Polish Waters Authority have obtained a grant from the European Union to develop the projects for the third update of drafts of the 3rd Update of River Basin Management Plans

River Basin Management Plans

River Basin Management Plans (RBMPs) are among the key planning documents in the water management system. They define the actions necessary to improve the status of waters and to protect them against pollution, and they constitute the basis for achieving environmental objectives arising from national and European Union legislation.

These documents serve as a point of reference for government and local government administration, as well as for the general public, when making decisions regarding activities that have or may have an impact on the water environment. For this reason, their preparation is of significant importance for the protection of water resources and sustainable development.

Scope of the Project

As part of the project, the following will be developed, in particular:

• an assessment of the impact of transverse structures on biological continuity and on the achievement of environmental objectives for surface water bodies (SWBs),
• identification of anthropogenic pressures, together with their spatial visualisation, for all categories of surface waters,
• analysis of significant anthropogenic impacts, including an assessment of their influence on the status of surface waters and the risk of failing to achieve environmental objectives,
• establishment of environmental objectives for all water bodies and protected areas, including the development of a register of protected areas,
• drafts of the third update of river basin management plans.

Project Results

The result of the project will be the preparation of draft river basin management plans, which will then be subject to public consultation and implemented into national law in the form of regulations.

The overarching objective is to achieve or maintain good status of surface waters and groundwater, as well as water‑dependent ecosystems, in accordance with the principles of sustainable development and the requirements of the Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC. River basin management plans constitute a fundamental tool supporting the achievement of these objectives.

Project Financing

• Total project value: PLN 39,802,000
• European Funds contribution: PLN 31,726,174.20

The project is co‑financed by the European Funds for Infrastructure, Climate and Environment 2021–2027 (FEnIKS).