Reducing the Vulnerability of Societies to Water Related Risks at the Basin Scale (Proceedings of the third International Symposium on Integrated Water Resources Management, Bochum, Germany, September 2006). IAHS Publ. 317, 2007, 9–17.
Integrated river basin management in the catchment area of the Ruhr River
HARRO BODE & MICHAEL WEYAND
Ruhr River Association, Kronprinzenstraße 37, D-45128 Essen, Germany
Abstract In Germany the Rhine-Ruhr region is one of the most populated and industrialized areas. Thus the rivers in that area are extremely affected by anthropogenic caused pressures. To meet the conflicts between the existing different water uses, a comprehensive and sustainable water resources management is necessary. Related to the catchment area of the Ruhr River, a tributary of the Rhine, this task is assigned to the Ruhr River Association. In the past the main topics of work had to meet the demands of human-related water issues. Nowadays the more environmentally focused-like thoughts of the European Water Framework Directive have to be included into planning concepts and programmes of measures as well. The application of such a watershed-wide approach makes it possible to meet, in close contact with the water management authorities concerned, many environmental targets in an economically very efficient way.
Key words river basin management; Water Framework Directive; water quality management; water quantity management