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[31] Thornthwaite CW, Mather JR.Instructions and tables for computing potential evapotranspiration and the water balance. Publications in Climatology, Laboratory of Climatology,

[32] Rahman ATMS, Ahmed MS, Adnan HM, Kamruzzaman M, Khalek MA, Mazumder QH, Jahan CS. Modeling the changes in water balance components of highly irrigated western part of Bangladesh. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences Discussions. 2017. DOI:

[33] Karim MA. Upazila-Wise Groundwater Recharge Condition of Bangladesh. Dhaka:

[34] Haque MA, Jahan CS, Mazumder QH, Nawaz SMS, Mirdha GC, Mamud P, Adham MI. Hydrogeological condition and assessment of groundwater resource using visual modflow modeling, Rajshahi City Aquifer, Bangladesh. Journal of the Geological Society of

[35] BMDA (Barind Multipurpose Development Authority). A survey report on identification of small rivers/*Khal*/Jalasoi of Rajshahi division, Bangladesh. 2005 (in Bengali) [36] Page D, Vanderzalm J, Dillon P, Gonzalez D, Barry K. Stormwater quality review to evaluate treatment for drinking water supply via managed aquifer recharge. Water, Air,

[37] Jahan CS, Rahman ATMS, Mazumder QH, Kamruzzaman M. Adaptation for climate change effect on groundwater resource through MAR technique in drought prone Barind Area, Rural Bangladesh. In: Ali SM, editor. Bangladesh: Combating Land Degradation and Drought, Dhaka: Series-II. Department of Environment (DoE), Ministry of Environment (MoEF), Dhaka, Bangladesh: Government of Bangladesh; 2015. pp. 61-83.

and Soil Pollution. 2016;**227**:322. DOI: 10.1007/s11270-016-3021-x

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10.5194/hess-2017-523 (in review)

120 Achievements and Challenges of Integrated River Basin Management

GWC-II, BWDB; 1987

India. 2012;**79**(1):77-84

ISBN 978-984-33-9991-5

**Chapter 8**

Provisional chapter

, 60 million

**Transboundary Cooperation and Sustainable**

DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.73260

The Rhine connects millions of people from the Alps to the North Sea. With a length of

inhabitants as well as important cities and fascinating landscapes. Consequently, the Rhine is culturally, historically and economically one of the most important rivers in Europe. The International Commission for the Protection of the Rhine (ICPR) was founded in 1950 with the first common goal in history to reduce water pollution. The whole process got a new impetus with the chemical catastrophe at the Sandoz plant (near Basel) in 1986, which saw aquatic ecosystems being seriously damaged. This disaster led to a better integration of the issue of ecology into the tasks of the ICPR. Depollution and rehabilitation programmes with actions and measures were established. In the 1990s, severe flood events forced the ICPR to add flood prevention to its sustainability goals enabling a better protection of citizens. This chapter presents the common work of the countries aimed at protecting the Rhine basin and the most important environmental

1233 km, its catchment includes nine states, an area of about 200,000 km<sup>2</sup>

Keywords: Rhine, Rhine basin, integrated river basin management, transboundary cooperation, international water management, water quality, ecology, alluvial areas, biotope, ecological continuity, migratory fish, water quantity, flood risk management,

> © 2016 The Author(s). Licensee InTech. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and eproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

© 2018 The Author(s). Licensee IntechOpen. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use,

distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Transboundary Cooperation and Sustainable

**Development in the Rhine Basin**

Development in the Rhine Basin

Anne Schulte-Wülwer-Leidig, Laura Gangi,

Anne Schulte-Wülwer-Leidig, Laura Gangi,

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

outcomes of this special and long-lasting partnership.

low water, low flow, climate change

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

Tabea Stötter, Marc Braun and

Tabea Stötter, Marc Braun and

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.73260

Adrian Schmid-Breton

Adrian Schmid-Breton

Abstract

#### **Transboundary Cooperation and Sustainable Development in the Rhine Basin** Transboundary Cooperation and Sustainable Development in the Rhine Basin

DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.73260

Anne Schulte-Wülwer-Leidig, Laura Gangi, Tabea Stötter, Marc Braun and Adrian Schmid-Breton Anne Schulte-Wülwer-Leidig, Laura Gangi, Tabea Stötter, Marc Braun and Adrian Schmid-Breton

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.73260

#### Abstract

The Rhine connects millions of people from the Alps to the North Sea. With a length of 1233 km, its catchment includes nine states, an area of about 200,000 km<sup>2</sup> , 60 million inhabitants as well as important cities and fascinating landscapes. Consequently, the Rhine is culturally, historically and economically one of the most important rivers in Europe. The International Commission for the Protection of the Rhine (ICPR) was founded in 1950 with the first common goal in history to reduce water pollution. The whole process got a new impetus with the chemical catastrophe at the Sandoz plant (near Basel) in 1986, which saw aquatic ecosystems being seriously damaged. This disaster led to a better integration of the issue of ecology into the tasks of the ICPR. Depollution and rehabilitation programmes with actions and measures were established. In the 1990s, severe flood events forced the ICPR to add flood prevention to its sustainability goals enabling a better protection of citizens. This chapter presents the common work of the countries aimed at protecting the Rhine basin and the most important environmental outcomes of this special and long-lasting partnership.

Keywords: Rhine, Rhine basin, integrated river basin management, transboundary cooperation, international water management, water quality, ecology, alluvial areas, biotope, ecological continuity, migratory fish, water quantity, flood risk management, low water, low flow, climate change

© 2016 The Author(s). Licensee InTech. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and eproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. © 2018 The Author(s). Licensee IntechOpen. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

### 1. Introduction

The Rhine connects millions of people from the Alps to the North Sea. With a length of 1233 km, its catchment includes nine states, an area of about 200,000 km<sup>2</sup> , 60 million inhabitants as well as important cities and fascinating landscapes (Figure 1). Consequently, the Rhine is culturally, historically and economically one of the most important rivers in Europe.

The states and regions in the Rhine basin (Switzerland, France, Germany, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, Austria, Liechtenstein, Wallonia, Italy as well as the European Union) all join forces in the International Commission for the Protection of the Rhine (ICPR) founded in 1950 to improve the sustainable development of the river and its catchment [1]. The first historical common goal of the ICPR was to reduce water pollution. The whole process got a new impetus with the chemical catastrophe at the Sandoz plant (near Basel) in 1986, which saw aquatic ecosystems being seriously damaged. This disaster led to a better integration of the issue of ecology into the tasks of the ICPR. Depollution and rehabilitation programmes with actions and measures were established. In the 1990s severe flood events forced the ICPR to add flood

Transboundary Cooperation and Sustainable Development in the Rhine Basin

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.73260

125

This chapter presents the common work of the countries for the protection of the Rhine basin and the most important environmental outcomes of this special and long-lasting partnership.

For many centuries, the Rhine river has played an important role in the history and the social, political and economic development in Europe. Multiple uses, conflicting interests and particularly environmental and flood problems in and along the river have highlighted the impor-

The foundation of the ICPR 5 years after the end of World War II was a first political success. On 11 July 1950, the ICPR began its discussions on issues of Rhine protection and monitoring with a view to finding joint solutions. Mutual confidence had to be carefully created in the international working groups of the ICPR. The high pollutant loads and the contamination of

Thirteen years after its foundation, the ICPR was given a status under international law. In 29 April 1963, the envoys of the German, French, Luxembourgian, Dutch and Swiss government signed the "Convention on the International Commission for the Protection of the Rhine against Pollution" in Berne [2]. One year later (1964), a permanent international secretariat was established in Koblenz, Germany, to coordinate the cooperation of the contracting parties

At the beginning of the activities of the ICPR, between 1950 and 1970, the first challenge was to establish a common Rhine water quality monitoring from Switzerland down to the Netherlands. However, there was no improvement of water quality to measure. On the contrary, by the end of the 1960s, the Rhine water quality was worse than ever. In 1972, the ministers in charge of environmental protection in the Rhine catchment met for their First Conference of Rhine Ministers. In their next meeting in 1973 in Bonn, they charged the ICPR to draft a Chemical

prevention to its sustainability goals to enable a better protection of citizens.

2. Integrated Rhine river basin management: the ICPR

tance of an integrated approach aimed at protecting the Rhine.

the Rhine with salt were of great concern for the downstream users.

in the working languages German and French, since 2003 also in Dutch.

2.1. Historical background

2.2. A real step-by-step approach

Figure 1. States in the Rhine catchment.

The states and regions in the Rhine basin (Switzerland, France, Germany, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, Austria, Liechtenstein, Wallonia, Italy as well as the European Union) all join forces in the International Commission for the Protection of the Rhine (ICPR) founded in 1950 to improve the sustainable development of the river and its catchment [1]. The first historical common goal of the ICPR was to reduce water pollution. The whole process got a new impetus with the chemical catastrophe at the Sandoz plant (near Basel) in 1986, which saw aquatic ecosystems being seriously damaged. This disaster led to a better integration of the issue of ecology into the tasks of the ICPR. Depollution and rehabilitation programmes with actions and measures were established. In the 1990s severe flood events forced the ICPR to add flood prevention to its sustainability goals to enable a better protection of citizens.

This chapter presents the common work of the countries for the protection of the Rhine basin and the most important environmental outcomes of this special and long-lasting partnership.
