A concept of integrated water management illustrated for Flanders (Belgium)

Integrated catchment management (ICM) is an application of the concept of sustainable development for aquatic ecosystems. It aims at developing, maintaining, and restoring the water system to reach the quality objectives of multifunctional use for this generation without compromising the uses for future generations. The quality objectives should be based on sufficient ecosystem knowledge. ICM demands a solid and workable framework built on the integration of knowledge and organizational integration which are supported by statutory rules and (international) regulations. In Flanders, future legal support will be based on both the framework for water action plans proposed by the European Commission, and a Flemish decree concerning integrated water management. The overview given for ecosystem knowledge is (on a Flemish scale) based on data networks. The interrelation and processing of large data sets deliver basic knowledge to build up policy visions for land-use planning and environmental planning. Organizational integration will be worked out on two levels: an Integrated Water Consultation Committee on a Flemish level (13,806 km(2)) will work out the outlines and examine the sector-oriented long-term demand for water; and Catchment Committees on a subbasin level (scale: 700-2300 km(2)) will bring together the relevant parties and work out integrated catchment plans (ICP). Bringing together the administrations of Environmental Planning and Town and Country Planning around one vision, with a balanced multifunctional use, is one of the biggest challenges of ICP in Flanders.