43
Selecting,designingand implementingNWRM:pre-conditionsforensuringeffectiveness
I
ssue
2 -M
ake
thefunctioningand
the
scaleof
thehydrological cycle
explicit
inyour
measure
selectionprocess
NWRM impacts and effectiveness will commonly be best assessed
at scales that help translate local changes in biophysical parameters
to changes in river flows, river status, habitat status or other relevant
ecosystem services.This can be the catchment scale (often considered
as themanagementunit inwaterpolicy),or analternative scale thathelps
capture the impacts of proposedNWRMon the hydrological cycle.
Your own area of work will also have an influence on the best spatial scale for
assessing impacts. For example, as a…
ņ
ņ
Water planner
: you are likely to already work at the water catchment
scale, looking in particular at water management issues that need to be
solved for individual water bodies or for your entire catchment.However
youwill alsoneed to account for benefits deliveredbyNWRMoutside the
water catchment, and for spatial scales relevant to other policies, e.g. for
biodiversity, if migratory species are the focus ofWFDmeasures.
ņ
ņ
Urbanplanner:
you shouldmake thewater cycle explicit in your territorial
planning.This will require an understanding of the interactions between
urban water hydrology and wider water resources processes and aquatic
ecosystems.
Sector
Currently usedmanagement
scales
Connecting to water
Agriculture
Field/farm, agricultural region
Positioning farms within the catchment, identifying links
between farm management and the hydrological cycle
making explicit the impacts of farm units on aquatic
ecosystem status
Urban
Urban centre, agglomeration
Linking permeable/impermeable areas to the hydrological
cycle, connecting water services (drinking, sewage) to aquatic
ecosystems/water bodies
Forestry
Forest management unit, mountain range
Linking forest management units to the hydrological cycle
(via infiltration, runoff), connecting forest to local nature
protected sites and to wider biodiversity
Aquatic ecosystem
restoration
River reach, wetland
Positioning the restoration site within the water catchment,
linking the restoration site with wider biodiversity, linking
restoration sites with nearby urban areas that might benefit
from the amenities delivered
Ensureknowledge
is truly
‘multidimensional’
Make the
functioningand
the scaleof the
hydrological cycle
explicit inyour
measure selection
process
Find the right
incentives
Widen the scope
ofMonitoringand
Evaluation
Mobilisestakeholders
whorepresent the
expectedmultiple
bene ts inyour
planningprocesses
Table3 -Enhancing thewater-relevance
of sector-specific scales
