2.7 Public Participation

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1 European Groundwater Conference 2006 Poster Abstracts Chapter Public Participation Evaluation of the Water Management Effectiveness of Catch crops F. Feichtinger 150, E. Klaghofer Introduction A main objective of the EU Water Framework Directive is to achieve and maintain a good status of Europe s water bodies. Agri-environmental programmes support these goals. A mid-term evaluation of the Austrian agri-environmental programme ÖPUL 2000 (BMLFUW, 2000) by the end of 2005 should assess the effectiveness of catch crops for the purpose of reducing nitrate leaching to the groundwater. Methodology Three Austrian regions, located in the eastern part of Austria (NÖ), the central area of Upper Austria (OÖ) and the south eastern part of Styria (Stmk), were chosen for an assessment of nitrate leaching from arable land to the groundwater. They can be characterised by high agricultural intensity and groundwater resources of high interest. Assessment was done using hydrological modelling for different management of catch crops considering the local conditions of climate, soil properties and agricultural practices. Local climatic conditions are outlined by the data from the meteorological stations Obersiebenbrunn (NÖ), Hörsching (OÖ) and Leibnitz (Stmk). Characterisation of the local soil properties was based on data of the national soil survey service. Data for six representative soil types for each region were chosen as model input. Management of arable land was defined in close co-operation with local experts on agriculture. Adapted crop rotations were made up for modelling and attention was paid, that periods from harvest in autumn until cultivation next spring may include both bare fallow and the alternative catch crops according ÖPUL 2000 (Table 1). 150 Federal Agency of Water Management, Institute for Land and Water Management Research, Pollnbergstrasse 1, A-3252 Petzenkirchen, franz.feichtinger@baw.at 222

2 European Groundwater Conference 2006 Poster Abstracts Chapter Table 1: Catch crop management offered by ÖPUL 2000, pt Variant Type Sowing at the latest Cultivation as of A B C D green crop in summer/autumn green crop in autumn/winter killed by frost hardy green crop in autumn/winter green crop in summer/winter following year following year following year Assessment of nitrate leaching was carried out with the model STOTRASIM (Feichtinger, 1998) for the period Results As shown in Figure 1, catch crop management according to variant A and D has a notable influence on seepage in relation to bare fallow. Variant B and C have little to no effect on seepage. Compared to bare fallow variant A and D both reduce nitratenitrogen leaching and the nitrate concentration of the seepage considerably and equally well, whereas variant B and C exhibit only little effect. The effectiveness of catch crops is linked very closely to the dry matter production of the crops. Therefore the date of seeding of a catch crop is very important. These results apply to all tested regions. SEEPAGE NITRATE - NITROGEN LEACHING % in relation to bare fallow A B C D NÖ OÖ Stmk % in relation to bare fallow A B C D NÖ OÖ Stmk Variant Variant Figure 1: Seepage and nitrate-nitrogen leaching for different management of catch crops in relation to bare fallow for the three representative regions Results in detail can be found in the final report for this project (Feichtinger et al., 2005). 223

3 European Groundwater Conference 2006 Poster Abstracts Chapter References BMLFUW (2000): Sonderrichtlinie des Bundesministeriums für Land- und Forstwirtschaft, Umwelt und Wasserwirtschaft für das Österreichische Programm zur Förderung einer umweltgerechten, extensiven und den natürlichen Lebensraum schützenden Landwirtschaft (ÖPUL 2000); Zl /37-II/B8/00. FEICHTINGER F. (1998): STOTRASIM Ein Modell zur Simulation der Stickstoffdynamik in der ungesättigten Zone eines Ackerstandortes. Schriftenreihe des Bundesamtes für Wasserwirtschaft, Bd. 7, FEICHTINGER F., A. SCHEIDL, J. DORNER (2005): Bericht "ÖPUL 2000 Begrünungsvarianten (Pkt. 2.22), Evaluierung der wasserwirtschaftlichen Relevanz (Effizienz) einer Begrünung von Ackerflächen im Herbst und Winter. Institut für Kulturtechnik und Bodenwasserhaushalt, A-3252 Petzenkirchen. 224

4 European Groundwater Conference 2006 Poster Abstracts Chapter Cost-Effective Measures to Protect Groundwater by Co-operative Agreements I. Heinz 151 Subject As many case studies have shown, co-operative agreements (CA) can be more effective than other instruments, such as compulsory rules and taxes. Furthermore, the costs of achieving water-related objectives are relatively low. The presentation aims to illustrate this by cases where agreements between farmers, water suppliers and authorities have been successfully established in groundwater catchments areas. Contents The main features of CAs are: Voluntarily agreed commitments to change farming practices. Obligations for water suppliers to advise and compensate farmers. Water authorities support CAs by contributing to the costs, providing advisory services and abstaining from strictly enforcing mandatory rules. The contents of agreements result from negotiations between the parties involved. The most cost-effective measures to protect groundwater are implemented, as the parties are interested in minimising the costs and environmental pressures. The changes of farming practices are tailored exactly to the hydrological requirements of local catchment areas. Existing monitoring systems reduce usually the efforts required for the controlling by the authorities. These are the key reasons why the targets of CAs go often beyond statutory requirements. Furthermore, in many cases CAs aim to prevent pollution. Even though CAs have some limitations (e.g. long-time delays before improvements in the aquatic environment are observed), they can help to reach important goals of the Water Framework Directive (WFD). In particular, they can enhance the cost-effectiveness of water management in conjunction with the programme of measures (Article 11). Moreover, for groundwater the WFD requires that rising trends in pollution need to be reversed and further deterioration to be prevented. CAs are aiming to prevent further pollution and to avoid the need of any future water treatment. They promote sustainable water use based on a long-term protection 151 University of Dortmund, Institute of Environmental Research (INFU); Otto-Hahn-Strasse 6, Dortmund, Germany; iheinz@infu.uni-dortmund.de 225

5 European Groundwater Conference 2006 Poster Abstracts Chapter of available groundwater resources. CAs involve typically all relevant stakeholders located in agriculturally used catchment areas. Thus they promote the participatory approach in water management as required in the WFD. Demonstration cases Catchment areas will be shown where CAs have been established. The demonstration cases will focus on the voluntarily agreed commitments for changes of farming practices (e.g. reducing the application of fertilisers) and on the further contents of the agreements, such as provision of advisory services and compensation payments. In addition, the impacts of the CAs on the groundwater quality (preventative and remedial) since their foundation will be highlighted. The cost-effectiveness of the measures to change farming practices will be pointed out. Conclusions On the basis of the demonstration cases, the significance of CAs as an agrienvironmental instrument for the future EU groundwater policy will be summarized. In particular, CAs can be a model for the implementation of regulatory measures in conjunction with the WFD and the Groundwater Legislation. The outcomes of CAs and the experiences gained can be used in developing the procedures and requirements for a more cost-effective groundwater policy. This is principally also possible in agriculturally used areas where currently no water companies operate. Furthermore, the conclusions will refer to the linkages between the WFD, the EU Groundwater Legislation and the CAP reform, and to the role of CAs in assisting these policies. References Brouwer F., I. Heinz and T. Zabel (2003): Governance of Water-related Conflicts in Agriculture. New Directions in Agri-environmental and Water Policies in the EU. Dordrecht, Boston, London, Heinz I., K. Andrews, F. Brouwer and T. Zabel (2002): Voluntary arrangements to cope with diffuse pollution from agriculture and their role in European water policy. Water Science and Technology (IWA Publishing), Vol. 46, N0. 6-7, pp Heinz I. (2004): Kooperation zwischen Wasserversorgungsunternehmen und Landwirten eine EU-weite Analyse. GWF Wasser Abwasser, 145, Nr. 4, Heinz I. (2006): "Co-operative agreements in the context of EU water policies", Conference "WFD meets CAP - Opportunities for the future", organised by Ecologic and Warsaw Agricultural University. Under the patronage of the Austrian Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management. 2-3 March 2006, Vienna, Austria

6 European Groundwater Conference 2006 Poster Abstracts Chapter OÖ. Wasserschutzberatung and the Upper Austrian Regional Project Grundwasser 2000 NEU Th. Übleis 152, M. Höfferer 152 Oö. Wasserschutzberatung a main pillar of ground water remediation! The main aim of the Oö. Wasserschutzberatung is to enhance groundwater protective agriculture in Upper Austria by consulting and adult education of farmers to reduce negative impact (mainly nitrate) in water. It must also been taken care of local water management. The association Oö. Wasserschutzberatung is supported by Upper Austrian government and the chamber of agriculture for Upper Austria. The Oö. Wasserschutzberatung offers advising in groups in so called working groups Wasserschutz mainly on the issues of groundwater protection. In each of the 6 boroughs one so called Wasserschutzberater, a person that gives advice to farmers, is active. Up to now farmers take part in remarkable 58 working groups. Even farmers who are not enroled in the project are able to participate. Contents of further education f.e. are the fertilization of crops, corn and others relating to protecting groundwater. Also the connection of ecological and economical needs is important for acceptance of groundwater protection by farmers. development of Wasserbauern and working groups Wasserbauern Arbeitskreise Table 1: Development of Wasserbauern and working groups Oö. Wasserschutzberatung, Figulystraße 34, 4020 Linz; martina.hoefferer@ooe-wsb.at 227

7 European Groundwater Conference 2006 Poster Abstracts Chapter Verein Oö. Wasserschutzberatung Oö. Wasserschutzberatung project leader + 6 consulter Wasserbauern working groups "Wasserschutz" Figure 1: Organigram of the association Oö. Wasserschutzberatung, regional Project Grundwasser 2000 NEU Farmers can participate in the Upper Austrian regional project for preventative ground water protection due to the ÖPUL 2000 program (Austrian enviromental program for sustainable agriculture), where a commitment of five years is required. It consists of obligatory and optional measures. Farmers get premiums because of participating in the program. The region where Grundwasser 2000 NEU takes place is located in Upper Austria`s central area, mainly in 6 boroughs. It contains fo approximately hectares. About farmers can take part in the project. 54 percent, this is a total amount of farmers are joining. Figure 2: Area of the Grundwasser 2000 NEU Project 228