Today, there is a general notion that water resources are best managed according to their river basins. River basin management may be approached from a wide variety of angles. This thesis focuses on information management, institutional arrangements and strategic policy support, with special reference to the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD). The overall objective is to examine strategies, possibilities and hindrances for river basin management, with the ultimate goal of identifying key aspects to be considered - and prioritised - for “successful” European water management and WFD implementation. An assessment of the information management of three transboundary water regimes in Europe showed that a technical/scientific paradigm ap-pears to dominate in river basin accords. This is visible, for example, in the data collection, which is dominated by state and environmental impact information, and the use of passive channels for communicating with stakeholders and other interest groups. The studies addressing institutional arrangements for river basin management according to the WFD showed that the implementa-tion level of the directive is relatively low – both at national and international levels. For instance, competent authorities have not been established (strictly) according to the borders of the estab-lished River Basin District (RBDs). Further, in international RBDs, the ambitions and plans for cooperation vary considerably. Despite the general low implementation level, steps have still been taken in the “direction” of river basin management. At the national level, all examined countries have established RBDs according to river basins, and at the international level, joint river basin management plans will probably be coordinated for a majority of river basins shared by EU Member States. However, the same pattern could not be discerned for river basins extending outside the borders of the EU. In order to support strategic policy making on issues related to the implementation of the WFD, two assessments were made, one addressing international co-operation and water quality in the Baltic Sea Region, and one encompassing rankings of all the newly established RBDs based on a number of identical indicators. Although there is a need to refine these assessments, they may be regarded as simple – but yet robust – models for bench-marking. / QC 20100914

Der großräumige Abbau von Braunkohle in der Lausitz führte in der Vergangenheit zu einer extremen Beeinflussung des Wasserhaushaltes im Einzugsgebiet der Spree. Mit dem Beginn der Sanierung und Flutung der Tagebaue kommt es nun langfristig zu einer verstärkten Nutzung der existierenden Oberflächengewässer und der Einbindung der entstehenden Tagebaurestseen in das Fließgewässernetz. Die Kopplung von Mengenbewirtschaftungsmodellen mit Gütemodellen berücksichtigt die Verfügbarkeit und Verteilung der begrenzten Ressource Wasser im Einzugsgebiet und der aus der Bewirtschaftung resultierenden Gewässergüte. Dies entspricht auch dem Leitbild der EU-WRRL (2000) für ein integriertes Flussgebietsmanagement, was eine einzugsgebietsbezogene Betrachtung der vorhandenen Ressourcen unter Berücksichtigung aller beeinflussten und beeinflussenden Kriterien fordert. Werden Modelle, die unterschiedlich sensitive und komplexe Systeme abbilden, miteinander gekoppelt, erfordert dies eine Anpassung der Datenstruktur und der zeitlichen Skalen. Schwerpunkt dieser Arbeit war die Entwicklung einfacher, robuster Simulationswerkzeuge für die Prognose der Gewässergüte in den Talsperren Bautzen und Quitzdorf. Als Basis diente das komplexe Standgewässergütemodell SALMO. Das Modell wurde zunächst um einfache Algorithmen ergänzt, so dass es trotz einer angepassten, stark reduzierten Datengrundlage, plausible Ergebnisse simulierte. Stochastisch erzeugte Bewirtschaftungsszenarien und die komplex simulierten Modellergebnisse bezüglich der resultierenden Gewässergüte, wurden als Trainingsdaten für ein Künstliches Neuronales Netz (ANN) genutzt. Die für beide Talsperren trainierten ANN sind als effektive Black-Box-Module in der Lage, das komplexe Systemverhalten des deterministischen Modells SALMO widerzuspiegeln. Durch eine Kopplung der entwickelten ANN mit dem Bewirtschaftungsmodell WBalMo ist es möglich, Bewirtschaftungsalternativen hinsichtlich ihrer Konsequenzen für die Gewässergüte zu bewerten. ANN sind systemgebundene Modelle, die nicht auf andere Gewässersysteme übertragen werden können. Allerdings stellt die hier erarbeitete Methodik einen fundierten Ansatz dar, der für die Entwicklung weiterer aggregierter Gütemodule im Rahmen integrierter Bewirtschaftungsmodelle angewendet werden kann. / The large-scale extraction of lignite in Lusatia in the past had an extreme impact on the water balance of the Spree river catchment. The restoration and flooding of the opencast pits put heavy demand on existing surface waters for a long time period. The resulting artificial lakes have to be integrated in the riverine network. The coupling of management models and water quality models allows to consider both availability and distribution of limited water resources in the catchment and resulting water quality. This is corresponding to the principles of the EU-WFD for integrated river basin management, which is a basin-related consideration of available resources taking into account all influencing and influenced characteristics. Adjustment of data structure and time scale is necessary if models describing unequally sensitive and complex systems are to be coupled. Main focus of this task was to develop simple and robust simulation tools for the prediction of water quality in the reservoirs Bautzen and Quitzdorf. The complex water quality model SALMO served as a basis. In a first step, simple algorithms had to be amended in order to generate plausible simulation results despite of an adapted reduced data base. Stochastically generated management scenarios and complex simulated model results regarding the resulting water quality were employed as training data for an Artificial Neuronal Network (ANN). The trained ANN’s are efficient black box modules. As such they are able to mirror complex system behaviour of the deterministic model SALMO. By coupling the developed ANN with the management model WBalMo it is possible to evaluate management strategies in terms of their impact on the quality of the water bodies. ANN’s are system-linked models. A transfer to other aquatic systems is not possible. However, the methodology developed here represents an in-depth approach which is applicable to the development of further aggregated water quality models in the framework of integrated management models.

Lietuvai vykdant vandenų politiką teko įgyvendinti ES direktyvų reikalavimus. Bendroji vandens politikos direktyva numato visą vandens apytakos gamtoje rato priežiūrą ir apsaugą, tad reikalaujama įgyvendinti vandens išteklių baseininio valdymo sistemą. Pagal šią sistemą susiejami upių baseinai ir požeminio vandens telkiniai, tarp kurių Lietuvos sąlygomis ryšio nėra, juo labiau jų ribos nesutampa. Šalis išsiskiria tarp daugumos Europos valstybių, nes turi palankias geologines ir klimatines sąlygas gausiems požeminio vandens ištekliams kauptis ir tik juos naudoja geriamam vandeniui tiekti. Todėl požeminio vandens, kaip vienintelio geriamojo vandens šaltinio Lietuvoje, apsauga yra labai svarbi. Baigiamojo magistro darbo tikslas yra išanalizuoti požeminio vandens išteklių baseininį valdymą ir jo įgyvendinimą bei ypatumus Lietuvoje. Kad pasiekti šį tikslą, buvo analizuojama esama požeminio vandens išteklių baseininio valdymo sistema Lietuvoje ir bandoma atskleisti požeminio vandens baseininio valdymo efektyvumą. Darbo įvade iškelta hipotezė, kad požeminio vandens išteklių baseininis valdymas Lietuvoje nevyksta efektyviai ir realiai negali padėti siekti Bendrojoje vandens politikos direktyvoje požeminiam vandeniui keliamų tikslų. Ekspertų nuomonė pateikiama visame darbe, o pagrindinai – paskutinėje darbo dalyje. Darbo pabaigoje pateikiamos išvados ir rekomendacijos. / Lithuania had to implement the requirements of EU directives when water policy was being implemented. The Water Framework Directive provides supervision and protection of the entire water circuit and requires to implement the river basin management system. This system joins the river basins and the bodies of groundwater, which have no link in the territory of Lithuania. In addition, the borders of both the river basins and the bodies of groundwater do not coincide. Lithuania differs from the majority of other European states because it has favourable geological and climatic conditions that account for the accumulation of abundant groundwater resources – only resources used for drinking water supply. Therefore the protection of groundwater is very important in Lithuania because it is only source of drinking water in this country. The aim of fhe final Master‘s work is to analyse the river basin management of groundwater resources and its implementation and peculiarities in Lithuania. To reach this aim the present river basin management system of groundwater resources has been analysed and the efficiency of this system has been exposed. The hypothesis that the river basin management of groundwater resources in Lithuania is not efficient and it can not help to reach the aims setted for groundwater resources in The Water Framework Directive is confirmed. The opinion of the experts is provided in the work and mainly in its last part. The conclusions and the proposals are... [to full text]

O setor público de planejamento de uso e ocupação do solo dispõe de instrumentos para regular o desenvolvimento, como o Plano de Bacia Hidrográfica - PBH, que atua em âmbito regional e os Planos Diretores Municipais - PD, em âmbito municipal, os quais possuem sobreposição de interesses e áreas de gerenciamento. Contudo, o Estado de São Paulo ainda encontra dificuldades em estabelecer conexões entre PBHs e PDs. Apesar de serem peças importantes para o disciplinamento do uso e ocupação do solo, não apresentam interação, ocasionando um descompasso e desarticulação de agentes institucionais com poderes de decisão na área ambiental e, consequentemente, na implementação das decisões tomadas. Assim, a presente tese investiga a possibilidade de integração do Plano Diretor Municipal com o Plano de Bacia Hidrográfica, pertencentes à mesma Unidade de Gerenciamento de Recursos Hídricos a partir da aplicação da Avaliação Ambiental Estratégica. A metodologia do trabalho parte das experiências internacionais de planejamento territorial por planos diretores municipais ou regionais e de aplicação de AAE neste campo do conhecimento, tendo como referência o sistema adotado na Escócia. O arcabouço concebido foi aplicado para desenvolver diretrizes para ser utilizado na Bacia Hidrográfica do Litoral Norte do Estado de São Paulo. Na análise foram contempladas as etapas de elaboração dos distintos instrumentos, os dados utilizados, os momentos de interlocução entre os setores responsáveis e partes interessadas, os mecanismos de verificação de implementação e monitoramento, e os direcionamentos finais dados por todos os instrumentos. Foram identificadas as compatibilidades e incongruências caracterizadas pela aplicação dos instrumentos de planejamento, tendo como resultados positivos do caso escocês o estabelecimento de autoridades consultivas, a aprovação do processo por órgãos externos, e as diretrizes do plano local vinculadas ao planejamento regional, sinalizando para possíveis melhorias dos procedimentos adotados no Litoral Norte do Estado de São Paulo. / The land use planning has different tools to guide the spatial development, as River Basin Management Plan in the regional scale and Local Development Plan in the municipal scale, which overlaps in area and issues of management. However, the São Paulo State has troubles to connect them. Both River Basin Management Plan and Local Development Plan are important to regulate the land use, but they are not integrated accurately by public government with consequences in the planning implementation. This thesis looks for Strategic Environmental Assessment\'s efficiency applied to connect the Local Development Plan with River Basin Management Plan in the same management area. The methodology analyses the international experience in spatial planning by the Strategic Environmental Assessment expertise, and puts the Scottish Management as reference to North Coast of São Paulo State. The analysis contemplates planning procedures, baselines, public participation, monitoring, implementation strategies and planning results. There are compatibilities and divergences of both planning tools and among the positive results of Scottish planning are the adoptions of consult authorities during the planning elaboration, the planning processs external approbation, and the local planning decisions linked by regional planning results. The Scottish expertise could be useful to improve the planning practice in the North Coast of the São Paulo.

Submitted by Geandra Rodrigues (geandrar@gmail.com) on 2018-04-04T10:43:44Z No. of bitstreams: 1 pedrojosedeoliveiramachado.pdf: 11807114 bytes, checksum: 39e345ce9f17de6da970155f80ee7d52 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2018-04-04T15:11:16Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 pedrojosedeoliveiramachado.pdf: 11807114 bytes, checksum: 39e345ce9f17de6da970155f80ee7d52 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-04-04T15:11:16Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 pedrojosedeoliveiramachado.pdf: 11807114 bytes, checksum: 39e345ce9f17de6da970155f80ee7d52 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-09-10 / PROQUALI (UFJF) / Juiz de Fora, maior cidade da Zona da Mata Mineira e uma das principais cidades do Estado de Minas Gerais, tem experimentado nas últimas décadas um expressivo processo de expansão urbana e de crescimento demográfico, o que tem gerado um significativo aumento das demandas por infraestrutura básica. O serviço de abastecimento de água, em especial, tem sofrido grande pressão, tanto pelo crescimento da população, quanto pelo constante aumento do consumo per capita. Essa situação obrigou a Companhia de Saneamento Municipal (CESAMA) a investir na viabilização de outro manancial para o futuro abastecimento público, com a utilização das águas do Rio Paraibuna, represadas pela Barragem de Chapéu D’Uvas. Entretanto, por localizar-se fora da área do município, a utilização desse manancial vai demandar a gestão negociada e compartilhada de toda a bacia de contribuição, que ocupa parte do território dos municípios de Antônio Carlos, Ewbank da Câmara e Santos Dumont. O objetivo principal dessa tese é justamente apresentar e discutir um conjunto de proposições para o ordenamento territorial da bacia, que possam subsidiar os processos relativos à sua gestão, de modo a garantir a melhor, mais ampla e mais longa utilização de seus recursos. A metodologia adotada fundamentou-se na prévia elaboração dos diagnósticos físico-ambiental e socioeconômico, de uso e cobertura do solo, cujas informações possibilitaram realizar o zoneamento ambiental da bacia, a partir da avaliação de indicadores físicos, sociais e econômicos, permitindo a identificação das áreas de maior vulnerabilidade. Os principais resultados obtidos foram o conhecimento mais detalhado de suas características ambientais e socioeconômicas, o reconhecimento e mapeamento das áreas mais vulneráveis da bacia e a proposição de um conjunto de planos e programas de atuação. / Juiz de Fora, the largest city in the Zona da Mata Mineira and one of the main cities in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, has experimented a significant process of urban expansion in the last decades. This process has demanded a number of services and infrastructural investments. The water supply service, especially, has been under great pressure due to the significant demographic growth and the increase of the per capita consumption. This situation has forced the Municipal Sanitation Company (CESAMA) to invest in the viabilization of another manantial for future public supply, with the use of the waters of the Paraibuna River, dammed at Chapéu D’Uvas. Nonetheless, due to the fact that the dam is located outside the municipal area, and because of its peculiar characteristics, the use of resources from that spring will demand an adequate management of all its hydrographic basin. For this reason, the research area of this dissertation, besides the Chapéu D’Uvas dam, comprehends the Chapéu D’Uvas impoundment and its respective hydrographic basin, which occupies part of the towns of Antônio Carlos, Ewbank da Câmara and Santos Dumont. In addition to recovering the history of the construction of the dam, the main purpose of this research is to present and discuss a set of ideas and propositions that will subsidize the management of the basin, in order to endow the processes related to the basin’s management, and to guarantee the best, more extensive and longest use of its resources. The methodology used is substantiated in the previous elaboration of physical-environmental, socioeconomic, and soil use diagnostic. These data allow us to elaborate a basin zoning according to its physical-environmental, socioeconomic, soil use indicators. This methodology permits the recognition of the basin units which were most vulnerable to erosion processes and water quality degradation. The main results achieved were a more detailed knowledge of the environmental and social characteristics of the basin, the recognition and mapping of its more vulnerable areas, and the proposition of a series of action plans in order to promote its future management and land planning.

Die Dissertation befasst sich mit der integrierten Bewirtschaftungsplanung von Flusseinzugsgebieten. Die europäische Wasserrahmenrichtlinie (WRRL, 2000/60/EG) und die europäische Hochwasserrichtlinie (HWRL, 2007/60/EG) setzen dafür neue Maßstäbe, indem beide die Mitgliedsstaaten zur Aufstellung einzugsgebietsbezogener Planungsinstrumente verpflichten. In der Arbeit werden eingangs die wesentlichen Prozesse, theoretischen Modelle und Ansatzpunkte für ein integriertes Management von Flusseinzugsgebieten vorgestellt. Die Anforderungen an Bewirtschaftungspläne und Maßnahmenprogramme der WRRL werden den Vorgaben für die Erstellung der Hochwasserrisikomanagementpläne und ihren planerischen Grundlagen gemäß HWRL gegenübergestellt. Potenzielle Synergien und Konflikte zwischen den Zielen und Maßnahmen werden identifiziert. Der Vergleich der Planungsschritte und -methoden zeigt, dass Abstimmungsbedarf zwischen den Planungsinstrumenten des Flussgebiets- und Hochwasserrisikomanagements für sämtliche Planungsschritte besteht, von der Systemanalyse bis zur Maßnahmenumsetzung. Darauf aufbauend wird ein Konzept für eine integrierte Bewirtschaftungsplanung entwickelt. Das Konzept besteht aus einzelnen fachlich-methodischen Planungsmodulen für jeden Planungsschritt. Sie können im Zusammenhang oder für sich genommen zur Abstimmung zwischen den Plänen des Flussgebiets- und Hochwasserrisikomanagements dienen. Abschließend werden die fachlichen und organisatorischinstitutionellen Potenziale des Konzepts diskutiert und weitergehender Forschungsbedarf aufgezeigt. / The thesis addresses the integrated planning of river basins. For this, the European Water Framework Directive (WFD, 2000/60/EC) and the Floods Directive (FD, 2007/60/EC) are setting new benchmarks by committing its member states to set up river basin-wide management plans. At the beginning of the thesis, the most important processes, theoretical models and options of intervention for integrated river basin management are introduced. The requirements for the river basin management plans and the programmes of measures of the WFD will be contrasted with the specifications for the flood risk management plans according to the FD and their fundamental planning documents. Potential synergies and conflicts between the objectives and measures are identified. The comparison of the planning steps and methods show that all planning steps, from the systems analysis to the implementation of measures, require a coordination of the planning instruments of river basin management and flood risk management. Based on these findings, a concept of integrated river basin management planning is developed. The concept is composed of planning modules for each planning step. For the reconciliation between the plans of river basin management and flood risk management, those planning modules can be used in combination or separately. Finally, the technical and institutional potentials of the concept are discussed. Need for further research is identified.

Der großräumige Abbau von Braunkohle in der Lausitz führte in der Vergangenheit zu einer extremen Beeinflussung des Wasserhaushaltes im Einzugsgebiet der Spree. Mit dem Beginn der Sanierung und Flutung der Tagebaue kommt es nun langfristig zu einer verstärkten Nutzung der existierenden Oberflächengewässer und der Einbindung der entstehenden Tagebaurestseen in das Fließgewässernetz. Die Kopplung von Mengenbewirtschaftungsmodellen mit Gütemodellen berücksichtigt die Verfügbarkeit und Verteilung der begrenzten Ressource Wasser im Einzugsgebiet und der aus der Bewirtschaftung resultierenden Gewässergüte. Dies entspricht auch dem Leitbild der EU-WRRL (2000) für ein integriertes Flussgebietsmanagement, was eine einzugsgebietsbezogene Betrachtung der vorhandenen Ressourcen unter Berücksichtigung aller beeinflussten und beeinflussenden Kriterien fordert. Werden Modelle, die unterschiedlich sensitive und komplexe Systeme abbilden, miteinander gekoppelt, erfordert dies eine Anpassung der Datenstruktur und der zeitlichen Skalen. Schwerpunkt dieser Arbeit war die Entwicklung einfacher, robuster Simulationswerkzeuge für die Prognose der Gewässergüte in den Talsperren Bautzen und Quitzdorf. Als Basis diente das komplexe Standgewässergütemodell SALMO. Das Modell wurde zunächst um einfache Algorithmen ergänzt, so dass es trotz einer angepassten, stark reduzierten Datengrundlage, plausible Ergebnisse simulierte. Stochastisch erzeugte Bewirtschaftungsszenarien und die komplex simulierten Modellergebnisse bezüglich der resultierenden Gewässergüte, wurden als Trainingsdaten für ein Künstliches Neuronales Netz (ANN) genutzt. Die für beide Talsperren trainierten ANN sind als effektive Black-Box-Module in der Lage, das komplexe Systemverhalten des deterministischen Modells SALMO widerzuspiegeln. Durch eine Kopplung der entwickelten ANN mit dem Bewirtschaftungsmodell WBalMo ist es möglich, Bewirtschaftungsalternativen hinsichtlich ihrer Konsequenzen für die Gewässergüte zu bewerten. ANN sind systemgebundene Modelle, die nicht auf andere Gewässersysteme übertragen werden können. Allerdings stellt die hier erarbeitete Methodik einen fundierten Ansatz dar, der für die Entwicklung weiterer aggregierter Gütemodule im Rahmen integrierter Bewirtschaftungsmodelle angewendet werden kann. / The large-scale extraction of lignite in Lusatia in the past had an extreme impact on the water balance of the Spree river catchment. The restoration and flooding of the opencast pits put heavy demand on existing surface waters for a long time period. The resulting artificial lakes have to be integrated in the riverine network. The coupling of management models and water quality models allows to consider both availability and distribution of limited water resources in the catchment and resulting water quality. This is corresponding to the principles of the EU-WFD for integrated river basin management, which is a basin-related consideration of available resources taking into account all influencing and influenced characteristics. Adjustment of data structure and time scale is necessary if models describing unequally sensitive and complex systems are to be coupled. Main focus of this task was to develop simple and robust simulation tools for the prediction of water quality in the reservoirs Bautzen and Quitzdorf. The complex water quality model SALMO served as a basis. In a first step, simple algorithms had to be amended in order to generate plausible simulation results despite of an adapted reduced data base. Stochastically generated management scenarios and complex simulated model results regarding the resulting water quality were employed as training data for an Artificial Neuronal Network (ANN). The trained ANN’s are efficient black box modules. As such they are able to mirror complex system behaviour of the deterministic model SALMO. By coupling the developed ANN with the management model WBalMo it is possible to evaluate management strategies in terms of their impact on the quality of the water bodies. ANN’s are system-linked models. A transfer to other aquatic systems is not possible. However, the methodology developed here represents an in-depth approach which is applicable to the development of further aggregated water quality models in the framework of integrated management models.

This thesis provides an analysis how social learning can be supported during the implementation of the WFD. Four research questions address the different characteristics of river basin management: 1) How do spatial misfits between participatory and decision-making institutions impede social learning"2) Does the formalized context of river basin management in Europe allow for social learning" 3) What are conducive environments for social learning in river basin management" 4) How does research contribute to social learning in river basin management" What challenges arise in applied research"The concept of social learning (SL), especially as developed in the European project HarmoniCOP (www.harmonicop.uos.de), formed the theoretical backbone of the analysis. This allowed to consider the challenge of SL to be supported by process design or the institutional settings. At the same time, it allowed to understand to which extent the efficiency of this support depends on the question whether or not the participants in the process recognize the options for improving their knowledge base and make use of them. The analyses have been mainly based on a German case study on the international Elbe river basin district, which was embedded in the European project HarmoniCOP. Here, the specific challenges (spatial misfit; the need for collaboration in formalized contexts) have been addressed exploring participatory and other collaboration processes as well as the actors approach to SL. In order to understand collaboration processes between research and water management, the role of research in delivering tools to support the new challenges of the WFD has been studied during activities of the European Concerted Action Harmoni-CA (www.harmoni-ca.info). The thesis closes with recommendations to improve social learning in practical river basin management.

The uses and management of water resources play an important role in the development of a culture and the health of its environment and population. Humans throughout history have consistently exploited rivers, which degrades water quality and leads to water scarcity. This thesis is an examination of two river restoration projects, one on the Oder River in Germany and the other on the Klamath River in the United States, that represent each country's efforts to reverse river exploitation. These cases in Germany and the United States demonstrate the importance of achieving a better understanding of the political instruments and strategies for mitigating environmental issues on a global scale.

This thesis examines the applicability of the Murray-Darling Basin (MDB) model of Integrated River Basin Management to the Ganges Basin by utilising the lessons from the Mekong experience of adopting the MDB model. The Ganges is one of the major rivers in the world and the sharing of its water has long been an issue of dispute between the riparian countries. Fragmented and uncoordinated upstream management of the Ganges has caused serious ecological and economic loss in the downstream environment posing a threat to future sustainability of river resources. Cooperation among the riparian countries of the Ganges in order to embrace an integrated and basin-wide management approach is rapidly becoming more important. Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM) is a concept widely advocated in different forums for managing the river basins of the world and is adopted in many transboundary river basins. The Australian example of managing the Murray-Darling Basin is considered as a model in the field. The Murray-Darling Basin Commission is well known internationally as a good example of a multi-jurisdictional water management institution. Similar river basin institutions are also evolving in other regions such as the Mekong River Commission for the management of the Mekong River in South-East Asia. The countries sharing the Ganges could learn lessons from the Murray-Darling and Mekong experiences and adopt a basin-wide approach for the better management of the Ganges. However, the policy transfer from a developed country to a developing country context is a challenging process. The highly pertinent contextual differences in social, economic, political, environmental and hydrological settings of the three cases need to be carefully addressed. The research critically examines these factors in the Murray-Darling, Mekong and the Ganges contexts, identifies the similarities and differences between them and attempts to understand the influence/s of these in the policy transfer or policy development process. This research adopted multiple-case studies involving both qualitative and quantitative methods. The cases of the Murray-Darling and Mekong were studied to understand the process and to utilise the lessons learned for the institutional development towards integrated and basin-wide approach for the Ganges. The study analyses the interview results from the experts in the relevant fields to get an insight of different issues and also to collect their opinions. The responses from the stakeholder interviews in Bangladesh were analysed to understand their perspective in this regard. The thesis concludes that adoption of the Murray-Darling Basin model of integrated management needs modification in the Ganges context and recommends a specific institutional structure for the basin-wide management of the Ganges. The thesis contributes to an area of knowledge in recent times by providing a greater understanding of the Integrated River Basin Management in a multi-jurisdictional context. It critically examines the issues in policy transfer from a developed to a developing country focussing on a little studied but significant international river basin, the Ganges. It is hoped that this thesis will contribute towards better policy options for the sustainable management of the international river system. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1321536 / Thesis (Ph.D.) - University of Adelaide, School of Social Sciences, 2008