The study site is the sub catchment of Tetves, is considered a priority area in terms of water protection. The size of the study site is 68 km2. 49% of the total catchment area is forest, 39% is arable land, 1% orchards, 1% vineyard, 1% is grassland and 2% is urban.

The study site is sensitive to nutrient and nitrate loss. Extreme weather events, the presence of loose parent material and a lack of best management practices in some part of the study site increase soil degradation, especially gully erosion. The water and nutrient management of this small catchment affects water quantity and quality of Lake Balaton. Extreme weather events will increase the environmental and social conflicts in the region.

The most pressing issues recognized in the study site are: revise the aspects considered for the delineation of soil erosion prone areas, wider application of measures that efficiently decrease soil erosion and nutrient load, and implementation of integrated water resources conservation.

OPTAIN project aims to identify effective combination of the NSWRMs and optimize their allocation, in order to improve water and nutrient retention in the soil and the catchments. Emphasis will be put on suitable options to foster the resilience of agricultural production to climate change.

The Wimbe basin is about 112 km2 in size and is classified as a continental bioregion. The basin consists of the water bodies LE8-10. The municipalities within the basin are Daverdisse, Wellin, Beauraing, Gedinne and Rochefort. The basin’s land use is 2% urban, 21% arable, 11% pasture and 66% forest. The region where the stream flows is representative of the Famenne schisteuse and the landscape is open. The region is vulnerable to both floods and low flows. The area is also vulnerable to nitrate concentration in water that is exceeding or is likely to exceed 50 mg/l, may have undergone or likely to undergo eutrophication.
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 Schwarzer Schöps case study is located in the East of Germany. The catchment area is about 136 km2, most of which is used as cropland (54%) and grassland (20%). The area is facing an increase in severe floods, soil erosion, and droughts, with negative implications for crop yield stability. In addition, the downstream reservoir Quitzdorf suffers more often from low water tables and high phosphorus pollution which is causing blue-green algae bloom and threatening its multiple services, in particular its important role for nature protection, recreation, and maintaining downstream environmental flows.
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.