Description of your project idea
The overall objective of TRANSECOS project is to contribute to protection of Velikaja River Basin’ waters from eutrophication and pollution with organic and other polluting substances, and to protection of water ecosystems especially within national parks and reserves areas. It is to be achieved by elaborating common methodology for assessing the ecological status of the transboundary rivers and producing recommendations for joint action plans for the project partners in water management field.
Expected results
TRANSECOS project will develop a unified water status assessment method, provide recommendations on how to achieve / preserve good status of waters, and thus promote co-operation of project countries in achievement of defined environmental objectives.
Target groups/final beneficiaries
Target groups of the project are policy makers/managers, scientists, and the general public, particularly the population of the cross-border territories. All groups are expected to be more active to fill the gap between science and policy/management. They will be informed about the project by means of website and mailing lists. To ensure communication with the general public, relevant politicians, decision makers and local authorities will be invited to the project kick-off meeting, local conferences, and Final conference arranged by TRANSECOS. Scientists should also communicate on water status through their scientific findings. Policy makers/managers and population of the border areas should more actively ask for the knowledge they need, as well as be informed on possible information sources. Essential wide publics input in the form of direct participation will increase the scope of ideas and knowledge to find a basis for decision making in water protection field. Final beneficiaries of the project are municipal authorities of transboundary regions in Latvia and Russia, issuing long-term permits and providing supervision on appropriate use of water resources, as well as experts in the field of water status, particularly water pollution.
Main planned Activities
Establishing the observation network on rivers, lakes, wells, springs and boreholes within the project area. Surface water monitoring observations for hydrological (water level & discharge), hydrochemical, hydrobiological, chemical data collecting and analysis, and river and lake sediment sampling. Subsequent laboratory works include analysis of chemical composition, concentration of metals and organic pollutants, evaluation of isotopic composition of waters, and hydrobiological data as well as river and lake sediments analysis and for found related surface waters. Intercomparison of laboratories at Finish Environment Institute (SYKE) within the framework of Laboratories Intercomparison and Proficiency tests Programme. Modelling and assessment of hydrological processes under extreme and normal meteorological conditions, nutrients and contaminants transport on the transboundary watershed using a numerical model – Gridded Surface Subsurface Hydrologic Analysis (GSSHA). An assessment of ecological status of rivers and lakes and chemical quality of aquifers as well as the anthropogenic influence on water in the cross-border region. Project results and information sharing with stakeholders and general public using WEB, press releases in media, meetings and workshops.