Integrated Water Management of the Ladoga-Neva-Gulf Water System

Period:	09/1996-00/1999
Client:	Netherlands Ministery of Economic Affairs (SENTER)

assignment/short description

The city of St Petersburg, situated on the Neva Bay at the most eastern part of the Gulf of Finland, is vulnerable to flooding originating from the Baltic Sea. Construction of a flood protection barrier began in the 1980's, but was stopped due to lack of financial support and public concern about the effect it would have on water quality in the Neva Bay. Furthermore, economic and infrastructure development and population increases in the recent years have had their impact on the Ladoga-Neva-Gulf water system, affecting diverse water uses such as drinking and industrial water supply, waste water disposal, fisheries, shipping, traffic, dredging and sand-extraction, tourism, recreation and nature conservation.

These issues were recognised by the Neterlands Government, leading to a joint Russian-Netherlands project lauched in September 1996, with the aim of implementing the priciples of Integrated Water Manamgent in the St Petersburg Region.

The cooperation was between several Russian Institutes, with the City of St Petersburg acting as Russion coordinator and recipient. The proejct was carried out on behalf of the Government of the Netherlands and the Russion Federation by a consortium led by Deltares/Delft Hydraulics and included the International Center for Water Studies (ICWS) and Wittevee+Bos.