AMICE PROJECT, Letzte Aktualit�ten [de]

Partners' interviews on Investments

Maite FOURNIER (EPAMA) — 2012-04-24 00:00:00

On a sunny Tuesday, the AMICE Partners that are implementing investments as examples of good adaptation to climate change exchanged their views on projects development and management. Each Partner had to answer the questions of a jury made of the other AMICE participants. A fruitful afternoon of sharing !

Action : Global Projekt

AMICE in the European Climate Adaptation Platform

Maite FOURNIER (EPAMA) — 2012-04-11 00:00:00

The European Climate Adaptation Platform helps users to access and share information on:

Expected climate change in Europe
Current and future vulnerability of regions and sectors
National and transnational adaptation strategies
Adaptation case studies and potential adaptation options
Tools that support adaptation planning

http://climate-adapt.eea.europa.eu/web/guest/home

AMICE has been referenced under this platform. You can even show your support to our project by clicking a "like" button.

http://climate-adapt.eea.europa.eu/projects1?ace_project_id=83

Enjoy the visit !

Action : Global Projekt

AMICE presented at the World Water Forum

Maite FOURNIER (EPAMA) — 2012-03-12 00:00:00

AMICE will be presented at the World Water Forum by EPAMA President, M. Jean-Paul Bachy, during the opening sessions of March 12th. This invitation is a wonderful acknowledgment of the quality of our project and an opportunity to share more largely our results.

See the press release, in French, below.

Action : WP5 - Kommunikation und Verbreitung der Ergebnisse

Feedback on the Walloon and French flood exercises

Maite FOURNIER (EPAMA) — 2012-03-07 00:00:00

The WP4 Partners had not seen each others since the large flood exercises of November 2011. Now that the return of experiences have been held on each territory, it was good to share the Partners views. The AMICE transnational flood exercise was a great success in France and Belgium. We discussed how to make the best out of it and how to proceed with our cooperation.

Action : WP4 - Software f�r das Hochw�sser-Krisen-Management

Project Steering Group n.7

Maite FOURNIER (EPAMA) — 2012-03-01 00:00:00

The seventh Project Steering Group meeting was the occasion to share feedbck on the brainstorm session about AMICE 2, modify the Partnership Agreement, discuss the Adaptation strategy workshops, and discuss with SICadapt!

Presentations of the day can be dowloaded here.

Action : Global Projekt

Which AMICE investment is the best ?

Maite FOURNIER (EPAMA) — 2012-03-01 00:00:00

Well, all AMICE investments are the bests, of course!

But after two days of marathon meetings, it was good to joke about which is better than the bests.

The WP2-WP3 joint meeting was the occasion to get some latest news about the investments developments and site visits. We also imagined some interviews of the projects managers, in order to draw recommendations and best practices. The interviews will be held in April.

Action : Global Projekt

climate impacts and climate proofed measures

Maite FOURNIER (EPAMA) — 2012-02-29 00:00:00

Below are the documents shared during the last WP1 meeting. Topics discussed were :

- Action 7 : presentation of the results of the flood damage calculation and low-flows impacts on agriculture, navigation, drink water and energy

- Action 8 : a first overview and discussion on how to evaluate the climate proof of some AMICE measures

Action : Klimasicherheit der bestehenden und zuk�nftigen Ma�nahmen

AMICE final conference : in preparation

Maite FOURNIER (EPAMA) — 2012-02-09 00:00:00

The AMICE Partners have started the preparation of the Project s final conference.

It will be held on March 13th to 15th, 2013 : write it down in your agendas !

We cannot tell too much, yet. But that will be held in France and gather about 200 water managers, scientists, politicians from all over Europe. Out target is : Let s make it something great !

Action : Internationale Veranstaltungen

International Symposium on Hydraulic Engineering Aachen (IWASA)

Maite FOURNIER (EPAMA) — 2012-01-12 00:00:00

On January 12th and 13th, the AMICE Partner IWW has host a major two-day symposium.

Over the years this International Symposium on Hydraulic Engineering Aachen (IWASA) has become a renowned meeting point and information center among experts. The conference mainly addresses civil engineers - researchers and practitioners in hydraulic engineering and water resources management, but it is public to any interested party. Lectures are given by invited speakers coming from research institutions, companies and public administrations. Topicality and relevance of the chosen subjects attract between 350 up to 450 visitors from Germany and the neighbouring countries every year.

This year, AMICE has been present at IWASA and Partners delivered speeches in all of the sessions.

You can download the Programme hereunder and visit the IWASA website : http://www.iww.rwth-aachen.de/en/menue/iwasa/iwasa2012.html

The presentations from the AMICE Partners can be viewed hereunder.

Action : Internationale Veranstaltungen

Meuse and Climate 5

Maite FOURNIER (EPAMA) — 2012-01-10 00:00:00

The fifh issue of AMICE newsletter Meuse and Climate is now downloadable !

You will read about the latests developments of the Project since July 2011: major events, pictures and progresses of the different workgroups.

We wish you a pleasant moment reading it !

Action : Global Projekt

Low-flows statistical analysis for Wallonia

Maite FOURNIER (EPAMA) — 2011-12-30 00:00:00

The floods have always been the main concern resulting of extreme weather conditions. Now droughts and low flows are more and more recognized as risk situations due to the huge consequences of water shortage. Furthermore, the changing climate context constitutes a new threat even if the uncertainty in low-flows evolution remains high.
A work must consequently be executed on the low-flow occurrence probability. In Wallonia, a knowledge gap remains on statistical analysis of low-flows. The University of Liège, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech had for goal to compensate the lack of knowledge on statistical low-flow data in Wallonia.

Action : Erforschen und einigen auf hydrologische szenarien

WP1 meeting

Maite FOURNIER (EPAMA) — 2011-11-25 00:00:00

Below are the documents from our last WP1 meeting :

- first results are available for the impacts of low-flows on agriculture and for the impacts of floods

- discussions are still going-on on the mapping of flood risks

Action : Zuk�nftigen Auswirkungen von hochw�sser und Niedrigwasser-Abfl�ssen

Transnational flood crisis management exercise

Maite FOURNIER (EPAMA) — 2011-11-07 00:00:00

Crisis managers from France and Belgium in the Meuse river basin have organised a major flood exercise to test and improve their practices of warning, organisation and rescue.

From november 07th to 18th, 2011, over 350 participants have acted the management of an extreme flood, calculated on the basis of one AMICE scenario of climate change.

Returns of experience are ongoing and a report will combine all observations.

Below are the press articles published about this event:

Action : WP4 - Software f�r das Hochw�sser-Krisen-Management

Joint publication by Belgian and German Partners

Maite FOURNIER (EPAMA) — 2011-10-20 00:00:00

The University of Liège, the Technology Institute of Aachen and the Wasserverband Eifel-Rur have jointly signed an article in Dams and Reservoirs under changing Challenges.

Opportunities for updating and optimizing current operating rules are being evaluated for the Vesdre reservoirs in Belgium (50 M m³) and the Rur complex in Germany (300 M m³). This assessment is conducted transnationally at the scale of the Meuse river basin. Common methodological approaches are followed in both countries and operating rules are analyzed in light of common climate change scenarios, recently defined for the whole Meuse basin. Similar risk-based approaches are used consistently in both countries to evaluate the performance of new operating rules in terms of risk reduction for floods and low flows.

Read the full article :http://orbi.ulg.ac.be/handle/2268/85117

Action : Steuerungsregeln f�r die Talsperren der Rur

Site Visit on the Steenbergse Vliet - adaptation becomes reality

Maite FOURNIER (EPAMA) — 2011-09-30 00:00:00

Dear AMICE friends,

Here are some documents about the site visit organised by the Waterboard Brabantse Delta on the Steenbergse Vliet project, as well as press cuts and pictures.

Many thanks again to the team for the wonderful organisation, the bike tour and the fruitful discussions about our water management practices.

Action : Die Investition in Steenbergse Vliet

Project Steering Group 8

Maite FOURNIER (EPAMA) — 2011-09-29 00:00:00

The 8th Project Steering Group meeting was the occasion to get presentations of the AMICE investments and to discuss actions to be carried-out in 2012.

Partners also had a brainstorm session to share their views on AMICE achievements, its future and the opportunity of setting-up an AMICE 2 project under Interreg V.

All documents can be accessed through the links below.

Action : Global Projekt

Summaries on full hydraulic modeling of the Meuse basin

Maite FOURNIER (EPAMA) — 2011-09-28 00:00:00

Partners have finalised the report and summaries of Action 6 - hydraulic modeling. The papers describe the methodology to run a full modeling of the Meuse river from spring to mouth and present results at the basin scale as well as on a selected number of hotspots.

You can download the summaries in your own language below.

Action : Hydraul. Simulation

Action 6 finished - Action 8 starts !

Maite FOURNIER (EPAMA) — 2011-08-24 00:00:00

WP1 activities started-up again right after the summer holidays !

The day agenda was really full because a lot is going on in WP1 this year :

- Action 6 is now finished, the report and summaries will be published shortly

- Action 7 has reached a new level and Partners are now able to perform calculations on flood risk; RIWA Maas was also invited to help us evaluate the impacts of climate change on drink water production

- Actions 8 and 9 are starting jointly: the aims have to be detailed; new Partners will be invited to join in the discussions.

You can read the meeting report and access the presentations by clicking on the titles below.

Action : Zuk�nftigen Auswirkungen von hochw�sser und Niedrigwasser-Abfl�ssen

Meuse and Climate 4 presents the AMICE project s latests activities

Maite FOURNIER (EPAMA) — 2011-08-19 00:00:00

The fourth issue of AMICE newsletter Meuse and Climate is now downloadable !

You will read about the latests developments of the Project from January 2011: major events, pictures and progresses of the different workgroups.

We wish you a pleasant moment reading it !

Action : WP5 - Kommunikation und Verbreitung der Ergebnisse

Information sharing on the organisation of national flood exercises

Maite FOURNIER (EPAMA) — 2011-07-01 00:00:00

The AMICE Partners have presented the progresses for the organisation of the national flood exercises in each country involved in the AMICE exercise : France, Belgium and the Netherlands.

Partners have also worked jointly on identifying basis information for the press releases of all participants.

Action : WP4 - Software f�r das Hochw�sser-Krisen-Management

WP1 update: transnational damage functions agreed

Maite FOURNIER (EPAMA) — 2011-05-31 00:00:00

Last WP1 meeting was held in Aachen on an, exceptionally, rainy day.

Partners finally agreed on common damage functions for the flood impact assessment! First calculations can now start.

Impacts from low-flows were also discussed, especially on energy and navigation for which the methodologies need to be developed further.

Action : Zuk�nftigen Auswirkungen von hochw�sser und Niedrigwasser-Abfl�ssen

Site Visit on the Rur reservoirs

Maite FOURNIER (EPAMA) — 2011-04-06 00:00:00

On behalf of the Waterboard Rur-Eifel, you are kindly invited to AMICE next site visit that is to take place on April 6th-April 7th in Germany. Our German partners will take us on a tour around the Rur basins and the programme really looks very promising.
Come with us and discover the stunning Rur landscapes!

So don t hesitate and register right now.
Looking forward to meeting all of you in Germany!

Presentations are now available below.

Action : Steuerungsregeln f�r die Talsperren der Rur

WP1 updates

Maite FOURNIER (EPAMA) — 2011-04-06 00:00:00

WP1 Partners held a meeting on April 6th, 2011 in Aachen to discuss data and methods on the economical impact assessment of floods and low-flows resulting from climate change.

The meeting report and presentations can be downloaded here.

Action : Zuk�nftigen Auswirkungen von hochw�sser und Niedrigwasser-Abfl�ssen

WP3-WP2 joint meeting

Maite FOURNIER (EPAMA) — 2011-03-02 00:00:00

WP3 Partners held together with Partners from WP2 a meeting at Waterschap Aa en Maas in s-Hertogenbosch. This meeting was the occasion for Partners from the two WP to know each others better and to discuss further the investments developments. The afternoon was dedicated to discussing the contents of the WP3 Guideline.

The meeting report can be downloaded hereunder.

Action : WP3 - Aktive Kontrolle der Wassermengen

Cluster Website and Expert Board

Maite FOURNIER (EPAMA) — 2011-02-28 00:00:00

The website of the SICadapt! is „really” online by today. You can find there all relevant documents and info about this Initiative as well as important meetings from the other 7 Projects dealing with climate change adaptation.

www.sic-adapt.eu

The AMICE Partners participating in the coming Cluster Expert Boards have also been chosen:

- EPAMA

- Université de Liège

- RIOU

- IWW-RWTH

- Wasserverband Eifel-Rur

- Rijkswaterstaat

- Waterschap Brabantse Delta

They will make sure that all AMICE countries and workpackages are represented. The next CEB meeting will be held in Holzwickede on June 20th and 21st, 2011.

Finally, AMICE Partners have voted an additional Annex to their Partnership Agreement in order to describe procedures for participating in SICadapt!

Action :

Project Steering Group 5

Maite FOURNIER (EPAMA) — 2011-02-24 00:00:00

The 5th AMICE Project Steering Group was held on Thursday February 24th in Liège.

The 15 clips for the interactive documentary were presented.

An Annex has been added to the Partnership Agreement to integrate SICadapt! : all Partners represented voted Yes (15 Partners); the 2 Partners that could not be present have signed the additional Annex.

Action : Global Projekt

Kick-off Seminar for the Transnational flood crisis management Exercise

Maite FOURNIER (EPAMA) — 2011-02-23 00:00:00

In order to formally start the organisation of the transnational flood crisis management exercise planned in november 2011 by the AMICE project, a Seminar has been organised by Rijkswaterstaat on February 23rd 2011 at the chateau de Colonster on the Université de Liège campus.

This seminar has been attended by 35 participants from France, Belgium, Germany and The Netherlands and has been chaired by Mr. Willem Schreurs, general secretary of the International Commission for the Meuse.

All documents related to this seminar are available below.

Action : WP4 - Software f�r das Hochw�sser-Krisen-Management

Third issue of Meuse and Climate

Maite FOURNIER (EPAMA) — 2010-12-31 00:00:00

The third issue of the newsletter Meuse and Climate is now downloadable !

You will find here all updates about AMICE since last July: the major events, photos and first results.

We wish you a pleasant reading !

Action : WP5 - Kommunikation und Verbreitung der Ergebnisse

Presentation of the hydraulic modelling results

Maite FOURNIER (EPAMA) — 2010-12-16 00:00:00

On 16th December 2010 was held the second intermediate meeting of WP1 (scientific studies) to present results of the hydraulic modelling (Action 6). It was hosted by the University of Liège.

The invitation and list of participants can be found here.

Maïté Fournier started with a short presentation of AMICE and previous achievements of WP1.
Benjamin Dewals, who was coordinating Action 6 jointly with Sylvain Detrembleur, disclosed the first results of the hydraulic modelling and explained the methodology used toconnect the different hydrualic models and ensure consistency at the country borders.
The results of Action 6 are of utmost importance for Action 7 which deals with risk analysis and damage calculation. Benjamin Sinaba from RWTH Aachen, presented the methodology that will be used by the AMICE Partners.

AMICE is also seeking connections with other initiatives in order to exchange knowledge and outputs.
Markus Lang is the Leader of SICadapt! This is a cluster of 8 projects from the Interreg IV B Programme all dealing with climate change adaptation in different sectors. He came to present the aims and organisation of SICadapt
Otto DeKeizer is working both on the Meuse and Rhine river basins. He is presenting the RheinBlick 2050 research project and a discussion is started on the opportunity to carry-out a similar study on the Meuse basin.

Each presentation was followed by questions from the audience.

The speakers demonstrated that thanks to AMICE, the Meuse countries have the opportunity to share data and methodologies to the benefit of all Partners. This cooperation already lead to a better understanding of the basin characteristics, the improvement of hydraulic models and risk assessment methodologies.

Action : Hydraul. Simulation

WP2 meeting

Maite FOURNIER (EPAMA) — 2010-12-09 00:00:00

WP2 Partners met in Breda on December 9th under an exceptionally sunny day. The meeting focused mainly on communication :

- the GPS route around the Steenbergse Vliet works has been further described,

- a general presentation on how to communicate about climate change was given by Martine Lejeune.

You can download the presentations hereunder.

Action : WP2 - Nat�rl. Wasserr�ckhalt

News from IWW

Maite FOURNIER (EPAMA) — 2010-11-25 00:00:00

With climate evolution, changes in flood discharges are expected within the Meuse basin. The annual number of flood disasters increased considerably in the last decades and the price paid is constantly increasing. Within the AMICE project the work of the IWW is focused on the assessment of the change of economic risk due to flood losses regarding climate evolutions. For flood loss calculations each country has its own methodology for impact assessment. Hence the main task regarding flood loss estimation was to set up a common methodology which produces comparable outputs between the participant partners. Generally the flood loss calculation will be done, by linking the results of hydraulic modelling (flood- plains, water depths) with the specific land use data.

Beside the increasing of annual flood disasters, impacts of low flows on the economy in the Meuse basin should not be under estimated. In dry periods when the water demand exceeds the water availability, several economic sectors could be affected. Possible economic losses occur, for example, when the water level in the river falls below a certain threshold and the water extraction for cooling circuits has to be stopped. This forces the power plant to operate with reduced energy production. Navigability is restricted in times of low flows. Ships have to reduce their cargo which causes increasing prices per tons while less cargo is transported. Nonetheless, even in times of water shortages the drinking water supply has to be ensured. This may cause industrial plants to reduce or stop their production. Furthermore, harvest losses due to dry periods bring severe economic damage to the agriculture sector. Because of the limited budget and available working time, the AMICE project focus is only directed on this four economic sectors: navigation, agriculture, drinking water supply and energy production. Also for the low flow task, a transnational common methodology has to be worked out. For low flow losses an extensive literature research and data collection was needed. Based on available data and economic risk models, a methodology will be set up. Therefore the economic damage assessment (referred to floods as well as low flows) is bounded to an intense exchange of knowledge between the countries.

With several calculations, the impact of different floods, today and for future scenarios of climate change will be done as well as for low flow losses. It will also reinforce the risk consciousness of floods and low flows as a basis to develop strategies for the populations living at the river to react.

The progress in the project is ensured by meetings with the other participants of AMICE in regular intervals.

Action : Zuk�nftigen Auswirkungen von hochw�sser und Niedrigwasser-Abfl�ssen

Updates on WP1 actions

Maite FOURNIER (EPAMA) — 2010-11-09 00:00:00

WP1 Partners have been meeting on November 9th in Maastricht.

Action 6 : the hydraulic models had their first runs. Partners are comparing the water height values on the borders. Inconsistency appeared that need to be solved before launching the second run. The origin of these inconsistencies is known.

Action 7 : the methodology for the flood damage calculation is finalised. Discussions are still running on the low-flow damages as well as on maps.

Results from Action 6 will be presented to a broad audience on December 16th in Liège and the technical report be prepared for Spring 2011.

Action : Zuk�nftigen Auswirkungen von hochw�sser und Niedrigwasser-Abfl�ssen

WP3 meeting and visit of the Urft dam

Ina KRUEGER (WVER) — 2010-11-04 00:00:00

On November 4th, Partners from the WP3 had the opportunity to see two of the dams on the Rur basin and to visit the inside of the Rur dam. A site visit will take place here next Spring.

Partners also discussed the Guideline they aim to publish by 2012: Transnational cooperative water management, to cope with uncertainties related to climate change.

Action : WP3 - Aktive Kontrolle der Wassermengen

WP4 Meeting

Maite FOURNIER (EPAMA) — 2010-10-07 00:00:00

The last WP4 meeting focused on the analysis of the 3 flood management software, carried-out by APS, as well as the preliminary discussions on the 2011 Transnational Exercise organisation.

Action : WP4 - Software f�r das Hochw�sser-Krisen-Management

Interreg IV B Programme Overview

Maite FOURNIER (EPAMA) — 2010-10-04 00:00:00

The Interreg IV B Programme has published an overview of its actions since 2007. It reminds the reader of the Programme aims and demonstrates the relevance of its projects for the whole North-West Europe.

Some Projects are highlighted : you can read about AMICE on page 26.

The Interreg IV B Programme will have its Annual Event in Manchester (UK) on December 6th-7th 2010. You can register for this event on the Programme webpage: https://registration.livegroup.co.uk/nweurope/Default.aspx

Action : Global Projekt

AMICE Site Visit on Amel Ambleve

Maite FOURNIER (EPAMA) — 2010-10-01 00:00:00

What do we see ? : Riou WP2 investment

Where is it ?: Saal HEINDRICHS - St.Vither Strasse 93 - 4770 BORN

Aims :

discovering Riou WP2 investment on the roof of Belgium
exploring the upstream part of two very beautiful and very different tributaries of the river Amel/Amblève
getting acquainted with Riou local partner and its activities in the regio
getting a taste of the collaboration between several AMICE partners
having a nice day together.

See you in Born on October 1st !

Action : Wiederherstellung der Wasserlauf in Ardennes

AMICE Project Steering Group 4th meeting

Maite FOURNIER (EPAMA) — 2010-09-30 00:00:00

Enclosed the report and annexes of the last PSG meeting held on September 30th, 2010 in Liège at the Meuse Commission.

Action : Global Projekt

SICadapt! Cluster Kick-off

Maite FOURNIER (EPAMA) — 2010-09-29 00:00:00

The AMICE Project was invited by the Interreg IV B Secretariat to participate in a Cluster of Projects related to the Adaptation to climate change impacts. The Lead Partners of the 8 invited Projects met regularly and created SICadapt!

The application form of SICadapt! has been approved by the Interreg IV B Programme. The Cluster will be coordinated by the Lead Partner of the Future Cities project : Lippeverband.

It will offer Partners the opportunity to meet and exchange on their methodologies to take into account climate change and set-up adaptation strategies. A workgroup will also be dedicated to translating our results into public policies. A final conference will also be organised in 2012.

Action : Global Projekt

Summary : Analysis of climate change, high-flows and low-flows scenarios on the Meuse basin

Maite FOURNIER (EPAMA) — 2010-07-13 00:00:00

The AMICE Partners finally agreed upon the most extreme hydrological scenarios only. The latter were derived from the transnational wet climate scenario for high-flows and the trans-national dry climate scenario for low-flows.

Those extreme hydrological scenarios are as follows:
- An increase in Qhx100 values of +15% for 2021-2050 and +30% for 2071-2100
- A decrease in MAM7 values of -10% for 2021-2050 and -40% for 2071-2100

Action : Erforschen und einigen auf hydrologische szenarien

WP1 report on the Analysis of climate change, high-flows and low-flows scenarios on the Meuse basin

Maite FOURNIER (EPAMA) — 2010-07-01 00:00:00

The present report details methods and results from Actions 1 and 3 which have been carried-out in 2009 and supervised by the University of Metz.

The objective of Action 1 was to share our knowledge on the present and future characteristics and hydrological behaviour of the Meuse river basin. Knowledge on this topic is still scattered and hardly available within the 3 official languages spoken on the Meuse basin. Information has been gathered by the Partners and organized by topics into an online database.

Action 3 was dedicated to the study of downscaled climate simulations for 2021-2050 and 2071-2100 and their consequences in terms of floods and low-flows on the Meuse river basin:
- which discharges can be expected on the river Meuse and main tributaries?
- how the return period, duration, extent of floods and low-flows will change from now to 2021-2050 and 2071-2100?

Partners have analyzed climate simulations from meteorological institutes (IPSL, Cerfacs, KMI, KNMI, ...), national and EU research programs (Prudence, Ensembles, ADAPT, etc). They have checked if they can be applied to the Meuse basin, assess their uncertainty and the required corrections.

The Partners involved achieved the basis research that will be used throughout the AMICE project. The climate and hydrological scenarios will not only be used for WP1 but also for some investments in WP2 and WP3, as well as for the definition of the transnational exercise in WP4.

It is to be emphasized that the AMICE adaptation strategy will respond to two climate scenarios (a wet and a dry ones) – the most reliable we could find but not the only possible ones – with their assumptions and uncertainties. These climate scenarios represent what could, most likely, happen on the Meuse basin.

Action : Erforschen und einigen auf hydrologische szenarien

Report of the last WP4 meeting

Maite FOURNIER (EPAMA) — 2010-06-30 00:00:00

Here the report of the last WP4 meeting : flood crisis management software.

Software development and implementation with the users is progressing. Partners will now start planning the transnational exercise, scheduled for 2011.

Flood crisis management exercises at the local level are planned in autumn 2010. Partners are welcome to participate as observers.

The next meeting will be held in Charleville-Mézières (FR) on October 7th.

Action : WP4 - Software f�r das Hochw�sser-Krisen-Management

Actions 6 and 7 start

Maite FOURNIER (EPAMA) — 2010-06-24 00:00:00

Action 6 (hydraulic modelling of the impacts of climate evolutions on the Meuse river and main tributaries) and Action 7 (risk analysis, damage calculation related to futur floods and low-flows and cost of inaction) have started jointly in a WP1 meeting held in Maastricht (NL) on June 24th 2010.

The University of Liege, responsible for action 6, has presented the methodology and work schedule. The objective is to modell the river completely from Neufchateau to Keysers Veer, based on the hydrological scenarios calculated in action 3.

The Aachen Technical Institute has presented the damage calculation methodologies used in the different countries of the Meuse basin. Partners need to proceed with their investigations before a methodology is established.

Examples of software for the evaluation of damages related to droughts and low flows have also been presented.

The Universities of Amsterdam and Gent participated in the meeting to bring in their expertise.

The decisional report as well as presentations can be downloaded hereunder.

Action : WP1 - Zuk�nftigen Auswirkungen von hochw�sser und Niedrigwasser-Abfl�ssen

Second issue of Meuse and Climate !

Maite FOURNIER (EPAMA) — 2010-06-14 00:00:00

The second issue of the newsletter Meuse and Climate is now downloadable !

You will find here all updates about AMICE since last December: the major events, photos and first results.

We wish you a pleasant reading !

Action : WP5 - Kommunikation und Verbreitung der Ergebnisse

News about WP2 investments

Maite FOURNIER (EPAMA) — 2010-05-20 00:00:00

WP2 Partners met each others on a sunny day to exchange information about their respective investments. All works are ready to start and progress as planned.

Partners had also the opportunity to test communication tools like children games or posters. The aim is to help them better communicate about their local stakes and climate change.

They had a look at the flood plain around Ny and discussed the latest studies and management choices of the Community of Hotton and Province of Luxembourg.

On October 1st 2010, RIOU will organise its Site Visit on the Amblève/Ammel basin.

Action : WP2 - Nat�rl. Wasserr�ckhalt

Publication in the review Natural Hazards of the methodology for risk analysis in Walloon region

Maite FOURNIER (EPAMA) — 2010-05-15 00:00:00

The paper presents a consistent micro-scale flood risk analysis procedure, relying on detailed 2D inundation modelling as well as on high resolution topographic and land use database.
The flow model is based on the shallow-water equations, solved by means of a finite volume scheme on multiblock structured grids. Using highly accurate laser altimetry, the simulations are performed with a typical grid spacing of 2m, which is fine enough to represent the flow at the scale of individual buildings.
Consequently, the outcomes of hydraulic modelling constitute suitable inputs for the subsequent exposure analysis, performed at a micro-scale using detailed land use maps and geographic database. Eventually, the procedure incorporates social flood impact analysis and evaluation of direct economic damage to residential buildings.
Besides detailing the characteristics and performance of the hydraulic model, the paper describes the flow of data within the overall flood risk analysis procedure and demonstrates its applicability by means of a case study, for which two different flood protection measures were evaluated.

You can download it from : http://orbi.ulg.ac.be/handle/2268/35051

Action : Zuk�nftigen Auswirkungen von hochw�sser und Niedrigwasser-Abfl�ssen

WP4 report on Flood crisis management in the Meuse basin

Maite FOURNIER (EPAMA) — 2010-05-01 00:00:00

The Partners involved in WorkPackage 4 have delivered their first report.

They analysed how flood crisis management is organised in the Meuse countries (France, Belgium and The Netherlands) and which tools are used to support crisis preparation. This report is the result of a questionnaire sent to WP4 Partners and of several meetings.

Partners are now working on the development of their respective tools. Wallonia will also test OSIRIS and FLIWAS on its own territory.

Meeting reports and presentations from WP4 are available in the document section.

Action : WP4 - Software f�r das Hochw�sser-Krisen-Management

Meuse Symposium - the AMICE session

Maite FOURNIER (EPAMA) — 2010-04-22 00:00:00

The Meuse Symposium is a great event organised every 4 years to ensure an overview of existing knowledge and an exchange of information between scientists, authorities, water managers and operators, companies, non-governmental organisations and other stakeholders, regarding the stakes the Meuse District will have to face in the coming years.

The 3rd Meuse Symposium Meuse took place on April 22nd and 23rd, 2010 in Liege (BE).

The AMICE project, supported by the International Meuse Commission, was presented during this event: a unique opportunity to discover all workgroups of the project, meet the Partners and be informed of our recent outputs.

All AMICE presentations and posters from this event can be downloaded hereunder.

Action : Internationale Veranstaltungen

Site Visits - HOWABO and Steenbergse Vliet - The Netherlands

Maite FOURNIER (EPAMA) — 2010-03-18 00:00:00

AMICE Partners and followers had the opportunity to visit each others and discover two investment locations in The Netherlands on March 18th and 19th, 2010.

The first one is the HOWABO project in the City of s Hertogenbosch (in AMICE known as action 19 in WP3). A bus tour was organised around the future flood reservoir. Participants grasped how big this storage will be. Joop de Bijl, Waterschap Aa en Maas, explained everything from the negociations with the landowners, the technical issues - the reservoir inlet, the highway - that are still being studied, to the global sustainable management plan around the city. The investment is very much supported by the local authorities, who took part to the journey and brought their points of view. Speeches were also given about the Waterschap, the AMICE project, the transnational cooperation on the Meuse basin. A caroussel was organised to exchange views in an informal way on water-related topics. Great ideas came out of it.

In the evening, a walk-and-eat tour was organised around the ancient city of s Hertogenbosch. This was a pleasant opportunity to discuss with all participants and know more about each others culture.

The second one is the Steenbergse Vliet project in the most downstream part of the Meuse basin (in AMICE known as action 16 in WP2). Participants were welcomed in the brand new town hall of Steenbergen by the Mayor itself. Speeches were given on the Waterschap Brabantse Delta and the AMICE project. Participants were then invited aboard for a boat trip on the Steenbergse Vliet and the Krammer Volkerak lake. There was additional presentations that demonstrated that the Waterschap takes into account ecological, cultural and climate issues. The local situation is really complex. The participants were lucky with the weather and could admire the stunning landscape of the Meuse delta, the diversity of birds, the fortress Hendricus and Ron Lambregts floating house.

The event reached its target: to gain knowledge of each project area in relation to the total Meuse basin, to develop a team spirit, an attitude of information sharing at a transnational level, between all operators on the Meuse basin in order to cope with the effects of climate changes.

Action : WP5 - Kommunikation und Verbreitung der Ergebnisse

WorkPackage 1 follow-up meeting

Maite FOURNIER (EPAMA) — 2010-03-11 00:00:00

The AMICE Partners have now been working for one year. WorkPackage 1 - Impacts of future floods and low-flows - focused most specifically on the analysis of climate change scenarios for the coming century and the impact of future climate conditions on the hydrology of the international Meuse basin. The AMICE Partners have delivered their first results. The meeting was aimed at presenting the results and the methodology to the participants, get their reactions and questions, before proceeding with the adaptation strategy development. The WP1 Partners are now engaged in the writing of the related report. The University of Metz, reference partner for the climate and hydrology, passed on the lead to the University of Liege, which will supervise works on the hydraulic modelling.

Action : WP1 - Zuk�nftigen Auswirkungen von hochw�sser und Niedrigwasser-Abfl�ssen

OSIRIS training in Belgium

Maite FOURNIER (EPAMA) — 2010-03-01 00:00:00

In the framework of the AMICE project WP4, a training session to the OSIRIS software has been organised on 1st and 2nd March 2010 in Marche-en-Famenne (Belgium).

Created and developed on the Loire and Meuse basin in France, this software provides assistance to the local communities for the establishment of their plans communaux de sauvegarde (community safety plans) and improves the efficiency of flood crisis management.

The APS has identified several communities in Wallonia where the software will be installed and tested.

The participants came from APS, but also from the Province du Luxembourg and the Centre Régional de Crise de la Région wallonne. Each participant has now direct access to OSIRIS.

Action : WP4 - Software f�r das Hochw�sser-Krisen-Management

First edition of AMICE newsletter

Maite FOURNIER (EPAMA) — 2010-02-15 00:00:00

We, all of the AMICE partners are very happy to present you the first issue of Meuse and Climate the newsletter of the AMICE project. In this first issue you can read more about the aims of AMICE, the partnership and some of our actions.

Action : WP5 - Kommunikation und Verbreitung der Ergebnisse

Project Steering Group 3 - meeting report

Maite FOURNIER (EPAMA) — 2010-02-04 00:00:00

Here are the documents related to the third Project Steering Group meeting.

Main discussions focussed on the proposition of story for the Meuse film as well as AMICE participation into the Climate Change cluster initiated by the Interreg IV B Program.

Action : Global Projekt

WP3 Partners meeting in Hasselt

Maite FOURNIER (EPAMA) — 2010-01-22 00:00:00

WP3 Partners met in Hasselt on 22nd January.

They visited one of the lock on the Albert Canal : the Hasselt Lock. It is similar to the Lock of Ham where an investment will take place to save water and produce electricity.

Each Partner presented the latest developments of their respective investments.

They decided on a title and table of contents for the WP3 Guidelines.

First ERDF subsidy received by AMICE project

Maite FOURNIER (EPAMA) — 2010-01-04 00:00:00

The AMICE project was granted a 32% subsidy by the Interreg IV B Programme, corresponding to a global 2.809.000€ for the 4 years of the project. The ERDF is given progressively on the basis of the Partners prooves of expenses, that are forwarded every 6 months to the Programme Secretariat.

The Partnership drafted the first payment claim for the actions carried-out between january and june 2009 and received the corresponding ERDF : 65.670€. The subsidy was received rapidly and no modification was made to the amounts by the Programme.

The listing and audit procedures are complex and required an important work at Partner level. Each Partner managed to set-up an internal organisation in order to respect deadlines and the forthcoming payment claims should require less time.

Action : Global Projekt

WP4 progresses

Maite FOURNIER (EPAMA) — 2009-12-17 00:00:00

WP4 Partners met in Amsterdam before Christmas to discuss the interactions between their software and possible developments, which will be carried-out in 2010.

Each country has different needs in terms of software improvements and it is not easy to find common interests. A better communication is necessary between the forecast services and the crisis managers throughout the Meuse basin. The WP4 Partners would like to work on that.

The Partners will train each others on the softwares. This will facilitate mutual understanding and software comparisons.

The next meeting shall take place in Paris in April 2010.

More information available in the attached documents below :

Action : WP4 - Software f�r das Hochw�sser-Krisen-Management

Gouttes de pluie, flux de Meuse

Maite FOURNIER (EPAMA) — 2009-12-11 00:00:00

Gouttes de pluie, flux de Meuse is a book combining all knowledge about the international catchment basin of the Meuse, describing its history, its hydrology, the hydraulic works and the water management organisations.

The author, Marcel de Wit, passed away on september 7th, 2009. Physical geographer, he worked for Rijkswaterstaat and Deltares, and represented the Netherlands at the International Meuse Commission.
The book, written in Dutch, has been translated to French within the european project AMICE.
A book presentation will be held on December 11th, 2009 in Saint-Mihiel, France.
You can download the invitation to this event here.

The speeches are now available in pdf format hereunder.

Action : Global Projekt

News from Flanders Hydraulics Research

Maite FOURNIER (EPAMA) — 2009-12-01 00:00:00

1. Climate Change impact scenarios

Flanders Hydraulics Research (FHR) in Antwerp ordered a study at Leuven University Hydraulics Laboratory on the “Effect of Climate Change on discharges in high and low water situations and total water availability”. FHR has no hydrologic models for the Meuse catchment basin and the AMICE-project was a trigger to extend the study.

Compared to the total area of the Meuse catchment area, the Flemish part is relatively small; moreover hydrologic models covering the whole of the international Meuse basin already exist in the Netherlands. The Dutch delegation of the International Meuse Commission brought researchers from FHR and Deltares together and a study to calculate the 3 Belgian climate change scenarios for hydrologic impact with the models from Deltares was ordered by FHR.
These three scenarios are:

1.      High or wet scenario: more rainfall in winter, limited run-off decrease in summer

2.      Mean or mild scenario: comparable to the actual situation in winter, dryer in summer

3.      Low or dry scenario: less run-off in winter and summer

The average yearly discharges for low flows are significantly lower for the low scenario and significantly higher for the higher scenario compared to the actual situation. All scenarios are unambiguous for future summer discharge: the average summer discharge becomes lower than half discharge in the control period (1961-1990).

In all scenarios September has the lowest discharge.

An important remark has to be made on low flows: as indicated earlier the calibration of the HBV model is done with a focus on high water applications. Therefore hydrodynamic routing with SOBEK model is calculated to incorporate the effect of wave damping, decreasing the maximum discharges with +/-10%. De Wit et al. (2007) suggest that influence of winter rainfall in average summer discharge is underestimated.

2. Update of Meuse knowledge

In 2004, Flanders Hydraulics Research made a report with an inventory of all types of aspects relevant for water management for the Meuse catchments.

In the AMICE project, consultant IMDC is updating this information and making a new overview report structured in the same way as for the AMICE literature database. All relevant documents will be added to this database before the end of 2009, when the inventory report has to be ready.

Although the social and ecologic consequences of flooding are not in the AMICE proposal any more, FHR decides to work together with the Higher institute of Labour Studies (HIVA, KULeuven) on a case study about social aspects of resilience. The Flemish side of the Grensmaas (border in between Belgium and the Netherlands) is selected for this case study. The information will be quantitative but will not be multiplied with or added to the quantitative economic risk information at this stage.

3. Workshop on Climate Change in Flanders

More than 40 Flemish colleagues of the water sector came to Flanders Hydraulics Research on October 29th for a workshop about climate change impact on hydrology with a focus on the effects on the navigable waterways in Flanders.

For the Meuse, the study of Deltares for Flanders Hydraulics Research and the AMICE project were presented. The KULeuven Hydraulics Laboratory presented the methodology of the project “Climate Change Impact on Hydrology” (CCI-Hydr) and the results on high and low flows on the Flemish Rivers.

Written questions were submitted during the coffee break and ordered and grouped by prof. Jean Berlamont who lead the discussion. Some of the main issues:

-          Water managers need more intermediate results: 2020, 2050 instead of results for 2100 only

-          Combined influence of sea level rise and changed rainfall-runoff

-          Link between spatial planners and water managers is still too weak

-          How (un)certain are the results? And how robust are the conclusions?

Presentations given during this workshop and a link to background documents are given on www.watlab.be
(http://www.watlab.be/nieuws/impact-van-klimaatverandering-op-hydrologie-en-de-gevolgen-voor-overstromingen-en-watertekorten)

Action : Erforschen und einigen auf hydrologische szenarien

Low flows � Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech

Maite FOURNIER (EPAMA) — 2009-12-01 00:00:00

The INTERREG IV B - AMICE project, interested in the impacts of climate evolutions on floods as well as on low flows, is really the occasion for the Walloon region to carry out the low flow frequency analysis on its territory. The objective is to establish a methodology based on techniques used in the neighbouring countries and on recent studies described in literature.

There exist many definitions of the low flow but in the framework of the AMICE project the Walloon region retained two of them:

• Mean Annual 7-day Minimum flow (MAM7): the lowest value of the moving average of the flows reached during 7 consecutive days a year.
• Q95: flow reached or exceeded 95% of the year.

The source data used are the daily medium flows. Work is carried out per calendar year, taking into account the fact that the period of low flows in Belgium extends from June to October.

An inventory of these hydrological observation stations having sufficient historical records available was carried out. Quality as well as homogeneity of the data are being checked. Statistical work will start soon.

Thanks to the AMICE project, the Walloon region will have a better knowledge of low flows of its rivers; this topic used to be a bit neglected because it is not yet problematic in this area. With the climate evolutions predicted for the end of this century however - increase in the periods of droughts - it is time to improve our knowledge in this field as to manage our rivers as well as possible.

Action : Erforschen und einigen auf hydrologische szenarien

Work undertaken from German partners in the Rur sub-basin

Maite FOURNIER (EPAMA) — 2009-12-01 00:00:00

Work at the Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources Management at RWTH Aachen University will focus on the hydraulic modelling of the Rur tributary and the development of methods to assess the changes in water related risks due to climate evolution. In preparation of these tasks we collected all needed data and decided upon which software to use. A hydraulic model will be set up for the part of the Rur downstream of the reservoirs using SOBEK 1D/2D. The output of this model will give information on inundation during floods. That information together with data on land use can be used to calculate the impact of different floods, today and for future scenarios of climate change.

During a two day field trip we had a good look at the 88 km long river section downstream of the last Rur reservoir, with focus on crucial points for modelling. Along with collecting data on the Rur basin, such as maps, gauging records, etc. and visiting the important sites, we also gathered relevant publications on the Rur, the Meuse and the topics relevant to our research and added them into the Transnational Online References Database (TORD) for our partners to see.

Besides the participation in filling the TORD with contents, LFI mainly worked on producing the hydrological scenarios for Rur and Niers catchments. Here the rainfall runoff models for the Niers, all in all 14 submodels, and the Rur, consisting of submodels for the upper and lower Wurm, Inde and middle and lower Rur, have been adapted. These models need to be driven with the E-OBS data for the daily simulations and the measured data with higher temporal resolution for the high-flow calculations. For the scenario-runs the driving data needed to be produced first.

In the framework of Workpackage 3 rainfall runoff models for the area upstream the Rur reservoirs need to be set up. The data acquisition and transfer has made great progress.
To ensure a good progress in the project, meetings with the other German participants of AMICE have taken place in regular intervals.

Action : Steuerungsregeln f�r die Talsperren der Rur

News from the nv De Scheepvaart

Maite FOURNIER (EPAMA) — 2009-12-01 00:00:00

The nv De Scheepvaart (AMICE partner 9) launched a press release on the planned pumps on the Albert Canal. One of these pumps, the one on the lock at Ham is part of AMICE.

The Albert Canal and the Campine Canals are fed with water from the river Meuse. In The Netherlands too some canals, for example the Juliana Canal, are fillde with Meuse water.

The water from the Albert Canal and the Campine Canals serves different applications. In the first place it is the operating water for the sluices that serve the inland shipping trade. This trade takes on a daily basis about 6000 lorries from the highways.
In a second place the water is also used for the production of drinking water for the Antwerp conurbation, as cooling water for electricity plants, as processwater for industry and at last also to irrigate farmerland and nature reserves.

At normal precipitations there is enough water in the Meuse to provide for the different needs of the Albert Canal and the Campine Canals. However the Meuse is a rain-fed-river which means that the flow can be very low in long, dry periods. At these moments it is possible that there is not enough water in the Meuse to feed all of the canals.

In 1995 a treaty was signed between Flanders and The Netherlands to regulate the distribution of the water in periods of low flows. In these periods the nv De Scheepvaart in its role as the water manager of the Albert Canal and the Campine Canals must take measures in order to reduce the use of the water in these canals. Gathering the ships together before the sluices and guiding them through together is one of the possibilities. To reduce or temporarly stop certain uses is another one.

In the future more structural measures will be necessary in order to cope with possible water shortages as the need for water in the canals increases. This is due for a greater part to the succes of the inland shipping trade. Professional inland shipping increased by 60% since 1995. The consumption of water also increases in the other applications. At last according to scientific research draughts will become more severe due to climate changes.

According again to scientific research the installations of pumps on all of the sluice-complexes of the Albert Canal (Genk, Diepenbeek, Hasselt, Ham, Olen and Wijnegem) would be the best measure to prevent problems due to low flows. Thanks to these pumps part of the shipping water used in the sluices can be pumped upstreams again. By doing so the netto-consumption by the sluices is reduced without impacting the other water users.

The nv De Scheepvaart will design the pumping installations in such a way that in normal times, when there is enough water, they function as water power plants. This is possible thanks to important differences in level at the sluices in the AlbertCanal. In this way the pumps also contribute to reaching the European guidelines about the production of enery from durable sources. The water power plants will produce energy for about 10.000 households.

The water in the Albert Canal has a relatively good quality and lots of fish live there. The nv De Scheepvaart has therefore chosen to apply an innovative and ecologically sound design as to minimize the impact of the pumps on the fish populations.

The works are to start during the summer of 2010, by 2016 all of the pumping installations and water power plants should be operating.

More can be read in the different newspapers (in Dutch):
•    http://www.standaard.be/artikel/detail.aspx?artikelid=DMF20091110_058
•    http://www.standaard.be/artikel/detail.aspx?artikelid=GA2HQTJ8
•    http://www.politics.be/persmededelingen/23750/
•    http://www.gva.be/antwerpen/olen/uniek-zes-waterkrachtcentrales-op-albertkanaal-3.aspx
•    http://www.hln.be/hln/nl/957/Belgie/article/detail/1027793/2009/11/10/Regering-bouwt-pompinstallaties-en-waterkrachtcentrales-op-Albertkanaal.dhtml
•    http://www.demorgen.be/dm/nl/5036/Wetstraat/article/detail/1027793/2009/11/10/Regering-bouwt-pompinstallaties-en-waterkrachtcentrales-op-Albertkanaal.dhtml

Action : Ham Schleuse Albert Kanal

Natural water retention in the Ardennes

Maite FOURNIER (EPAMA) — 2009-12-01 00:00:00

Riou (partner 11) is one of the partners dealing with natural water retention. In fact floods and droughts are two aspects of just one problem. The idea is that sources areas and floodplains in the upper parts of the catchment basin can play an important role for the whole of the Meuse basin. Condition is they can function in a natural way. When the bog, moor and fen vegetation is well developed it acts as a sponge for the sky-water. This presents a double benefit. First, in case of high water the flood is slowed down because the water will saturate the natural sponges first. Only when the sponge is full will the extra water flow into the brooks and the rivers. Second, as the water is kept in the sponges it also has enough time to infiltrate the soil. The water thus kept in the system presents a welcome reserve in times of drought.

In the Ardennes a number of small tributaries of the Meuse are being restored to their natural situation by Riou s local partner Natagora/BNVS.
The key question now is: has the restoration of the river valleys as it is carried out an influence on the discharge of the brooks? In other words: does a more natural hydrological situation help us retaining more water in the system thus avoiding drought problems? In AMICE an hydrological study will be carried out in order to answer these questions.
In this same philosophy it is also important to know which vegetation types correspond with more natural brook ecosystems. Put in a more simple way: which plants build up the natural sponges? In order to build up a solid ecological knowledge, last summer a large number of botanical releves were made in the Emmels valley.

Hydrological data combined with ecological knowledge will give us precious information on the possibilities of small scale natural water retention.

Action : Wiederherstellung der Wasserlauf in Ardennes

WP2 Partners share experience

Maite FOURNIER (EPAMA) — 2009-11-24 00:00:00

WP2 Partners - the city of Hotton, RIOU vzw, Waterboard Brabantse Delta - met on 24th November in Hasselt, BE. They presented their investments and the first achievements. All investments deal with natural water retention on small scale basins, tributary to the Meuse.

Partners will visit one another to learn how water retention is achieved in the three different areas of the Meuse basin.

Experience sharing has started on two different topics :

- how biodiversity and water quality are taken into account in such investments? Water quantity problems are the main and first concern on these areas. But all water-related aspects should be considered to achieve a sustainable development of the area and a better anticipation of climate change.

- how communication can be improved with the local population? The local communities are hardly in favour or interested by the investments being planned on their territory. This is not due to lack of efforts from the water managers, but from a lack of methodology and means. Strategies and tools used by the three Partners involved in WP2 will be compared and their efficiency evaluated.

The report and presentations from the meeting are available hereunder.

Action : WP2 - Nat�rl. Wasserr�ckhalt

Project Steering Group meeting report - First Payment Claim

Maite FOURNIER (EPAMA) — 2009-10-15 00:00:00

In October, the AMICE Partners had their second Project Steering Group meeting. They discussed the last actions implemented, the work plan for 2010, the Payment Claim for the first semester 2009, the communication plan and communication tools. All documents are available below.

The Payment Claim for the first semester 2009 has been forwarded to the JTS and checked. The JTS has no modification to make on our Claim and the Partnership will soon receive the first part of the ERDF grant.

Action : Global Projekt

WP3 Partners want to increase interactions between their respective actions

Maite FOURNIER (EPAMA) — 2009-09-11 00:00:00

Partners of WP3 "Control of Water Quantities" met today to plan common activities aimed at increasing the transnationality of their works.

The Waterboard Aa en Maas, the Wasserverband Eifel-Rur and nv De Scheepvaart presented their recent achievements as well as their needs regarding inputs from the other water managers. It was decided to work on a common report and organise technical exchange visits. These activities need further thinking and an additional meeting is planned for January 2010.

Action : WP3 - Aktive Kontrolle der Wassermengen

The Mekong delegation interested in the AMICE project

Maite FOURNIER (EPAMA) — 2009-09-10 00:00:00

Today, the delegation from the Mekong river visited the Meuse Commission in Liège to learn about international cooperation in river management. The AMICE project was presented to illustrate cooperation on the topic of climate Change. The delegates were most interested in the way our Partnership was created and they wish to know more about our deliveries once they will be produced.

The Mekong delegation also went to the Rhine Commission and visited works in the Border Meuse.

Action : WP5 - Kommunikation und Verbreitung der Ergebnisse

Progresses from WP1

Maite FOURNIER (EPAMA) — 2009-09-03 00:00:00

The online database set up by the University of Metz is working and more than 670 references have been uploaded. However, there are still gaps that the Partners will tend to fill in the coming months.

From this bibliography, we identified some trends in the hydrology of the Meuse river for the coming decades. However, the way those trends were calculated is much too different from one region to another. The Partners decide to agree on common climate trends, which are more reliable, and produce themselves the discharge values by running the hydrologic models established on the Meuse basin.

Results from the hydrologic modelling are expected for the beginning of 2010.

Action : Erforschen und einigen auf hydrologische szenarien

WP4 starts !

Maite FOURNIER (EPAMA) — 2009-06-18 00:00:00

Partners involved in WP4 "Crisis management software" meet in Marche-en-Famenne (Belgium) in the brand new building of APS.

The software used in France "OSIRIS", Belgium "Plan Communal de Sauvegarde" and the Netherlands "FLIWAS" for flood crisis management and preparation are presented. The participants are very interested in each other s tools. Common tools are suggested. A questionnaire is established with the view of presenting flood crisis management organisation in each country, the uses and functionalities of the software, as well as improvement possibilities.

The next meeting is scheduled on September 24th in Charleville-Mézières (France).

Action : WP4 - Software f�r das Hochw�sser-Krisen-Management

Begegnung zur Lancierung des AMICE-Projekts

Maite FOURNIER (EPAMA) — 2009-04-28 00:00:00

Begegnung zur Lancierung des AMICE-Projekts am 28. April 2009 in Hotton, Belgien

Das AMICE-Projekt wurde Anfang 2008 von EPAMA initiiert. Für die Ausarbeitung der Bewerbungsunterlagen wurden zahlreiche Einrichtungen und Stellen kontaktiert. Es konnten sich nicht alle als Partner engagieren, doch wurde allseits der Wunsch geäußert, die Entwicklung des Projekts weiter verfolgen zu können. Das AMICE-Projekt wurde beim dritten Projektaufruf des Programms Interreg IV B akzeptiert. Die Fördermittel-Vereinbarung wurde am 10. März 2009 unterschrieben.

Die Begegnung hatte ein doppeltes Ziel : zum einen die Präsentation der Endfassung des Projekts vor all denen, die an seiner Ausarbeitung mitgewirkt und den Willen bekundet haben, sich durch Mitfinanzierung oder in einer beobachtenden Rolle an seiner Umsetzung zu beteiligen, und zum anderen die Unterzeichnung des Partnerschaftsvertrags durch die Partner.
Die Begegnung wurde kombiniert mit einer Ortsbesichtigung einer der Investitionsmaßnahmen des AMICE-Projekts, den Schutzvorkehrungen im Naives-Becken. Alle Informationen über diese Besichtigung sind hier abrufbar.
An der Begegnung zur Lancierung des Projekts nahmen über 70 Personen teil.

Martine LEJEUNE, Kommunikationsbeauftragte des AMICE-Projekts, begrüβte im Namen aller Partner die gesamten Teilnehmer und stellte die Redner sowie das Tagesprogramm vor.

Ansprache von Herrn DEWÉ, Erster Schöffe der Gemeinde Hotton, Gastgeberin der Veranstaltung
Herr Dewé hieβ alle Partner aus Europa herzlich willkommen und dankte den anwesenden Persönlichkeiten für ihre Teilnahme.
Er präsentierte die Gemeinde Hotton, eine Gemeinde des Ourthe-Einzugsgebiets mit 5 000 Einwohnern, und ihre zahlreichen ökologischen und touristischen Vorzüge. Er ging auf die Hochwasserproblematik ein, die sich seit den 80er Jahren immer wieder stellt, speziell in der Teilgemeinde Ny, in der im Rahmen des AMICE-Projekts Schutzmaßnahmen durchgeführt werden sollen.

Ansprache von Herrn DEWIL, Vertreter des Ministerpräsidenten der wallonischen Region
Herr Dewil verwies auf die Bedeutung des Wassers für die Wallonen, ihre Region und ihre Kultur.
Er verwies auf die in Wallonien vorhandene Sachkenntnis im Bereich Wasser, sei es in Bezug auf Wasserqualität, Hochwassermanagement oder Dürremanagement) sowie auf die Aufgaben der Transversalen Gruppe Hochwasser, die Partner des AMICE-Projekts ist.
Er gab dem Wunsch Ausdruck, dass die in Wallonien erfolgte Entwicklung und Umsetzung über die Grenzen hinaus geöffnet werden kann und durch den Austausch von bewährtern Praktiken zu einer gegenseitigen Bereicherung führen kann. Er plädierte für die Schaffung einer dynamischen Partnerschaft für Hochwasser- und Dürremanagement, die gemeinsame Betreibung von Pilot-Aktivitäten, die gemeinsame Nutzung der Diagnose-Ergebnisse in den verschiedenen Regionen des Maas-Einzugsgebietes und eine abgestimmte Umsetzung von konkreten Maßnahmen gegenüber den Herausforderungen des Klimawandels.
Abschließend beglückwünschte er all diejenigen, die das AMICE-Projekt unterstützt und seine Konkretisierung ermöglicht haben, und sprach die Hoffnung auf eine ausgezeichnete und fruchtbare Zusammenarbeit zum Wohl der Bürger an der Maas aus.

Ansprache von Frau MAHY, Abgeordnete der Provinz Luxemburg, Vertreterin des Ministerpräsidenten der wallonischen Region
Frau Mahy bezeichnete es als Ehre, an einem Projekt teilzunehmen, das 17 Partner vereint - was beweise, dass beim Thema Wasser eine große Aufgeschlossenheit und Solidarität bestehe. Sie stellte einige von der Provinz Luxemburg durchgeführte Arbeiten im Bereich des Wassermanagements vor und legte Gewicht darauf, dass die integrierte Bewirtschaftung eines Beckens das einzige Mittel sei, um ein Extremverhalten von Wasserläufen, wie zum Beispiel des Naives-Baches, wirksam zu bekämpfen.
Sie erinnerte an die Kriterien, die die Investitionsmaßnahmen des AMICE-Projekts erfüllen müssen: Gruppierung verschiedener Maßnahmen gegen Überschwemmungen und Dürren zum Nutzen des gesamten Einzugsgebiets und zur eventuellen Übertragung auf andere Becken; Verstärkung und Erweiterung der Partnerschaften zwischen den Teilnehmern im Einzugsbiet; Einbeziehung der Bevölkerung und der lokalen Teilnehmer mittels einer besseren Kenntnis des Beckens und des Klimawandels involvieren; innovatives Vorgehen.
Sie erläuterte die Rolle der Provinz Luxemburg bei den Schutzmaßnahmen am Naives-Bach und gab dem Wunsch Ausdruck, dass die Überlegungen zu diesem Becken für andere Projekte von Nutzen sein werden, vor allem in anderen Dörfern mit besonderem Charakter.

Ansprache von Herrn JEANTEUR, Vorsitzender des Zweckverbands EPAMA, bei dem die Federführung des AMICE-Projekts liegt
Herr JEANTEUR sprach allen Partnern des Projekts, Interreg IV B, der Internationalen Maas-Kommission und den anwesenden Teilnehmern seinen Dank aus.
Er beschrieb AMICE als Projekt, das die Länder des Maas-Einzugsgebiets verbindet und bei dem die Herausforderung darin besteht, Partner mit unterschiedlichen Problematiken zusammenzuführen, die aber eines gemeinsam haben: den Maas-Fluss.
Er stellte den Zweckverband EPAMA, dessen Aufgaben und dessen Realisationen auf französischem Territorium vor: Abstimmung zwischen den lokalen Akteuren, Hochwasserbekämpfung, Vorbereitung der Krisenreaktion bei Überschwemmungen. Dann erläuterte er die Maßnahmen des Zweckverbands EPAMA im Rahmen des AMICE-Projekts: Entwicklung der OSIRIS-Software und Vorgehen als federführende Stelle. Wichtig für die Strategie des Verbands sei seit jeher die Solidarität im gesamten Flussverlauf. Daher liege es auf der Hand, dass nicht nur im französischen Rahmen gedacht werden dürfe.
Er zeigte auf, wo die Stärken des Maas-Beckens, seiner Kultur und seines reichen Erbes liegen, die noch weitgehend unbekannt seien.
Er rekapitulierte die Entstehungsgeschichte des AMICE-Projekts, den Aufbau der Bewerbungsunterlagen und die Schwierigkeiten bei der Auswahl, die aber keine Schwächung der Partnerschaft bewirkt hätten, die vielmehr fest und solidarisch sei, um die Ziele des AMICE-Projekts zu verwirklichen.

Ansprache von Fräulein FOURNIER, Koordinatorin des AMICE-Projekts
Die Koordinatorin des Projekts erläuterte dessen Ziele, dessen Zeitdauer und dessen Budget, das zum Teil über das Programm Interreg IV B durch FEDER-Mittel finanziert wird. Sie zählte die an den verschiedenen Aktionen teilnehmenden Partner auf und erklärte deren jeweilige Rolle. Schließlich beschrieb sie ausführlich die Organisation des Projekts und das Wechselspiel zwischen den verschiedenen Arbeitsgruppen.
Präsentation von Fräulein Fournier

Ansprache von Herrn P. BOUXIN, Chefingenieur bei den Schutzmaßnahmen in der Teilgemeinde Ny
Herr Bouxin behandelte eingehend die Problematik der Teilgemeinde Ny und des Naives-Beckens sowie die Lösungen, die im Rahmen des AMICE-Projekts und des integrierten Management-Plans für das Becken eingesetzt werden sollen.

Ansprache von Herr G. BOUXIN, Wissenschaftliches Komitee Natura 2000
Herr Bouxin ist verantwortlich für die ökologische Betreuung vor, während und nach der eigentlichen Arbeitsphase. Er präsentierte die ersten Ergebnisse der Naives-Vegetations-Aufzeichnungen.
Präsentation von Herr G. Bouxin

Nach den Redebeiträgen erfolgte die Unterzeichnung des Partnerschaftsvertrags durch die jeweiligen Vertreter der Partner. Dieser Vertrag bestimmt die Funktionsregeln zwischen den Partnern für eine sachgemäße Umsetzung des AMICE-Projekts.

Action : Internationale Veranstaltungen

Site visit - Ny village and the Naives plain - Belgium

Maite FOURNIER (EPAMA) — 2009-04-28 00:00:00

The project of concerted and sustainable management of the Naives river basin is one of the pilot investments of the AMICE project. It is carried-out by the Commune de Hotton and sponsored by the Province du Luxembourg and the Région Wallonne. The INTERREG IV B Programme funds part of the works planned in 2011.

The objective of the visit is to present the location before works are started, to explain the management plan to all Partners and participants, and to improve it through advice and recommendations.

The visit is lead by P.Bouxin, Director of the Watercourses Service (Direction of Technical Services of the Province du Luxembourg), and C.Raskin, Advisor in Environment for the Commune de Hotton.

Context

On the road to Ny, the bus crosses the Naives floodplain. This alluvial plain, quite narrow, is bordered by steep hillsides. Runoff waters reach the stream with extreme speed, creating overflows nearly every year. The concentration time is only 4hours 30.

Ny is located in the upstream part of the basin, at the confluence of two channelled and narrow streams that generate major damage during these violent floods.

The village of Melreux is located on the confluence between the Naives stream and the Ourthe river. During flood events, the village is completely under 50 to 80 cm of water. 70 houses are regularly flooded, two national roads and several local roads, are cut in the downstream part.

The objective of the management plan is to stem the flood peak. But the basin narrow morphology does not allow the creation of a flood control reservoir upstream of Ny. The proposed solution is to increase the evacuation capacity of the underground water network in the village. It will increase the water volume carried downstream with the risk of flooding even more the vulnerable areas. To compensate for this, a controlled washland will be built downstream of Ny in the alluvial plain. Usually, the flood control reservoirs are created upstream of the area to be protected but here the engineers have to deal with the peculiar topography of this basin.

In addition to the flood problem, low-flows and poor water quality at the village exit need also to be considered. The necessary works to solve the water pollution need to be included in the management plan.

Point 1 : the Naives stream entering the Ny village

We are in the upstream part of the basin. The Naives stream is channelled from this point and crosses the village underground. The water quality is good here, there is little sediment deposit and no algae.

During flood events, the stream overflows because the channel is too small and its section is uneven (narrowing). Works will improve the water circulation (channel cleaning) and correct the pipes dimensions and slope.

The riverbed has a steep slope in its most upstream part. In consequence, the stream behaviour in the village looks more like a torrent.

Point 2: the Moulin stream entering the Ny village

The Moulin stream is a tributary of the Naives and also channelled through the village. The river bed has a very steep slope and the stream can be really dangerous during a flood. A grid has been installed on the opened part to avoid more incidents: a child has once been taken away by the flood and could only be taken back, safe and sound, at the end of the pipe at the village exit.

Point 3: the centre of the village

The two streams are channelled over several hundred meters and the underground junction is particularly negative. The combination of low-flow periods and poor network design (slope changes) favours the deposit of agglomerated sediments and leads to the reduction of the channel capacity. All these elements combined with undersized pipes causes frequent floods (3 floods in the last 2 years).

The road in front of the church is blown-up by the water under.

Measured discharges of the Naives at the confluence with the Ourthe river represent up to 10% of the river discharge during a flood causing damage in the downstream villages. The Ourthe, a direct tributary of the Meuse, is highly urbanised and industrialised in its downstream part and can hardly be modified now. The creation of 10 similar investments on the other tributaries of the Ourthe could significantly reduce its high-flows and those of the Meuse too.

In the climate change context, with an expected increase of the frequency of extreme events, it is urgent to find solutions at the global basin scale.

However, it is not possible to open the channelled streams. The road crossing the village must be kept and creating new paths for the watercourses around the village appears to be impossible because of properties and buildings. It is recommended to increase the underground network capacity and clean the river beds.

In addition to the technical difficulties, the local situation presents aesthetic and touristic constraints. Ny belongs to the Most beautiful villages of Wallonia network and is a route stage for many bikers.

When the main road is opened for the pipe works, opportunity will be taken to unearth the electric lines and replace the bitumen by cobbles. The sewage system will be separated from the rain water system and the wastewaters will be treated by lagooning in the Ny plain.

An important communication is also organised and aimed at the village inhabitants, in order to explain the reasons for the works and involve them in the village restoration.

Point 4: the stream at the village exit

The water quality of the streams crossing the village is considered poor and prevents the development of a rich fauna and flora. It is to be noted that the riverbed slope decreases after the village of Ny creating zones with very low water velocity, which is worsened by damaged banks levelled-off by cattle. During low-flows, the water heats-up and the pollutants (organic and eutrophication) are concentrated. The process can easily be observed and is increased during the summer season.

Even worse, cyanobacteria (filamentous planktonic algae) have been spotted. The main factors of their development are phosphate (by human activities) and nitrate (by human and cattle presence) as well as the low-velocity zones of the river. The metabolic products of these organisms are organic molecules toxic for mammals, and humans in particular. There is a health risk for the water consumers (cattle) or water sports (kayak on the Ourthe). It is to be noted that these cyanobacteria, by their dynamism, can rapidly colonise the major rivers with slower flows. The problem needs to be studied and treated from its origin (the tributaries).

Point 5: the Natura 2000 zone

The future flood control basin will be located on an area classified as Natura 2000. This imposes constraints for the farmers and managers. On this area, a dike will be built and a flow control system will be installed.

The objective is to use the geomorphologic characteristics of the plain for the hydraulic and biologic control.

Downstream of Ny, an integrated management of the riverine vegetation in the flood zone and on the right bank of the Naives is proposed, as well as a control of cyanobacteria by the management of the weirs.

Furthermore, the mapping of the stream will be made in order to manage better its self-purification capacity and its biodiversity (elimination of the tunnel effect caused by the vegetation, restoration of banks with bioengineering measures, upstream migration of fish…), as well as the dynamic mapping of nesting areas for rare species (conservation of nesting sites by an appropriate management of the flood on the plain).

The plan presented today means to put forward the management of extreme events, especially low-flows.

The objectives of the investment created within the framework of the AMICE project are to:

- promote the integrated management of catchment basins by combining protection measures, spatial planning, tourism development, improvement of the living environment, and taking into account the agriculture and farm heritage that have been in place for centuries

- jointly imagine solutions for floods and low-flows mitigation : in Ny, if the development of the pollution in the stream is not limited in the summer period, the flood protection measures cannot be applied, for they would damage the existing Natura 2000 zone

- integrate the effects of climate change by promoting natural solutions: self-purification in the flood control reservoir, control of the riverine vegetation development …

- place the project in the global context of the Ourthe and the Meuse basins, by participating to the upstream water retention and pollution reduction.

A second site visit is scheduled in 2012 to present the final result, exchange on communication activities organised for the population and inspire other similar projects on the Meuse basin.

Action : Ny integrierter Plan f�r die Naives Einzugsbereiche

First Project Steering Group meeting

Maite FOURNIER (EPAMA) — 2009-04-27 00:00:00

The AMICE Partners are meeting all together for the first time since the project s approval.
A "Project Steering Group" is created with one representative from each Partner organisation. Such meetings will be organised at least twice a year. They are hosted by the International Meuse Commission, in Liege.

Aims of this first meeting are to :
- go through the Project s planning for the next semester and set duties to all Partners
- discuss on propositions of an AMICE logo and leaflet
- improve the tender document for the AMICE interactive documentary

In the evening, Partners have the opportunity to have diner together on the banks of the Meuse.

Action : Global Projekt

Work Package 1 starts !

Maite FOURNIER (EPAMA) — 2009-04-03 00:00:00

Partners involved in WP1 "Impacts of Future Floods and Low-flows" are starting working. The first meeting is hosted by the University of Metz, who leads the actions 1 and 3.
There are great expectations from this WP, as its results will be used by the other WPs.

In Action 1, Partners are searching the bibliography for all relevant documents on the topics of hydrology, climate change and impacts on the Meuse basin. The University of Metz will create an online database to gather all the references. Some documents will also be translated into the languages of the Meuse basin to reach a broader public.

The next meeting in scheduled in September.

Action : WP1 - Zuk�nftigen Auswirkungen von hochw�sser und Niedrigwasser-Abfl�ssen

AMICE officially approved

Maite FOURNIER (EPAMA) — 2009-03-05 00:00:00

The AMICE project is officially accepted by the INTERREG IV B Program. After two months of hard negociations and uncertaincy on the project's outcome, the 17 Partners can start their works.

We have now 4 years of intense activities ahead of us. Our numerous and ambitious deliveries are also highly expected.

A kick-off meeting will be organised to celebrate the beginning of our cooperation.
First tasks will be to create the communication tools, finalise the financial procedures and organise Partners work in more details.

Action :