0.     Guidance to the reader

To maintain and improve the essential functions of our water ecosystems, we need to manage them well. This can only succeed if we adopt the integrated approach introduced in the Water Framework Directive (WFD) and other water policies. Many European water bodies are at risk of failing to meet the aim of the WFD of achieving good status by 2015, due to problems in the management of water quality, water quantity, modifications of the structure of river banks and beds and the connectivity of rivers. Full implementation of the WFD throughout all sectors is needed to resolve these potential conflicts and to commit all users in a river basin to focus on the achievement of healthy water bodies with good ecological status.