River Basin Initiative. River Basin Initiative. River Basin Management Plans. River basin management plans are a management tool in Integrated Water Resources Management. They generally contain descriptions of the water resources in a drainage basin and water allocation plans. Europe[edit] River Basin Management Plans are a requirement of the Water Framework Directive[1] and a means of achieving the protection, improvement and sustainable use of the water environment across Europe. This includes surface freshwaters (including lakes, streams and rivers), groundwater, ecosystems such as some wetlands that depend on groundwater, estuaries and coastal waters out to one nautical mile. The Directive requires member states to aim to achieve at least good status in each water body within their river basin districts. Plans must include: objectives for each water body; reasons for not achieving objectives where relevant; and the programme of actions required to meet the objectives.
River Basin Management Plans were published for several member states in December 2010. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RIVER BASIN MANAGEMENT. Who we are and what we do | River Basin Management Society. Drainage basin. Example of a drainage basin. The dashed line is the main water divide of the hydrographic basin A drainage basin or watershed (North American English usages) is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point at a lower elevation, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean. For example, a tributary stream of a brook which joins a small river, which is tributary of a larger river is thus part of a series of successively smaller area but higher elevation drainage basins (watersheds). Similarly, the Missouri and American rivers are each part of their own drainage basins/watersheds and that of the Mississippi River.
The drainage basin acts as a funnel by collecting all the water within the area covered by the basin and channelling it to a single point. Major drainage basins of the world[edit] Map[edit] Ocean basins[edit] Hydrology[edit] River Basin Management - ICPDR. The best way to protect and manage water is by close international co-operation between all the countries within the river basin – bringing together all interests upstream and downstream. All countries of the European Union are using a river basin approach for water management since the adoption of the EU Water Framework Directive. Water does not stop at administrative or political boundaries, so the best way to protect and manage water is by close international co-operation between all the countries within the natural geographical and hydrological unit of the river basin – bringing together all interests upstream and downstream.
The WFD establishes a legal framework to protect and enhance the status of aquatic ecosystems; prevent their deterioration and ensure long-term, sustainable use of water resources. Involvement of the public and proactive information sharing are key principles for river basin management. Guidance document No. 11.