About the project

In implementing the National Water Sector Development Plan for 2022–2027, the project will focus on significantly reducing impacts and achieving good status of surface water bodies. In 2024–2033, the project will:

Increase the efficiency of water resource
management

• by strengthening the competencies and capabilities of responsible institutions,
• improving assessment methods and increasing reliance on evaluation,
• enhancing the analysis of risk factors and their impacts,
• preparing planning documents and developing a national legal framework,
• strengthening environmental control.

Through practical measures, improve
the condition of surface water bodies,
by reducing the following impacts:

• diffuse agricultural pollution,
• illegal pollution,
• micro-pollutants and marine litter,
• hydromorphological changes,
• historical pollution or unknown pollution sources.

To this end, 7
pilot projects will be implemented, which will

• provide justification for the application of interventions in the Common Agricultural Policy Strategic Plan to reduce significant agricultural impacts;
• reduce the use of mineral fertilizers in agricultural pollution risk basins by optimizing fertilizer use in at least 20 farms and increasing the awareness and competencies of at least 500 farmers through training, seminars, and consultations;
• restore the natural hydromorphological characteristics of at least 40 km of straightened risk water bodies by implementing natural renaturalization measures;
• develop and test control mechanisms to reduce the negative impact of hydropower plants by installing new monitoring sites and conducting impact monitoring of 10 hydropower plants;
• conduct fish biomanipulation to restore good ecological status in 20 lakes;
• implement natural water retention measures to reduce urban pollution and achieve good status of Lake Vievio;
• conduct integrated water resource management in the Dovinė River basin and implement a comprehensive set of measures addressing all significant impacts, enabling the restoration of good status in four risk lakes in the pilot area;
• reduce micro-pollutant loads from Klaipėda city wastewater treatment plants and directly contribute to reducing micro-pollutants and marine litter pollution in the Curonian Lagoon and the Baltic Sea;
• develop tools based on remote monitoring techniques to detect illegal pollution discharges and apply them to identify potential pollution sources in at least 4 water bodies.

Monitor the implementation of the National Water Management Development
Plan and ensure
the mobilization of additional funding.

Develop mechanisms to ensure the sustainability and replication of
achieved results.

The project will also prepare the 2028–2033 Water Sector Strategic Document and contribute to its implementation and the overall goal of water resource management – achieving good status of all water bodies in the country.

Reduced negative environmental impacts on the country’s surface waters and improved status of surface water bodies.

A cooperation platform developed by experts from participating institutions, ensuring more effective management of surface water bodies.

Investments mobilised through the project will secure funding beyond the project’s lifetime and expand the scale of its results.

Public outreach and communication activities will increase public engagement and encourage behavioural changes that contribute to improving the status of water bodies.