Water management and restoration in Hungary 1. LAKEPROMO SEMINAR 25.11. – 26.11.2004 Microteknia, Kuopio FINLAND University of Debrecen, HUNGARY Centre

Water management and restoration in Hungary

1. LAKEPROMO SEMINAR 25.11. – 26.11.2004 Microteknia, Kuopio FINLAND

University of Debrecen, HUNGARYCentre for Environmental Management and Policy

Zoltán Karácsonyi, László Stündl, Tünde Szabó University of Debrecen, HUNGARY

Centre for Environmental Management and Policy

Key features:

• Hungary is located in the Danube watershed

• Area: 93.000 km2,• Over 90% of waters originate beyond the borders

• Two main problems: - Excess water (inland inundations and floods)

- Water deficit (draughts)

Carpathian Basin - Hungary



Hungary – flooded areas before river regulations

History:• Regulations started in the 18th Century

• Reason: economic needs (agriculture) and public safety

• Dyke construction on both sides of the rivers

• Results: safer and increased arable production

• Side effect: inland inundations, water to be pumped back to the river (by pumping stations)





Watershed

Dykes and prevented area

Amount and source of inflow

Heavy floods in short period of time(water discharge of River Tisza water:1:40)



Extremities in the water regime

Draughts – continuously increasing significance (desertfication) especially in Mid-Hungary (between two large rivers, Danube and Tisza)Inland inundations – wast areas involved

Structure of the Hungarian water management

Ministry for Environment and Water Management

Directorate for Environment protection , Nature Conservation and Water ManagementDivisions: - Nature conservation, - Enviromnetal protection - Water management

Environment protection and Water Management Authority

Regional Water Directorates Regional Water Authorities



Professional branch Authority branch

Regional water directorates and authorities



Competences of actors in water management

- Ministry – state owned large facilities (rivers, lakes, etc.) - Water Management Associations – running of multi-owner facilities - Local Authorities – water management and prevention within municipalities

Other institutions connected to water management

- Environmental directorates and authorities - Nature conservation directorates and authorities - National Spatial- and Regional Development Councils and Agencies- NGOs International – WWF, IUCN, Greenpeace International, etc.

National - umbrella organisations: Ornithological association, NationalSociety of Conservationists,

- local organisations: associations, foundations, etc. at local level



Water framework directive

- Obligatory programme- Hungary - Danube watershed 2000/60 EC Directive- Hungary as EU candidate and member state participate in the implementation from the beginnings- Latest report: 2004. June:

- location, - competencies, - legal framework, - responsibilities, - international relations (multi- and bilateral) Austria: June, 1959.



Recent significant water management development activities in Hungary

Tisza River restoration programme

Extremely heavy floods

New strategy: - Dyke reconstruction- Flood reservoirs- Floodplain reconstruction



20012000

1999

Flood prevention- 14 lowland reservoirs- 78.000 hectares of total surface- 1500 mill. m3 storage capacity

Programme development including PR project:- Negotiations with stakeholders, municipalities, NGOs. - NGOs invited to comment during the whole planning period.- Veto for several reservoirs, but 1+ included (Nagykörű) now 5 reservoirs are decided, implementation start 2004-2005



Main features

Lake Balaton water supply

- Largest shallow lake, - Extremely low water level (reason: 2000-2003 low precipitation in the watershed)- Water supply – necessary? - Source: riverine (Danube, Mura, Rába, Dráva) or Karstic water?- strong civil interest (for and against)- high touristic importance- strong local support (economic reasons)

Strategic environmental assessmentOutcome: the plan is given up primarily for ecological reasons.

Due to favourable weather the lack of water is now only -10 cm

Municipality Board meeting on a dune (August, 2002.)



Lake Fertő water supply

- Location: Austrian-Hungarian border- Austria – touristic, nature cons.- Hungary – Iron curtain, limited access area (Zero develoment until 1989.)



Main features:• Shallow (average depth below 1m)

• Highly saline (avg. salt content 2000 mg/l)

• Small watershed (1200 km2) compared to lake surface (310 km2); rate only 3:1)

• World heritage title (2002 dec.)

Actors connected to water management of Fertő lake

• Water Management Authority (manager and authority)• National Park (manager and authority) - activities: wetland development, tourism, fisheries, • Fisheries (Hungarian side: 1700 ha, 1/10 of whole lake) - 9 private fishermen (small scale), 22-26 tonnes/year - Eel fishery (stocking finished), still carps and predators• Angling - 1000 licenses/year , 1800-2500 kg/year, limited access• Reed production - largest reed field in Central Europe (7000 ha) - high natural value (habitat), • Sailing - 3 clubs, private investments (harbour)• Regional Development Agency, Micro-region Development Agency – primarily tourism



Documents

Water management and restoration in Hungary 1. LAKEPROMO SEMINAR 25.11. – 26.11.2004 Microteknia, Kuopio FINLAND University of Debrecen, HUNGARY Centre