Basic Delineation of Surface Water Bodies in Slovenia - the Gained Experience in the Implementation of the WFD
by Aleš Bizjak Ph.D. [1]
abstract of article presented at the XV International Conference "Danube - River of Cooperation" (October 27 - 31 2004)
In Slovenia, delineation of surface water bodies (SWB - rivers, lakes, transitional waters, and coastal waters), which consist of water bodies (WB), artificial water bodies (UVT) and candidates for heavily modified water bodies (HMWB) – has been underway intensively since the adoption of the Slovene Water Act (2002) and establishment of the Institute for Water of the Republic of Slovenia (2003). The legal basis for the delineation is the Slovene Regulation on methodology for SWB delineation, summarizing the provisions of the Water Framework Directive and corresponding Guidelines. In summer 2004, an interdisciplinary expert group of the Institute has elaborated the first proposal on SWB basic delineation of the Slovene hydrographical network. In accordance with the project management concept, it was upgraded by participation and consultation of broader professional public in the autumn 2004.
The second, improved proposal of the basic delineation of SWB, this way is the result of a combination of studio and field work of the experts from the Institute as well as active participation and consultation of experts from other institutions (e.g. ministries, agencies, universities) on workshops and panel discussions. Rivers with a catchments area above 100 km2 and corresponding wetlands, artificial channels longer than 3 km, all natural and artificial lakes or water reservoirs with a surface above 0.5 km2, transitional waters and coastal waters have been analysed. The minimum length of a river WB was set at 3 km. In the proposal of the SWB basic delineation surface water type, geographical and natural hydro-morphological phenomena and anthropogenic physical alterations were considered. In this way, 193 SWB on 91 rivers, artificial channels and water reservoirs (119 WB (65 %), 15 AWB (8 %), 49 HMWB (27 %)), 2 natural lakes (2 WB), transitional waters (3 WB) and coastal waters (5 WB) have been delineated.
In the later, additionally improved proposal, the results of the IMPRESS analysis (yet to be prepared) will be applied as division factor of the SWB. Assumingly, the number of proposed SWB in Slovenia will increase.
[1] Institute for Water of the Republic of Slovenia
Address: Hajdrihova 28 c, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
phone: +386 1 47 75 333
e-mail: ales.bizjak@guest.arnes.si
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