The Elbe River Basin: Preliminary evaluation of the answers. Janos J. Bogardi Executive Officer of GWSP

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1 GWSP-GCI II Workshop on the Water-Energy-Food Security Nexus The Elbe River Basin: Preliminary evaluation of the answers Janos J. Bogardi Executive Officer of GWSP Winnipeg, Canada, 3-4 May 2012

2 The Elbe Basin Transboundary: Entirely within the EU Germany (sev. Federal states) Czech Republic (Poland/Austria) Interlinked with other rivers through navigation canals Lower reach is under tidal influence. River mouth is an estuary

3 Facts about the Elbe Basin (1) Source: National Park Krkonose Mountains (Czech Republic) Estuary: North Sea at Cuxhaven Elevation difference: m Length: approx km Mean discharge: 861 m³/s in the estuary, 311 m³/s at the Czech-German border Catchment: approx km², of which approx km² in Germany and approx km² in Czech Republic, the rest in Poland and Austria

4 Facts about the Elbe Basin (2) Inhabitants of the catchment: approx. 25 million people, of whom approx. 18 million in Germany (trend: declining) Water quality: Quality class II-III (critical load) for nutrients, (year 2005) Landscape: The catchment is situated in the North German lowlands (70%) and in the in the German / Czech mountain region (approx. 30%)

5 Hydrography of the Elbe Basin 3 major tributaries with catchments between km² (Vltava/Moldau, Saale, Havel) 7 medium size tributaries with catchments between km² (Mulde, Schwarze Elster, Eger/Ohre, Spree, Berounka, Unstrut, Weiße Elster)

6 Network of Federal Waterways

7 Features of WRM in Germany (1) The federal states are responsible for water, except the federal waterways (main rivers and canals) which is managed by federal institutions. In the European Union the Water Framework Directive prescribe the basin scale management and to achieve good ecological status of the watercourses and aquifers by 2027 Some problems in case of emergencies: -floods (separate Framework Directive, federalism) -droughts (no particular Framework Directive)

8 Features of WRM in Germany (2) Strongest water use component in Germany is water for energy (cooling), irrigation is negligible Severely modified stream morphology, frequent dredging /navigation/ Recently strong land use changes and change of the sociopolitical system in the Czech Republic and Eastern Germany Water authorities licence water withdrawals. Subsidies were abandoned in Farmers have to pay for water used.

9 Evaluation of the Questionnaire Answers Background After reunification (1990) collapse of mining industries, river flows decreased (less GW pumping) Due to pluralistic societies and several states involved institutional challenges in conflict resolution

10 Land Use Land use distribution: 45% arable land, 30% forests, 14% pastures/grassland, 11% urban areas + others Agriculture is a priority (European WFD) Large scale, high intensity land use changes need prior institutional approval Farmers usually own the land

11 Global Change Water quality and aquatic biodiversity are impacted by agriculture (nutrients, pesticides (esp. lakes and coastal parts) Competition between ecological restauration and economic water uses Dense observational network for both surface and groundwater

12 Extreme Events Recent flow rate fluctuations were exceptional: in 2002 and 2006 floods and in 2003 low flow (above once in 100 years events) occurred. Climate change impact is debated. No contingency allocation plans for drought Subsidies have been paid in case of disasters. The governance is both participatory and command&control.

13 Water Quality Predominantly non-point sources of pollution. Nitrogen surplus should be reduced. Eutrophication of lakes and the mouth plus coastal waters is significant, yet major improvements since 1990 Agricultural Drivers In the eastern part of the basin significant agricultural withdrawals, though mainly from groundwater.

14 Energy Drivers In Germany approx. 76% of water bodies is impacted by hydromorphological change, partially due to energy generation. Both energy import and export, detailed legislation and dynamic subsidies are in place. Mainly low head/small hydropower generation (plans for large dam in CZ)

15 Food versus Energy Tradeoffs (Biofuels) Bioenergy is fastest growing agricultural sector since 2000 but no significant impacts have been noticed Maintenance of Diversity Designation of protected areas in line with EU WFD Large scale floodplain renaturalization process

16 Environmental Services No completed analysis yet, but natural flood retention is considered. Competition among users and versus ecosystem needs exist. Biggest competition between hydropower and navigation. EU WFD, German Wasserhaushaltsgesetz. Competition is below conflict level. Concern about the status of groundwater. Czech dam project and navigation development have conflict potential

17 Governance EU WFD and River Basin Commission (transboundary issues) are implemented and operational. Transboundary plans do not cover energy and agriculture. Large diversity of regional stakeholder processes and fora. The latest by 2027 good status of surface and groundwaters must be achieved (EU WFD).