- Public monitoring activities within Daugava river basin

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1 River Basin Management in the Eastern Baltic (from river watch to River manage). - Work in Daugava river Public Consultancy board VAK (Environmental Protection Club) participated in discussions in Environmental Consultancy board under the Ministry of Environment and elaboration position paper regarding LATVENENERGO salmon artificial reintroduction plan in Ogre river, which is not natural salmon river. In Daugava river public advisory board very intensive discussion are ongoing regarding new Cabinet of Ministers regulations regarding decentralised wastewater collection systems. There was a discussion in the framework of the approval of the flood plan for the planned flood dam in Daugavpils in the Daugava River Basin Consultative Council. Currently the place selected for the dam is not really evaluated thoroughly, and it will not be a good example, because Belarusian flood plan is not taken into account. VAK participates in Environmental Consultancy board, where environmental friendly melioration solutions are discussed. It is planned that Farmer s Union within a project will prepare a handbook On environmentally friendly melioration solutions. - Monitoring of Industrial animal farms Regarding Industrial Animal farms, the last biggest pig farm in Daugavpils region Višķi county Latgales Bekons" with 6000 units was closed in July, 2017 due to African swine fever (Pestis Africana suum). Small pig farms are also mostly all closed in Daugava river basin eastern region. The biggest problem is that very big amount of wild boars are infected with this desease, and only small territory in Latvia is not infected yet. Here is the map of infected territory of Latvia under different Quarantine measures. - Public monitoring activities within Daugava river basin VAK participated together with experts in investigation of Bērzene river (salmon river) melioration plan, as if the melioration works will be done, salmon can disappear from this river. Because of VAK and expert opposition to the proposed melioration plan, new plan to be elaborated and proposed for discussion. Continuation of public monitoring processes in Daugava river basin Photos from last monitoring and investigation activity in August 21, 2017 in Strazdupīte (Jugla basin)

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5 VAK has started cooperation project regarding testing methodology for public monitoring together with FEE (Foundation Environmental Education). It is planned to do monitoring and sample testing in 4 places, in four rivers which flows into the sea: two rivers are such that flow into open Baltic Sea, and two rivers flow into the Riga Bay. Currently we are trying to find potential testing rivers, but it is problematic to find adequate rivers with inflow into the sea for sampling. FEE will provide testing on macroplastics, but VAK is planning that it could try the testing methodology on microplastics. It is planned to do this monitoring in October, but this testing is planned to be done first according UNEP methodology, and may be also by Lithuanian methodology (if we will get from Lithuania or inhouse technical equipment). With the support of local governments Daugava loki and Upper Daugava Nature Park Advisory Council have been restored (Daugavpils county). VAK cooperates with LZA HYDROCOLOGY institute with local municipalities and tourism representatives. There is a plan to elaborate and update a nature conservation plan to apply to be included for the site to UNESCO's natural and cultural heritage.