Improving the knowledge in determining the minimum water level and flow of water bodies

Project facts

Project promoter:
Goulandris Natural History Museum - Greek Biotope Wetland Centre
Project Number:
GR02-0008
Target groups
Researchers or scientists,
Civil servants/Public administration staff
Status:
Completed
Initial project cost:
€373,275
Final project cost:
€357,416
From EEA Grants:
€ 303,804
The project is carried out in:
Greece

Description

The project aims to improve the knowledge related to the determination of the environmentally required minimum water level/flow in Greek water bodies, particularly under the impact of climate change. The project will contribute to the improvement of knowledge and awareness for the protection and management of water bodies suffering from environmental problems. More specifically, an integrated scientific approach will be applied by the project to quantify the minimum level in lakes and minimum flow in rivers. The project will study: a) water requirements of basic biological features of aquatic ecosystems such as macrophytes and fish fauna, b) climate change and its impact on ecosystems and c) existing and future water requirements for the main human activities in the project areas. The aim is to propose minimum water level/flow of the water bodies that will enable the conservation of ecosystems and promote sustainable development with the consensus of stakeholders. The project is expected to benefit the Central Administration, the Decentralized Administration, the Regional and Local Government, NGOs, Research Institutions, the educational community and the general public. The project is implemented by the Goulandris Natural History Museum - Greek Biotope Wetland Centre (Project Promoter), the Water Directorate of Eastern Macedonia – Thrace, the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, the Fisheries Research Institute, and the donor partner Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO). The role of NIBIO is to analyze measures for water resources management at catchment scale in order to determine minimum water level in lakes.

Summary of project results

The continuously rising water abstraction from rivers and lakes to fulfill urban, agricultural, industrial etc. needs leads to the deterioration of river or lake ecosystems, especially when the requirements of ecosystems in water are not taken into account. Since the early 2000s, ecological flows for rivers and minimum water levels for lakes, i.e. the "amount of water required for the aquatic ecosystem to continue to thrive and provide the services we rely upon" are subjects foreseen in the implementation of Directive 2000/60/EC (‘Water Framework Directive’). In Greece, this necessity is foreseen within the program of measures in almost all River Basin Management Plans. In order to determine e-flows and minimum water levels, the project «Improving the knowledge in determining the minimum water level and flow of water bodies» used as criteria the ecological requirements of biological components of aquatic ecosystems at four pilot sites; one river and four lakes. In particular, the project was targeted to the estimation of ecological water flow / minimum water level of the water bodies of Lakes Zazari, Cheimaditida, Petron, Vegoritida and Nestos River in order to maintain and/or improve the conservation of ecosystems and promote sustainable development. The research: • used as criteria the water requirements of main biological components of aquatic ecosystems such as aquatic macrophytes and fish fauna; • estimated existing and future water requirements for the main human activities in project areas, and • took into consideration the impact of climate change on the aquatic ecosystems. The project improved the knowledge related to the estimation of the ecological water flow / minimum water level in Greek water bodies, particularly under the impact of climate change. The project is expected to inform the River Basin Management Plans of the Water Districts of Western Macedonia and Eastern Macedonia & Thrace as concerns the inclusion of management measures to achieve the ecological water flow / minimum water level of the above-mentioned water bodies. Moreover, it is expected to produce long term results through improved knowledge for the quantification of water needs of ecosystems based on research and observation data of hydrological, biological and other parameters. Overall, the project was a contribution to the implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive aiming at the protection and wise use of water bodies.

Summary of bilateral results

The implementation of the project has strengthened the bilateral relations between Greece and Norway as it has enabled the exchange of know-how and good practices among the Greek partners and the Norwegian Institute for Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO) in the fields of environment, water resources and the determination of the minimum water level in lakes. These relations can be further enhanced in areas such as the assessment of the effects of water level fluctuation on lakes and, water management in the face of climate change.