The impact of the water framework Directive on catchment-management planning in the British Isles (Abridged)

The water framework Directive is proposed as a mechanism for applying river -basin management across the European Union. Proposals for River-Basin Mana gement Plans might have an impact on the present system of Local Environmen t Agency Plans and on schemes which are used in the British Isles to provid e river management on a catchment basis. For this study, representatives fr om the Environment Agency, Scottish Environmental Protection Agency and Eur opean Parliament advisors were interviewed. In addition, Local Environment Agency Plans were assessed for compatibility with the requirements of River -Basin Management Plans.