Development Integrated Water Tender

Start Date 01012019End Date 31122028Total Budget 16666600 EU Contribution 9999960 Project Location North-East Estonia PROJECT DESCRIPTIONBACKGROUNDThe major environmental problems targeted in the River Basin Management Plan RBMP for the East-Estonia River Basin District and the LIFE IP CleanEST areEutrophication and contamination of the Baltic Sea and groundwater with nutrients and hazardous substances contamination originates mostly from the residual pollution sites of the Soviet-era oil-shale industry and nutrients originate from agricultural land and residential areasPhysical and morphological alteration of the aquatic environment in the form of dams power plants drainage and alteration of hydrological regime andDegradation of water-dependent habitats. Inter alia the objectives concerning the good status of water-dependent habitats are often not in line with the objectives concerning the good status of water bodies and the provision of such environmental services related to water bodies ecosystems.OBJECTIVESThe LIFE IP CleanEST targets the implementation of the River Basin Management Plan RBMP 2015-2021 of the East Estonia River Basin District RBD. The IP itself will focus on fully implementing measures for the Viru sub-basin. The essence of the project is to use new approaches for the integration of measures for water management nature conservation and achievement of socioeconomic goals. The overall objective of the project is to achieve a good status of Estonias aquatic environment considering the chemical and ecological criteria and to ensure the favourable status of water-dependent habitats. The project integrates the activities of river basin management plans and nature management plans and aims to enhance cross-sectoral cooperation and administrative capacity. The specific objectives includeImproving the status of surface and groundwater bodiesBuilding capacity to implement cost-efficient new technologies and innovative solutionsIncreasing know-how and long-term capacity among all stakeholders involved andUpdating the RBMP for the next period 2021-2027 and applying the lessons learned in other RBMPs in Estonia as well as at EU level.Expected results Concrete actions will encompass 40 water bodies and their catchment areas covering approximately 236 968 ha incl. 30 690 ha of NATURA 2000 areas constituting 13 of the total area covered. Planned measures will be implemented on 38 river water bodies with a total length of 574 km and in 2 coastal water bodies with a total catchment area of 155 200 ha. All measures planned for the Viru sub-basin will beimplemented 37 of all measures in the East Estonia RBMP and the good practices gained from their execution will be replicated in other River Basin districts both in Estonia and in the EU. The main quantifiable outcomes includeA total stretch of 1.5 km of the River Erra bed and banks will be cleaned up