Author(s): Kolokytha Elpida; Eleftheriadou Eleni; Mylopoulos Yannis
Linked Author(s): Elpida Kolokytha
Keywords: Transboundary Water Resources Management; Decision support systems; Nestos/Mesta river catchment
Abstract: Transboundary areas are characterized by an increased number of problems due to different factors such as the geographic position, the shared natural resources, the limited population and the high unemployment rates. The political significance of shared water management affects relations between neighboring countries. The European Union (EU), through the Water Framework Directive (WFD) gives emphasis to transboundary water management, encourages transboundary cooperation and funds a great number of projects to promote new information technology and knowledge from different scientific areas to enlighten research in the area. This paper presents the TRANSCAT Decision Support System (TDSS) developed in the frame of the EU funded TRANSCAT project and its implementation in a Greek-Bulgarian transboundary river. The implementation of TDSS in Greece concerns Nestos/Mesta river basin between Greece and Bulgaria. It was focused in the issue of water quantity and water allocation among conflicting water uses. The main purpose of TDSS implementation in this particular area was the provision of instruments that will reduce the uncertainty of future water availability (such as hydrologic modelling) while providing the essential support on management of water issues and alarming situations.
Year: 2007