The principal objective of the GRAPES project is to develop a water resources action plan in order to mitigate the degradation of European catchments resulting from the over-exploitation of groundwater resources.

Methods to meet this objective will be developed through case studies on three example
catchments, two semi arid catchments and one temperate, representing the broad cross section
of European catchments where the groundwater resources are over exploited. In conjunction with
these case studies wider, Pan European studies will be undertaken to develop methodologies for
identifying, on a European basis, the causes, the areas and the degree of over exploitation of
aquifer resources. These studies will include the development of regional definitions of overexploitation.
The project will make maximum use of existing historical data obtained through previous EC
RTD programmes and national monitoring programmes, but will not be seeking to undertake
further monitoring programmes. The principal deliverable will be the Groundwater and River
resource Action Programme on a European Scale which will take the form of a guidance manual
detailing:
. methods for identifying aquifers and catchments where resources are potentially overexploited,
including selection of correct indices of over-exploitation for a particular European region;
. decision making frameworks for developing and assessing alternative water resource
management plans for individual catchments and guidance on strategies to achieve local training
and participation in the decision making.
. generic methods for the selection and application of modelling approaches suitable for a
particular catchment problem and novel methods for modelling catchment recharge and the use
of easy to apply conceptual models in groundwater management.