Synthesis Report for the ERTDI-funded project: 2005-W-MS-37
Summary: STRIVE Report 54 - M. Bruen, M. Kelly, W. Magette, E. Gaffey, K. Kochanek, S. Bryan and R. Hallissey
The management of water resources in catchments as envisioned in the Water Framework Directive requires a diverse, yet highly integrated, approach to the implementation of techniques that address pressures on those resources. Because time and financial resources are always limited, the real challenge for catchment managers is to choose those techniques that offer the greatest return on investment, that is, that achieve the greatest impact (by preventing or minimising pressures) for a given input of time, energy and money. A key element in achieving impact is the promotion of public consultation in the preparation of river basin management plans. The Water Framework Directive legislation acknowledges that ‘the success of this Directive relies on the close cooperation and coherent action at Community, Member State and local level as well as on information, consultation and involvement of the public, including users’.
The objectives of the WINCOMS (Water Framework Directive – Integration, Negotiation and Communication of Optimal Measures with Stakeholders) project was to provide a detailed assessment of available measures, recommendations for and practical demonstrations of decision support systems (DSSs) that can be used by stakeholders and others for decision analysis, negotiation and mediation in developing WFD policy and measures. These DSSs should be able to integrate knowledge of the performance of the best available measures with the criteria and preferences of all the relevant stakeholders.
