The European Commission recently released its Blueprint to Safeguard Europe's Water Resources, outlining proposals to ensure better implementation of the EU’s water policy objectives. Several initiatives recognise the benefits of river restoration to improve the ecological status of Europe’s waters.

The Blueprint includes proposals on natural water retention, ecological flows and water accounts, and encourages restoration measures in the River Basin Management Plans and Flood Risk Management Plans submitted by Member States.

View the Blueprint submission by RESTORE and partners: http://www.restorerivers.eu/Publications/tabid/2624/mod/11083/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/3297/Default.aspx

View the Blueprint: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/blueprint/index_en.htm

Radio 4’s ‘You & Yours’ programme visited the Flood Test Centre in Wallingford, Oxfordshire to discover more about the innovative products involved in flood protection. Listen to the show on Friday 12.20pm: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qps9

The Royal Society of Arts, in conjunction with the Environment Agency, are asking students to design or update a method of tackling water pollution. The aim is to reduce the impact of man-made structures, restore natural features to water environments, and to reduce the impact of water pollution. 

Two awards are available for this brief, including a paid internship at the Environment Agency or an RSA Fellows Award of £1250. 

Submission requirements for the competition can be found on the RSA's website 

Download this brief (PDF)

The final programme is now confirmed for the 'Improving morphology and fish passage in high energy rivers' RESTORE workshop to be held at the Birnam Institute, Dunkeld, Scotland, PH8 0DS. The workshop is 25th September and optional site visit on 26th September (based around Pitlochory and the Rivers Tay and Tummel).

Last June the Italian Senate Environment Commission called the Italian Centre for River Restoration for a hearing on a legislative proposal on flood risk prevention. CIRF director Andrea Goltara and president Ileana Schipani had the chance to discuss with senators critical issues for river basin management in Italy and especially to highlight benefits of river restoration for flood risk mitigation.

More details (in Italian) on CIRF website.