Handbook on participatory river basin management
The HARMONICOP project focused on improving awareness of participatory river basin management in Europe and supporting the execution of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) on this issue. The project's research focused on three crucial facets of river basin management. These were scale issues, the function of information and information tools and cultural, political and geographical influences. After in-depth case studies were conducted in nine countries, a handbook was created on public methodologies for the implementation of the Water Framework Directive. The handbook, entitled "Learning together to manage together - Improving Participation in Water Management" is a complement to the Guidance Document on Public Participation. The first draft of the handbook was derived from a questionnaire created for water managers engaged in the nine case studies from which followed an analysis of the results. The methodology for finishing the handbook was chosen and the storyboarding was advanced. An additional questionnaire was used for feedback collection primarily from HARMONICOP stakeholders as well as potential readers. A workshop took place in September 2004 which focused on the exchange of practical experience. In particular the aim was to learn from the stakeholders about problems taking place in their everyday tasks in order to choose what should be covered in the handbook. In 2005, two workshops took place, details of which completed the draft versions of the handbook. It appears that the many steps involved in the process of creating the handbook will be put to use to improve implementation of the WFD and integrated water management. Other sectors such as environmental policy are likely to be influenced by the handbook's context and other handbook designers by its advanced participatory design approach.
