Costs, benefits and climate proofing of natural water retention

measures (NWRM)Valentina Villoria – Ömer Ceylan

Coordination Workshop Preparation for the WS&D Policy Review and the

Blueprint for Europe's Waters

29 June 2011

Methodological and quantitative basis for identifying the financial needs and policy implications at the EU level for NWRM

Costs and benefits, and resilience to climate change of NWRM and EU policy and funding instruments to promote no-regret measures

Best instruments to create synergies between the EU policy framework and no-regret measures at a river basin level

Objectives

1. Structure the information gathered in the call for evidence and complementary sources

2. Provide a quantitative estimate of the potential for NWRM at EU level, and aggregated figures for costs and benefits

3. Analyse the potential implementation barriers or critical success factors for no-regret measures in EU policies, leading to practical recommendations

Tasks - overview

1. Structure the information gathered in the call for evidence and complementary sources Typology of measures and river basins Available literature and case studies (e.g., LIFE+,

INTERREG, FP6/7 projects) Metadata Catalogue Gaps in the information Metadata Catalogue design (in MS Access and to be

compatible with WISE and EU Adaptation Clearinghouse)

Task 1

Task 1 - NWRM

Continuous cover forestryMaintaining and developing riparian forestsRestoring and maintaining meadows and pasturesAfforestation of agriculture landBuffer stripsCrop practicesTillageTerracing

Green coverEarly sowingFilter strips and swales

Permeable surfaces and filter drainsInfiltration devicesBasins and pondsGreen roofsArtificial Ground Water Recharge Wetland restorationRestoration of LakesDesign of shallow impoundments on tributaries of reservoirsFloodplain restorationBank stabilisationRe-meandering

Task 1 – Deliverable – Catalogue/Database

Task 1 – Applicability criteria

Climate zoneNorthSouth

Land-use type

Forests and other wooded land

Meadows and PastureAgriculture land

Urban landLakes and their wetlandsRivers and their wetlands

LocationUpstream

Downstream

Soil permeability

LowMedium

High

Soil depth

very shallow (< 25 cm) shallow (25 - 50 cm)

moderately deep (50-90 cm) deep (90-150 cm)

very deep (> 150 cm)

TopographySloping

CriticalSteepMild

FloodplainChannel

EU relevanceNo; relevant to only one RB

Yes; relevant to > one RB

Task 1 – Benefits and Co-benefits

Benefits

Co- benefits

Erosion controlFlood hazard reduction

Run-off controlSoil quality improvement

Groundwater replenishment

Food/fiber/fuelWater regulationPollutant removalWater purification

Water qualityEvapotranspiration

Air qualityClimate regulation

Aesthetic valueRecreation

Water cyclingProvision of habitat

Cost savings

Reducing grey infrastructureAvoided damage

Material with increased life cycleOther

Task 1 – Cost components

Land requirement Acquisition Compensation

Construction/rehabilitation Investment Design, contingency, etc. Operation and maintenance

Administrative costs Enforcement costs Monitoring Extension networks

Other costs Productivity losses Environmental risk Other

Task 1 – Vulnerability indicators

Precipitation Land-use change

Ambient air temperatureEvapotranspiration

River dischargeSoil moisture

Groundwater recharge

Water temperatureAridity Index

Water demandErosion

Water qualityExposure of population to floods

Crop yield

Task 1 – Deliverables – Catalogue in MS Access

Task 1 – Deliverables – Browse measures

Task 1 – Deliverables – Browse case studies

2. Provide a quantitative estimate of the potential for NWRM at EU level, and aggregated figures for costs and benefits

Choose a geographically and typologically representative sample of measures

Provide the JRC the main parameters for an EU-wide modelling of NWRM

Provide the JRC with Policy Scenarios (e.g., implementation of one or various measures)

Modelling by JRC (at least three CC vulnerability scenarios)

Task 2

2. Provide a quantitative estimate of the potential for NWRM at EU level, and aggregated figures for costs and benefits

Effectiveness of measures at EU level (flood risk prevention, etc.)

Aggregated costs and benefits

Costs and benefits of no-regret measures (emphasis on co-benefits)

Task 2

3. Analyse the implementation barriers or critical success factors for no-regret measures in EU policies

Relevant EU policies and EU funding instruments

Result: Policy recommendations

Task 3

Thank you for your attention!