Bothnian Bay River Basin Management Plan 2016-2021
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BOTHNIAN BAY WATER DISTRICT BOTHNIAN BAY RIVER BASIN MANAGEMENT PLAN 2016-2021 English summary River Basin Management Plan 2016-2021 Bothnian Bay Water District – English summary Diary number: 537-9859-201 Issued by: County Administrative Board of Norrbotten Responsible unit: The Bothnian Bay Water District Authority Author: Swedish Water Authority of the Bothnian Bay Water District Cover photo: 2014©Andreas Broman Layout: Carina Nanker Production: Turbin AB Edition: available for download at www.vattenmyndigheterna.se PREFACE The water in Sweden and especially in its northern parts is often taken for granted, something that is in abundant quantities and maintains high quality. This picture is not correct, nor is it the case in other parts of the world where water, both in terms of quantity and quality, is the most explicit limitation of the conditions of life and thereby pervades all societies. Water management is an environmental and resource issue with many dimensions. Water is our most important nutriment, one of our most important resources and a habitat for many plants and animals. It is therefore natural that questions about how we handle water are closely associated with society at large. Whether we drink the water, use it as cooling water to produce electricity, fish, swim or enjoy the nature experience, we must all take responsibility. Water is not a commercial product like any other but, rather, a heritage which must be protected, defended and treated as such. Water management according to the EC Water Framework Directive is to achieve good water status in all groundwater, lakes, rivers and coastal waters. On December 16, 2016 an important step was taken towards better water in the Bothnian Bay water district. The water district board then decided on environmental quality standards, program of measures and mana- gement plan 2016-2021 for the district´s water bodies that comply with the manage- ment plan and program of measures 2009-2015. These documents underlie further work on securing, managing and improving the state of the district’s groundwater, lakes, rivers and coastal waters. Water management efforts involve municipalities and state authorities, but also require participation from other stakeholders such as individuals, companies and water councils. A challenge in coming years will be to ensure that water issues are more integrated into social planning and exercise of authority, as well as the rise awareness of water issues operators and individuals. Our goal is that environmental quality standards and program of measures will be effective tools for achieving set targets. Working with water issues in a coherent and well-thought-out way results in better water, good water environments and sustainable water resources. The time for better water is now! Sven-Erik Österberg County Governor at the County Administrative Board of Norrbotten Chairman of the water district board in the Bothnian Bay water district – I – ADOPTION OF THE RIVER BASIN MANAGEMENT PLAN On 16 December 2016, the water district board of the Swedish Water Authority of the Bothnian Bay Water District decided on the management plan 2016-2021 for the Bothnia Bay water district (537-14223-2016). This according to chapter 5, section 1, of the Ordinance on Water Quality Management (SFS 2004:660). At the same time, the water district board decided, in accordance with chapter 3, section 1, of the Regulation (2004: 660), on environmental quality standards for surface and groundwater bodies in the Bothnian Bay water district. Environmental quality standards are prescribed by the County Administrative Board of Norrbotten (Water District Authority for the Bothnia Bay water district) regulations on quality requirements for water bodies in the Bothnian Bay water district (25 FS 2016: 32 A 26). The water district board also decided on the rogramme of measures 2016-2021 for the Bothnia bay water district. This according to Chapter 6, Section 1, of the Ordinance on Water Quality Management (SFS 2004:660). These decisions have been preceded by public consultation according chapter 2, section 4, the Ordinance on Water Quality Management (SFS 2004:660). READING INSTRUCTIONS This report is a summary of the river basin management plan for the Bothnian Bay water district 2016-2021 which describes the water management work in the district. The plan has five parts that includes a report on state, pressures and impacts on wa- ter bodies, surface and groundwater, in the district. It also describes set targets, en- vironmental quality standards, and the environmental monitoring forming the basis for assessments. The management plan also includes the programme of measures for the Bothnian Bay water district for the period 2016-2021, a scenario illustrating what socio-economic consequences of the programme of measures there may be, and a view of what may be ahead and may need to be carried out during the water manage- ment cycle from 2016 and on. The five parts are: 1. Introduction to the river basin management plan 2. The management plan 2009-2015 3. The monitoring program 2009-2015 4. The programme of measures 2016-2021 5. The management plan 2016-2021. The management plan of the Swedish Water Authority of the Bothnian Bay Water District also includes the County Administrative Board’s regulations on environme- ntal quality standards for water and a number of annexes. For more information, visit our website www.vattenmyndigheterna.se – II – Register of contents 1 Water – an indispensable resource ................................................. 1 1.1 There is constantly more to be learned .....................................................................1 1.2 The measures must be taken now ............................................................................2 1.3 Social development is dependent on clean water .....................................................3 1.4 The time for better water is now! ..............................................................................4 2 Water management framework in Sweden .................................... 5 2.1 The water district board decides ...............................................................................6 2.2 The water district authorities coordinate work ..........................................................7 2.3 Parliament and the government legislate, control and allocate funds .......................7 2.4 State authorities have responsibility for different parts ............................................8 2.5 The municipalities have several different roles .........................................................8 2.6 Cooperation ...............................................................................................................8 2.6.1 Water councils are the local connection ........................................................................... 9 2.6.2 Other stakeholders ............................................................................................................ 9 2.7 The instruments of water management ..................................................................10 2.7.1 River Basin Management plan .........................................................................................10 2.7.2 Environmental quality standards ......................................................................................11 2.7.3 Programme of Measures ..................................................................................................11 3 Bothnian Bay water district ........................................................... 13 3.1 The status of the water ...........................................................................................15 3.1.1 Monitoring of water in the district ...................................................................................16 3.2 Environmental challenges in the Bothnian Bay water district .................................18 4 Measures for better water ........................................................... 20 4.1 Programme of measures .........................................................................................20 4.2 Issues to be addressed in the water district ............................................................36 4.2.1 Physical changes .............................................................................................................36 4.2.2 Environmental contaminants............................................................................................36 4.2.3 Eutrophication ..................................................................................................................37 4.2.4 Acidification .....................................................................................................................37 4.2.5 Invasive species ...............................................................................................................38 4.2.6 Changed groundwater levels............................................................................................38 4.2.7 Chloride in groundwater ...................................................................................................38 4.2.8 Inadequate protection of drinking water ..........................................................................39 4.2.9 Protected areas ................................................................................................................39 4.2.10 Other problems and accidents .........................................................................................39