The EU pilot River Basin Weser

The EU Pilot River Basin network was inaugurated in 2003 for the purpose of realizing integrated testing to determine how the European guidance developed by a series of Community working groups could be implemented in the various European states and regions. The second phase pertains to the 2005-2006 period and is devoted to actioning the various guidance related issues developed by the working groups that were formed under the Common Implementation Strategy (CIS). As one of 20 European river basin districts in the Pilot River Basin network, the Weser district was a focal point for issues pertaining to agriculture, cost effective measures, river continuity and reporting. Furthermore, the experiences gained from the model and pilot projects that have been realized in the states in the Weser region were discussed in this process, thus enabling Germany to have a substantial "hands-on" impact on implementation procedures and on the common understanding of the Water Framework Directive. The pilot river basins present their specific situation, implementation procedures and approaches for different issues in the Pilot River Basin Activity Report Phase II.

Since 2007 the European pilot river basins have been continuing their collaboration and addressing solely the issue of Agriculture and WFD. Now 11 river basins or networks of river basins from different nations are participating in this process which is coordinated by the Joint Research Centre. After concluding phase II with a report on Experiences in Analysis of Pressures and Impacts from Agriculture on Water Resources and Developing a related Programme of Measures, it is the main purpose of phase III to exchange information. In workshops the topics of selection and evaluation of measures, preparation and implementation of a river basin management plan, pressures from nutrients and water quantity as wells as impacts of climate change and cultivation of bio fuels plants will be dealt with.