phase this pays well off during implementation with the good support and little or even no opposition from stakeholders. Time-wise and money-wise this proved to be a very sustainable and cost-efficientpractice. Any river restoration measure will benefit the future generation and already does now with the new recreation spots and new natural sites.
- Transnational or transboundary management: The Upper Traun belongs entirely to Austria, so no transnational or transboundary aspects are to be addressed. Still, the project Upper Traun faces similar challenges due to the provincial borders with different responsibilities for rivers and torrents, and hence four different water management authorities to be involved.
- Innovative aspects: The model project IRCMUpper Traun is a totally new approach towards enabling integrated river catchment management in Austria. An independent person, the River CatchmentManager, facilitates harmonized river management through raising public awareness, engaging stakeholders andorganizing planning meetingswiththe different stakeholders. Lesson learned is that such a person or institution is a missing linkthat can ensure such comprehensive processes which water management authorities face on a daily base. It enables an integrated approach in a very cost-efficient way (mainly personal costs). Currently IRCM (“Flussraumbetreuung”) is discussed for incorporationinto the new technical guidelines (2014) by the Ministry of LIFE for the water management sector which would make IRCM then eligible for all rivers in Austria.
- Risk factors: Many similar approaches exist next to the case study IRCMUpper Traun in Austria and in neighboring countries; they have been compiled in the “Guidance for River Catchment Management” (“Leitfaden für Flussraumbetreuung”) in Austria. Main risk is still that these approaches are not always fully implemented mainly due to short-sighted budget or organizational constraints. This example can be easily adapted and transferred to other river interest areas.