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1 Interreg Partner Search UMA PROJECT IDEA Participation models for implementing Water Framework Directive at Local Level 1. Viladecans description Viladecans is a coastal city of 20,10 km2 that is 12 kilometers far from Barcelona with a population of inhabitants (forecast of in 2015). This privileged situation supposes proximity from the harbour of Barcelona (5 km) and from the airport (1 km) as well as from the new campus of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (3 km). Road communications and railway also are very important. As a result of this situation, a rapidly increase of population had taken place during 60 s and 70 s as a consequence of immigration from the south of Spain, this meant a fast and uncontrolled housing development of city centre and periphery. For understanding the growth of Viladecans, is it necessary to take into account new immigrants that have moved from Barcelona to the metropolitan area due to house prices in the city in the recent years. Llobregat Delta On 13th June 1996, Viladecans signed the adhesion to Aalborg Letter, developed the environmental forum during 1998 and finally approved Agenda 21 on Viladecans has also participated in the elaboration of environmental common indicators and received the special distinction of the jury for Sustainable City Award Viladencans is located in the delta area of the Llobregat River, this area is characterized by intense co-existence of urban settlements close by and strongly related to the Barcelona area of influence, big industrial and logistic estates, gridded by transport infrastructures ( highways, railways, airports, harbour and roads). Although all these antropic pressures, Viladecans area still maintains its traditional agricultural activities and very important natural protected areas registered as Natura Up-date 28/11/2008 1/8

2 That situation means raising conflict between different user sectors, environmental services, pollution of water bodies (humid areas, underground water and the river itself), and proximity of the Barcelona metropolitan landfill and flood risks. Moreover in this territory exists important infrastructures related to water management like a desalting plant, wastewater treatment plants and drink water treatment plant. Water management in delta and wetland areas has a wide complexity and numerous challenges to comply with the WFD, therefore needs an integrated approach and an involvement of the society and stakeholders. Viladecans is located 12 km far from Barcelona Viladecans council has an European Projects Department since 1993 and has participated in several projects in all the fields and iniciatives (Recite II, Interreg IIIC, Equal, Socrates, Cohesion Fund, etc.) Regarding environmental issues, the following projects has been coordinated or participated by the city: Project ECCOPIME: Adapting SMES to European standards in environmental management European Indicator Seminar in Viladecans of United Cities Network.. Programa PHARE Lak. Local Project for Agenda 21: exchanging experiences with eastern countries about Agenda 21 implementation RUMORE: Sensitizing Campaigns DG XI. Information and sensitizing in front of acoustic pollution. 97/682/3060/DM/A2/MM S0069N Model d Évaluation du Niveau de développement durable des zones côtières européennes / DEDUCE. Interreg IIIC South S0053R Regional Framework Operation ECOSIND (Industrial Ecosystem: A new strategy for sustainable development of Industrial Activities) / Sub-project RECIPOLIS. Interreg IIIC South ES 16C PE 015 Reusing recycled water for irrigating. Cohesion Fund. Since 2005 Up-date 28/11/2008 2/8

3 Combined Rational and Renewable Energy Strategies in Cities, for Existing and New dwellings and Optimal quality of life / CRRESCENDO. CONCERTO (RTD Energy Program) Call identifier: FP TREN 2. Since 2005 Indirect beneficiary of LIFE00 ENV/E/ GREEN BELT. A proposal for sustainable territorial planning Indirect beneficiary of LIFE96 ENV/E/ Preparation and implementation of a pilot action for the conservation, improvement and economic promotion of Barcelona suburban agricultural area Framework At the end of the year 2000 the European Commission and Parliament approved and published the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) (DOCE, 2000). This European regulation aims at providing a common work framework regarding water management for all European Union State members. Water ceases to be seen exclusively as a resource and is considered as a basic hydrological ecosystem element and an essential element to sustain a good environment quality which, at the same time, guarantees the resource. Under this regulation the biological and hydromorphological aspects gain relevance under the comprehensive quality diagnosis along with the traditional physiochemical indicators and priority substances or contaminating and persistent toxic agents (some of which have recently been incorporated). The Directive proposes the regulation of water usage and associated areas, based on the capacity these have to bear different pressures and impacts. Therefore, the aim is to promote and guarantee a responsible, rational and sustainable operation and usage of the resource. The Directive encompasses under an integrated management system (the fluvial river basin district or the hydrographical demarcation) underground water, adjacent surface water and coastal water influenced by continental water in this district. The correct implementation of the concepts and the provisions set forth under the Directive entailed a complex series of events in order to obtain the necessary tools and appropriate criteria for the new water management system, based on sustainability concepts both from an environmental point of view as well as an economic one, the maintenance hydrological resources, a complete transparency and citizen participation in future plans and management programs. In order to achieve good water conditions by the end of 2015, the Directive s main objective, the regulation s text requires a series of projects to be carried out within a specific time frame. The Directive promotes the protection of all water bodies (surface, transitional, marine, humid areas and underground) in order to: o Prevent deterioration and improve the condition of water ecosystems. o Promote a sustainable use of water by means of water saving, reuse, etc. o To ensure a progressive pollution decrease and to avoid new environmental aggressions. Up-date 28/11/2008 3/8

4 o To reduce the effects of floods and droughts. The Directive s objective is to achieve good water conditions using hydrological, ecological, economic and social measures. Their most important aspects are: o To diagnose ecologic conditions the health of water bodies in order to determine the ecologic condition, by identifying the pressures, impacts and risks conditioning them: diagnosis. o Agree on how to improve the quality of water bodies and to draw up the river basin management plans and the necessary measure programs to achieve the environmental objectives. o To value the management, in economic terms, based on the principle of cost recovery. 3. Situation, description of the problem/needs In compliance with Article 14 of the WFD and Article 14 of the Hydrological Planning Rule approved by Decree 380/2006, the drawing up of the measures program and the Management Plan for each River Basin District, must be done by undertaking a participative process guarantying the information, the enquiries and the active participation of all citizens and entities regarding both the diagnosis (characterization of water bodies and risk analysis of the non-compliance with the Water Framework Directive [2000/60/CE] objectives) and the drawing up stage of the Plan and the Program. Each state member is free to decide how to implement and understand public participation so there are huge differences in the way it has been done. Having met the special characteristics and those of the deltas/wetlands and their vulnerability towards anthropic and natural pressures, it becomes necessary to carefully implement the WFD. Delta areas and wetlands are sensitive eco-socio-systems with specific characteristics and problems different from inner river basins. Water bodies in such kind of areas are not always well known, protected or even represented in European legislation; transition waters and non-permanent streams have specificities to be faced by innovative and integrated approaches. Delta/wetlands areas faces different problems and challenges related to water management, sediments management and human activities in the delta/wetland itself as in the whole basin (up-stream). The increase in the use of the water in the entire basin and the economic activities developed in the territory face also the reality of the climatic change. This scenario requires an integrated management of the water, the sediments and socio-systems, with a new approach, implying a reconnection of the river with its delta/wetland also as a real application of the socio-ecological engineering. Up-date 28/11/2008 4/8

5 4. General project objectives To study the options of protecting delta areas or wetlands affected by similar problems To study the socio-economic indicators of the territories and the compatibilities of different uses To promote citizen participation To establish a permanent cooperation and an experience exchange network between territories 5. Results and expected products Results Obtain Management models for delta areas water as a natural resource Engage public participation and governance of society. Decision process of management models have to be shared. In the process of participated governance, the participative processes have increased the confidence of society in the public administration, and have represented a factor for the revaluation of the public space. Implementation of Water Framework Directive at local level Obtain a model for risk management and compatibility of different uses The project could facilitate the birth of a reference framework that raises specific solutions adapted to both environmental and social local conditions, in coherence with common aims. Outputs/products: Document 1 with detected key points in which there are contradictions or possible problems among different levels of legislation. Stakeholders map for each region, identification of conflicts Validation of document 1 by stakeholders Common transnational SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) document (document 3) Elaboration of a green book on participation strategies to integrate the results and conclusions in the analysis of the guideline reference in order to improve its formulation with the experience of other realities. This know-how transfer is Up-date 28/11/2008 5/8

6 especially interesting according to the necessity to prepare the participation processes scheduled in 2013, when the basin management plans will be revised as to qualify citizens and modify their behaviours. 6. Innovative aspects, added value Down-top approach: from local level to regional and European level Improve competitiveness of territories (better water management, involvement of citizens and stakeholders) Improve the application of legislation Governance, participation Involvement of NGO s and other entities to ensure social participation Coherence between European strategies and municipal strategies 7. Project stages, phases Stage I: Diagnosis and instruments 1. To improve the impress risk evaluation on a local level: a. Analysis of the water bodies not included and of the pressures and impacts they receive b. Analysis of the River Basin Plan (January 2009) c. The gathering of information and existing research on different levels of detail in order to undertake a revision d. Demand higher authorities to include all the gathered information 2. Introduce main risk aspects, precautionary principles regarding the possibility of flooding, saline wedge, recharges, climate change and dumping. 3. Analysis of all existing plans that apply to the municipal territory (and which affect the water vector), with their diagnoses, objectives, forecasted actions, financing, authorities, dates and execution status/accomplishment. 4. Selection of key points: the aspects directly related to water, which are a under municipal authority and which represent some level of contradiction, the hot spots. Document 1 Stage II: Economy and parties involved 1. Cost-profit analysis of the recovery actions the municipality can carry out 2. Hot spot list analysis (document 1) with the parties involved a. Identification and map of parties b. Perception interviews c. Identification of possible conflicts Document 2 Up-date 28/11/2008 6/8

7 3. Validate the results of (document 2) by the town hall; the town hall needs to decide on the priorities and the feasible action proposals and the possibilities of financing or not such proposals. Stage III: Communication and public participation 1. Product distribution (documents, leaflets, etc.) on a local, regional and transnational basis 2. Open forum representing the River Basin Council 3. Common transnational SWOT ( document (document 3) regarding the experiences captured under the three stages. To consider to what extent the involved territory problems and opportunities are shared. 8. Partners already involved Administration: Viladecans Town Hall, Faro Town Hall (Portugal), Prat Town Hall, Public Participation Department of Catalan Regional Government. NGOs and entities: New Water Culture Network, New Water Culture Foundation Universities: ICTA-UAB, UB Ecology Faculty 9. Desired partners Administration: Local and regional authorities interested in the field of water management and governance, nature protection NGOs and Universities or Research Institutes working in the field of water management and governance, nature protection 10. Possible calls Interreg MED 2 nd call (deadline: 15 March 2009) Project type: M Subsidy: 75% of the cost 2-3 years Interreg IVC 2 nd call (deadline: 30 January 2009) Project type: M Subsidy: 75% of the cost 2-3 years Up-date 28/11/2008 7/8

8 11. Contact details Raquel Millán Ajuntament de Viladecans Pompeu Fabra, 3 ES Viladecans (Barcelona) Spain rmillanl@viladecans.cat Tel : Fax : Up-date 28/11/2008 8/8