Good Practice selected example
Template (to be filled in)
Observations
Country:
Title of Good Practice
selected example:
Link of Good Practice
selected example:
Austria
Integrated River Catchment Management
at the Upper Traun
http://www.flussraumbetreuung.at
Download link for the “Guidance for Integrated River
Catchment Management in Austria” (only available in German:
“Leitfaden für Flussraumbetreuung in Österreich”)
Contact persons: Tanja Nikowitz, tanja.nikowitz@wwf.at;
Leopold Feichtinger, feichtinger@blattfisch.at
Issues to which the
selected GP is
addressed:
Summary of Good
Practice selected
example
water quality management ;
flood protection;
biodiversity;,
transport;
spatial planning
x
x
x
water quantity management;
urban development;;
agriculture;
energy,
others
x
x
x
x
“Integrated River Catchment Management (IRCM) - Upper Traun” is a model project for
integrative river catchment management.
In this case study, the River Catchment Manager was introduced as the person who supports the
local water management authorities in the integrated implementation of EU WFD, BHD and EU
FD. Main tasks are the promotion of integrated river development by organizing networks of
different stakeholders, of participation processes and public awareness raising aiming at river
restoration and ecological flood protection. The River Catchment Manager acts as a link between
the key stakeholders, namely the executive national and provincial water management authorities,
the state forests, nature conservation authorities, fishermen, hydropower plant operators,
landowners, municipalities, NGOs and citizens, who are involved into or affected by river
restoration and flood protection measures. The River Catchment Manager is supervised and
sustained by a steering group consisting of four local water management authorities plus provincial
If needed
Description of Good
Practice selected
example
and ministry level representatives from water management as well as an NGO (in this case WWF).
The project area is located in the Provinces of Upper Austria and Styria in Austria (8 communities).
It extends from the spring of the Traun River in Styria until Lake Traunsee in Upper Austria (ca.
100 km, 1258 km² catchment area).
1. Integrative: IRCM is an instrument to enable integrated river catchment management and hence
to implement EU Water Framework Directive, Natura 2000 and ecological flood protection. The
“Integrated River Development Concept Upper Traun” (Gewässerbetreuungskonzept Obere
Traun) forms the basis for all restoration and flood protection measures which was developed by
an integrated landscape planning office (REVITAL) and involved several stakeholders during
concept development.
2. Harmonization: As IRCM targets the implementation of restoration measures and flood
protection measures to implement EU WFD and EU FD, the different needs have to be
harmonized in an integrated planning approach. This is ensured in the planning phase
(“Integrated River Development Concept”) and in the implementation phase (“River Catchment
Manager Upper Traun”).
3. Crossing sector policy: The example of IRCM Upper Traun involves the individual policies of
four local executive water management authorities (Water Management body responsible for the
Traun River plus the Torrent and Avalanche Control which is responsible for the tributaries)
from two provinces. Furthermore, the policies of the Austrian Federal Forests as main landowner
and the fishery license holders, private land owners, farmers, hydropower dam operators and
nature conservation are addressed.
4. Stakeholder engagement and involvement: Cross sectorial stakeholders (Austrian Federal
Forests as main landowner and fishery license holders, private land owners, farmers, hydropower
dam operators, nature conservation and communities) are involved as well as several provincial
and national authorities (local and ministerial water management and nature conservation). One
of the main strengths of the IRCM Upper Traun is the focus on involving stakeholders in
information and discussion forums prior to the planning and implementation of measures.
Beyond those key stakeholders, citizens from the local communities are informed and engaged in
the process.
If needed
5. Sustainable management: The involvement of stakeholders into the planning and
implementation process guarantees a more sustainable river management due to a more open and
coordinated approach. Even if the integrated approach takes more time in the first phase this pays
well off during implementation with the good support and little or even no opposition from
stakeholders. Time-wise and money-wise this proved to be a very sustainable and cost-efficient
practice. Any river restoration measure will benefit the future generation and already does now
with the new recreation spots and new natural sites.
6. Transnational or transboundary management: The Upper Traun belongs entirely to Austria,
so no transnational or transboundary aspects are to be addressed. Still, the project Upper Traun
faces similar challenges due to the provincial borders with different responsibilities for rivers and
torrents, and hence four different water management authorities to be involved.
7. Innovative aspects: The model project IRCM Upper Traun is a totally new approach towards
enabling integrated river catchment management in Austria. An independent person, the River
Catchment Manager, facilitates harmonized river management through raising public awareness,
engaging stakeholders and organizing planning meetings with the different stakeholders. Lesson
learned is that such a person or institution is a missing link that can ensure such comprehensive
processes which water management authorities face on a daily base. It enables an integrated
approach in a very cost-efficient way (mainly personal costs). Currently IRCM
(“Flussraumbetreuung”) is discussed for incorporation into the new technical guidelines (2014)
by the Ministry of LIFE for the water management sector which would make IRCM then eligible
for all rivers in Austria.
8. Risk factors: Many similar approaches exist next to the case study IRCM Upper Traun in
Austria and in neighboring countries; they have been compiled in the “Guidance for River
Catchment Management” (“Leitfaden für Flussraumbetreuung”) in Austria. Main risk is still that
these approaches are not always fully implemented mainly due to short-sighted budget or
organizational constraints. This example can be easily adapted and transferred to other river
interest areas.