Sävjaån catchment is a lowland mixed land use catchment characteristic of central Sweden. Headwaters in the catchment drain a mixture of forest and agricultural land. Streams draining agricultural land are general deepened and straightened to promote drainage. Localized spring floods are common and summer droughts are increasing. Eutrophication is an issue throughout the catchment.

The Pesnica river catchment is characterized by intensive agricultural production, mainly cattle/pig breeding and arable farming. In spring and summer, the catchment is exposed to drought, while in autumn and winter to severe precipitation events. Soils with a high proportion of clay, which are subject to rapid surface runoff, erosion and nutrient leaching, are further contributing to unfavourable conditions. Market requirements regarding quality and reliability of production are leading towards changes in the tillage technology, but also towards searching for reliable water sources and economically efficient, yet sustainable measures for the longest possible retention of water in the soil.

The Hungarian part of Kebele catchment with its 209 km2 size is located in the south-western corner of the country, in the West-transdanubian Water Directorate’s operational area, as part of the Drava sub-basin and Mura sub-unit.

About 60% of the area is agricultural land, typically with wheat, barley, corn cultivation and pasture management. The Kebele Valley and Szentgyörgyvölgyi stream valley is NATURA 2000 classified. Main challenges identified in the area: management of nitrate-sensitive areas, prevention and mitigation of soil erosion and flash floods.

The Hungarian-Slovenian cross-border water cooperation dates back to 1994.

OPTAIN seeks to identify efficient NSWRM to better adapt to extreme events (floods, droughts) and reduce conflicts between agricultural water uses and other human and environmental demands on water in small catchments across Europe in close cooperation with local actors.

Dotnuvėlė river basin covers 192.7 km2. Four reservoirs are situated in the area: near Mantviliškis, Akademija, Dotnuva and near Kėdainiai. The Dotnuvėlė basin is in the Central Lowlands of Lithuania, which is rich in moist soils. Agricultural areas account for 69.2%, forests and other natural areas for 24.5%, artificial surfaces - 5.8%, and water bodies make up only 0.5%. State river monitoring is carried out for this river. The ecological status of the Dotnuvėlė river corresponds to poor (upstream) and medium (downstream) classes.

The OPTAIN project will support the case study team with identifying and developing efficient land management strategies and small technical solutions to improve the soils’ infiltration and water holding capacities as well as its capacity to filter, buffer and transform pollutants.

The case study is located in the north central Poland, in Kuyavian-Pomeranian province. The catchment area is about 150 km2. Due to highly fertile soils, arable land prevails (nearly 90%) in the catchment. The main crops are cereals, maize, oilseed rape, sugar beet, alfalfa, vegetables and herbal crops. An area covered by catch crops is increasing. Share of irrigated crops is small. The catchment is coping with an increasing water deficit for crop production and high nitrate loads and concentrations in water. These problems are amplified by low precipitation (annual average equals to 500 mm being the lowest in the country, 300 mm in the growing season) and the extensive drainage system (open ditches and subsurface tiles) that drains water excess in wet periods.

The OPTAIN project will support the case study team with identifying and developing efficient land management strategies and small technical solutions to improve the soils’ infiltration and water holding capacities as well as its capacity to filter, buffer and transform pollutants.

River Dviete Basin: Catchment area – 254 km²; Annual runoff – 0,057 km3; Length – 37 km; Slope of the riverbed – 4 m/km at the upland and 0,2 m/km at the lowland; The Dviete floodplain area is also a Natura-2000 site (5000 ha): Main nature values are the eutrophic floodplain meadows, which provide nesting sites for the corn-crake (Crex crex) and other rare bird species. Local partnership building: Union of the Dviete Valley Municipalities (DSPA) founders are five municipalities (Bebrene, Dviete, Eglaine, Pilskalne and Sedere parishes). Many projects have developed in close cooperation between the Daugavpils University and this NGO.