The Water Framework Directive (Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000, establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy) came into force on December 22, 2000 upon being published in the Official Journal of the European Union.

The overarching objective of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) is for Europe’s surface water and groundwater to achieve good status over the next 15 years. Toward this end, a coordinated water management plan is to be elaborated for each river basin district that sets forth the main water protection issues that need to be addressed. The WFD-mandated characterization process that forms the basis for WFD implementation describes and delineates the various river basin districts with a view to conducting a "review of the impact of human activity on the status of surface waters and on groundwater". In addition, the defined protected areas are to be listed, and an economic analysis is to determine (among other things) whether the costs of water services are being recovered.

The Weser river basin district is divided into three sub-basin survey areas – the Werra, Fulda/Diemel and Weser – within which data is gathered and aggregated and the required maps and plans are elaborated.

Owing to the size of the Weser sub-basin survey area, it is subdivided into the Leine, Aller, Upper Weser, Middle Weser and Tideweser zones. The main emphases of the WFD are as follows:

River catchment area management

Achievement and maintenance of "good status" for water bodies

Implementation of Community-wide water body standards

Public participation in the implementation process

Taking into account socioeconomic needs

Statewide coordination of WFD implementation in the Weser river basin district is being realized under the aegis of Geschäftsstelle Weser.