Reports
253. ICPR Recommendations for Reducing Micropollutants in Waters
The International Commission for the Protection of the Rhine (ICPR) has published recommendations on how...
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to the website of the International Commission for the Protection of the Rhine.
Press release: Effective reduction of micropollutants in the Rhine and its tributaries - ICPR recommendations
Koblenz, 06 February 2019
The International Commission for the Protection of the Rhine (ICPR) has published recommendations on how states in the Rhine catchment can further reduce micropollutant inputs into waters. They particularly concern the areas of wastewater collection and wastewater treatment systems, agriculture, industry and trade.
Press release: Salmon can again pass the Haringvliet dam (NL) on their way up into the Rhine and the Meuse - A milestone in international water protection
Rotterdam, 15. November 2018
As from 15 November 2018, the way from the North Sea into the rivers Meuse and Rhine is again open for salmon at sufficient runoff. Salmon may again reach their home waters, where they reproduce naturally. All depending on the discharge, one or more gates of the Haringvliet dam (south of Rotterdam) will also be open during high tide. For the first time for 50 years… The dam had been built in 1971 as a protection against storm tides.
Gerstheim: the track is clear for migratory fish!
The new fishway at Gerstheim on the Upper Rhine is charged with water since 15 October 2018 (Photo EDF). The official inauguration will take place in 2019. The fishway at the Strasbourg barrage has been working since 2016, even though different optimisations are still being implemented. The fishways in Strasbourg and Gerstheim will open the access to the spawning habitats (among others for salmon) in the Elz-Dreisam system (region Freiburg) via the Leopoldskanal, once the three sills in the loops of the Old Rhine at Gerstheim and Rhinau will enable upstream migration. Counts show that the fishways located at Iffezheim (since 2000) and Gambsheim (since 2006) further downstream in the main stream of the Rhine are well accepted: In 2017, more than 170 upstream migrating salmon were registered at Iffezheim and 105 at Gambsheim. More than 150 salmon have migrated upstream the R. Sieg flowing into the Rhine near Bonn.
Press release - New findings on low water of the Rhine
Solothurn, 3 and 4 July 2018
During the first half of the last century periods of low water on the Rhine were distinctly more pronounced. Discharges were lower, and low flow periods lasted longer than in the past 50 years. The perception that low water occurs more often than in the past is not correct. However, water users are more affected, e.g. navigation, energy production, industry and agriculture.
Nine states – one river basin.
For the benefit of the Rhine and of all of its tributaries the members of the International Commission for the Protection of the Rhine (ICPR) Switzerland, France, Germany, Luxemburg, Netherlands and the European Commission successfully co-operate with Austria, Liechtenstein, the Belgian region of Wallonia and Italy. Focal points of work are sustainable development of the Rhine, its alluvial areas and the good state of all waters in the watershed.
ICPR wins prestigious Thiess International Riverprize
Worldwide reward for decades of international cooperation in Rhine protection!
On 16 September 2014 the ICPR was awarded the Thiess International Riverprize 2014 in Canberra (Australia). During a gala dinner, the price was handed over to the President of the ICPR, Mr. Gustaaf Borchardt and its deputy manager, Anne Schulte-Wülwer-Leidig.
History
What were the reasons for the co-operation? Which steps and events proved to be decisive? Worldwide, the ICPR develops to be a model for environmental and water protection which numerous organizations take as an example. The secretariat has drafted some new pages concerning the ICPR success history. We would be grateful for any questions or suggestions you might have.
The Rhine and its catchment
This report presents an overview over ecological improvement along the River Rhine and its present chemical water quality. Furthermore, it contains a survey of the implementation of the Action Plan on Floods.
Reports
252. Statistical evaluation of measurements on the contamination of biota/fish with pollutants in the Rhine catchment area in 2014/2015
During 2014 and 2015 the ICPR has implemented a first joint monitoring programme on the contamination of biota...
Reports
251. Report on the assessment and development of Rhine water quality 2015 - 2016
The technical report No. 251 follows on the reports on the evaluation and development of the Rhine water...
Reports
250. Bericht der Präsidentin der IKSR 2018
Die Präsidentin der IKSR erstattet in der PLEN-CC jährlich Bericht über die wichtigsten Kommissionsaktivitäten...
Reports
249. Internationaler Warn- und Alarmplan Rhein (IWAP) - Meldungen 2017 -
Ziel des internationalen Warn- und Alarmplans (IWAP) ist, plötzlich im Rheineinzugsgebiet auftretende...
press releases
Effective reduction of micropollutants in the Rhine and its tributaries - ICPR recommendations
Koblenz, 06 February 2019
The International Commission for the Protection of the Rhine (ICPR) has published recommendations on how states in the Rhine catchment can further reduce micropollutant inputs into waters. They particularly concern the areas of wastewater collection and wastewater treatment systems, agriculture, industry and trade.
The ICPR has been keeping an eye on the relevance of different micropollutants and existing approaches to reducing their polluting waters for more than 10 years. The exposure situation has been published (ICPR Technical Report No. 246) and different possibilities of...
press releases
Salmon can again pass the Haringvliet dam (NL) on their way up into the Rhine and the Meuse - A milestone in international water protection
Rotterdam, 15 November 2018
As from 15 November 2018, the way from the North Sea into the rivers Meuse and Rhine is again open for salmon at sufficient runoff. Salmon may again reach their home waters, where they reproduce naturally. All depending on the discharge, one or more gates of the Haringvliet dam (south of Rotterdam) will also be open during high tide. For the first time for 50 years… The dam had been built in 1971 as a protection against storm tides.
This is an important milestone for the two rivers, for the International Rhine Commission and the International Meuse Commission. Both commissions are...
2019 – International Year of the Salmon
Thanks to the initiative of the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization (NASCO) and of the North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission (NPAFC) the year 2019 is to be nominated International Year of the Salmon (IYS). Public and political awareness for the salmon and its preservation and sustainable use will thus be hightened. Big international events on this issue are planned and further national or regional initiatives or events are expressedly wanted for this IYS (please also see http://www.nasco.int/iys_video.html and https://yearofthesalmon.org/).
Flood prevention
FOEN: Water protection in Switzerland
The FOEN (Federal Office for the Environment) invites to join the exciting voyage of the pilot Nino G from the strange planet Nuxxo to discover these challenges of Swiss water protection:
Video: "Swiss water bodies – all clear?"
Interactive maps
