A. Background
The ecologically sensitive management of river corridors and freshwater resources is one of the key issues being addressed by hydrological and ecological scientists throughout the world. In Europe in particular, past river and water resource management practices have resulted in widespread impacts on the ecology of streams and rivers.
This COST Action will facilitate the development and application of new models and methods between the participants through their national funded research and the networking possibilities provided in this COST Action. This COST Action will also facilitate the information dissemination to end users like environmental agencies, national institutions, regulatory bodies and the water and hydropower industry. While the end-users will be active from the start-up of the Action, they will be able to participate in the priorities of research need in an integrated way.
B. Objectives and benefits
The main objective of the proposed Action is to define and develop integrated methods and models of assessing the interactions between aquatic flora and fauna and riverine habitats on reach scale and provide transferability to a catchment scale.
The first objective of this Action is to define the state-of-the-art in methods and modelling of riverine habitats and to define the research needs. On the basis of the state-of-the-art, the Action will provide an integrated framework for the quantitative assessment of the effect of human influences on aquatic ecosystems. The Action will also develop improved operational hydro-ecological assessment tools, utilising innovative scientific procedures, under a broad multi-disciplinary approach.
C. Scientific programme
In order to ensure the successful conclusion of the study, the research programme breaks down the overall objective into three important Action Tasks and three Action Research Areas. Table 1 makes a synthesis of how the Action Tasks and Action Research Areas work together. The Action Areas will run parallel in time, while the Tasks will be fulfilled one after the other.
Table 1: Action Tasks and Action Areas
|
Areas Tasks |
Area I: Raw data |
Area II: Modelling |
Area III: Application |
|
Task A: Defining research needs |
Raw data needs Statistical methods |
Model description |
Application background |
|
Task B: Developing methods and models |
Need for new data Data acquisition methods
|
Model developments |
What do we need? Degree of details Limitations |
|
Task C: Making methods and models available |
Data requirements Instruments and methods Raw data examples |
Model availability Documentation Validation |
User friendliness Operator requirements Application examples Documentation |
D. Timetable, economic dimension, dissemination
The organisation and timetable of the Action is strongly linked with the scientific program while the organisation will follow Action Areas and the timetable Action Tasks. The Action should be carried on for a period of 4 years and be culminated with an international seminar on Modelling of Riverine Habitats where the research results and follow-up options will be presented to the international community of scientists and regulators.
On the basis of national estimates provided by representatives from Austria, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Norway and Switzerland, the overall cost of the activities under the Action is estimated to 2.5 millions Euro per year at 1999 prizes. The estimate includes both co-ordination costs to be covered by the COST budget of the European Commission and national funded.
A framework of possible methods and models will be made available to the public. The framework will consist of a set of documented methods and models, experiences, test data sets, advice and some guidelines as well as contact persons, addresses and Internet links. The best and appropriate way to provide the framework is through Internet, but a report will also be made.