"Gediz Basin River Basin Management Plan Preparation Project" in partnership with the Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs (MoFWA) General Directorate of Water Management and TÜBİTAK MAM Environment and Clean Production Institute (ÇTÜE) It was launched on July 11, 2016 and the regional kick-off meeting was held in Manisa on October 24, 2016. With this project, it is aimed to prepare a River Basin Management Plan for the Gediz Basin for the protection and planning of surface waters and groundwater in the Gediz Basin, including coastal waters, excluding the seas, with a holistic approach.
TÜBİTAK MAM, OSİB, Governorship of Manisa, Governorship of Kütahya, Governorship of Uşak, Manisa Metropolitan Municipality, Dokuz Eylül University, Pamukkale University, General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works, 2nd Regional Directorate of State Hydraulic Works, Turkish Statistical Institute, Manisa Water and Sewerage Administration, İzmir Water and Sewerage Administration, Ministry of Environment and Urbanization, Provincial Directorates of Environment and Urbanization, Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock (General Directorate of Agricultural Reform and Provincial Directorates), GEMA Foundation, TEMA Foundation and Regional Directorates of Forestry. Dr. Selma AYAZ, Acting Director of ÇTÜE and researchers from TÜBİTAK MAM attended the opening meeting.
The meeting started with the opening speeches of Dr. Selma AYAZ, Director of ÇTÜE Institute on behalf of TÜBİTAK MAM, Prof. Dr. Cumali KINACI, Director General of Water Management on behalf of OSİB and Sıdkı ZEHİN, Deputy Governor of Manisa. A presentation on Gediz Basin Protection Action Plan and Follow-up Studies was made by Burhan Fuat ÇANKAYA, Basin Planning Branch Manager from the General Directorate of Water Management. Project Coordinator Dr. Şebnem KOYUNLUOĞLU AYNUR, one of the TÜBİTAK MAM researchers, made a presentation on the project and explained the work packages in detail. Afterwards, presentations were made by Assoc. Prof. Orhan GÜNDÜZ from Dokuz Eylül University on Groundwater Studies and Recep BAKIR from Pamukkale University on Biological Monitoring Studies. Regarding the other completed and ongoing projects covering the Gediz Basin; General Directorate of Water Management, Sensitive Areas Branch. Zakir TURAN from the General Directorate of Water Management, Sensitive Areas Branch; Dr. Hande GÜRSOY HAKSEVENLER from TÜBİTAK MAM Environment and Clean Production Institute, Project on the Application of Daily Maximum Total Load Approach in the Gediz Basin; and Burcu DURU from FUGRO-SİAL, Hydrogeology Engineer, Project on the Establishment and Application of a Methodology/Methodology for the Determination and Evaluation of the Quantity and Quality Characteristics of Groundwater: Gediz Basin Case Study Project was presented.
Preparation of River Basin Management Plans is a continuation of the Basin Protection Action Plans and a River Basin Management Plan (RBMP) should be prepared for each river basin. All water-related institutions in each basin should cooperate in order to fulfill all activities and decisions required for the Water Framework Directive (WFD) and many analyses should be carried out in this context. These analyses will enable the assessment of the gaps between the expected status and the environmental objectives (desired status). In order to improve and protect the existing water quality of water resources, an action plan is needed in which the interrelationships of all elements characterizing the basin (flow, quality, meteorological, hydrological, geological elements and sectoral water uses, land use, erosion issues) are defined and then short, medium and long term protection principles are determined within the framework of protection-utilization balance. All these activities, their impacts and outcomes will be evaluated in detail and the outputs obtained will be determined by the NEMP.
