Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 13, 2026

Watershed Planning within a Quantitative Scenario Analysis Framework
Published on: July 24, 2016
A methodology for the evaluation of water policies in European countries
Lucia De Stefano1, Javier de Pedraza Gilsanz, Fermín Villarroya Gil
1Departamento de Geodinámica, Facultad de Ciencias Geológicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, c/ Jose Antonio Novais 2, Ciudad Universitaria, 28040, Madrid, Spain. destefal@science.oregonstate.edu
Abstract:
Periodic assessment of progress toward established policy goals is crucial to understanding whether the applied efforts are effective. In Europe, the Water Framework Directive (WFD) adopted in year 2000 set ambitious environmental objectives to be achieved by the end of 2015 through the implementation of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) principles. While at this stage it is premature to measure the impact of this Directive in terms of environmental outcomes, it is nonetheless important to develop indicators in order to monitor whether water management practices throughout Europe are aligning towards IWRM. This article presents the methodological development of the Water and Wetland Index, a comparative water policy assessment by environmental NGOs that was carried out in 2002-2003, and highlights the interest of repeating it in 2015, when the first WFD planning cycle will be completed.
Related Concept Videos
Quality of Water
Design Example: Analyzing Capacity Contours for Flood Risk Assessment
Testing Water Quality
States of Water
Water freezes when the intermolecular forces are greater than the kinetic energy. Unlike most other substances, water is less dense in its solid state than in its liquid state. This is because each water molecule can form...
Development of Analytical Methods
Methods to Assess Microbial Communities

