With the signing of the contract leading to the implementation of water resources management plans for the islands of Terceira, Graciosa, Pico, Faial, São Jorge, Flores and Corvo, the Regional Government has assured the definition of the necessary framework for drafting the Management Plan of the Hydrographic Region of the Azores which started with the drafting of the water resources management plans of the islands of Santa Maria and São Miguel.

The investment of the contract that was recently signed with the consortium SIMBIENTE – SIMBIENTE/Açores will reach 350 thousand Euros and benefits from the allocation of Community funds from the Proconvergência programme. The project is expected to be completed by mid-2012.

The drafting of the Management Plan of the Hydrographic Region of the Azores is an initiative of the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and the Sea, through the Regional Directorate for Spatial Planning and Water Resources under the regional model for implementing the Water Act that adopted into national law the Water Framework Directive.

The water resources management plans, as management tolls will enable the first integrated approach of water resources at a regional level, providing a set of guidelines of particular interest to the various participants in water management as well as specific information in order to promote the participation of civil society in environmental planning and management. Among other things, the ongoing works will identify the existing constraints on water resources, leading to the establishment of a programme containing measures to reduce the impact of these constraints and contributing to ensure the preservation of water bodies and the development of an economic analysis model on the various uses of this resource.