The presentation of the new publication “Assessment of the Condition of Aquatic Environment” giving an overview of Estonia’s biggest catchment area - the Viru-Peipsi catchment area – was recently held in the Ministry of the Environment. The Viru-Peipsi catchment area encompasses 19 towns and 89 rural municipalities in 10 counties, covering close to 40% of the Estonian territory. Illustrated with maps and graphs, the publication with more than 100 pages gives a thorough overview of work performed in Viru and Peipsi sub-basins within the framework of the regional water management plan. From this bulky piece of writing the reader can get essential information on the condition of rivers, lakes, coastal waters and ground water in the Viru-Peipsi area. The Viru-Peipsi catchment area is also an international river basin being one of the most Eastern catchment areas of the European Union. The Viru-Peipsi catchment area management plan (CAMP) encompasses administrative units in 10 counties: Ida-Virumaa, Lääne-Virumaa, Järvamaa, Jõgevamaa, Tartumaa, Põlvamaa, Valgamaa, Võrumaa, Viljandimaa and Harjumaa. Close to 35% of Estonian population or 484 thousand people live in this area. By today, half of the water management project designed to be completed by autumn 2005 has been realised and the publication recently presented is a mid-term review of work done in the past two years. The work and analyses performed so far will be taken as a basis for a plan of measures to ensure a good condition of water bodies in this region by the year 2015. Among other things, it should be decided which rivers should be left untouched as fish rivers, on which rivers could the barrages and hydroelectric power stations be maintained, what kind of water is consumed at which cost, where is it necessary to treat waste water more efficiently, whether the water resource is sufficient for economic development, etc. The project led jointly by the Estonian Environment Information Centre and experts from France and other EU Member States (see also www.envir.ee/viru.peipsi) was launched in spring 2002 in the framework of the European Union LIFE-Environment programme. The aim of the project is to ensure the preparation of Viru-Peipsi water management plans pursuant to the EU water policy framework directive and Estonian legislation and thus improve the condition of water bodies in this region. The objective of the European Union LIFE-Environment programme is to promote and co-finance innovative pilot projects and engage various EU experts in these projects. The programme does not finance investments. The budget of the Viru-Peipsi CAMP project is close to EEK 20 million of which approximately one-thirds has been spent by today. The new publication can be obtained free of charge from the Estonian Environment Information Centre and later also from county environmental services. Further information: Monika Kopti |
