Implementeringen af EU’s vandrammedirektiv har nået anden planlægningsfase, som strækker sig fra 20162021. I anden vandplansperiode er det besluttet at inddrage vandråd. Vandråd blev ligeledes med succes inddraget i første planperiode. Vandråd består af interesseorganisationer og foreninger, og i den anden planperiode skal de hjælpe med tre opgave: 1) Afgrænsning af små vandløb 2) Udpegning af vandløb som kunstige og stærkt modificeret og 3) kommentering på videreførte indsatser fra første vandplansperiode. Dette speciale beskæftiger sig med opgave 1 og 2. Ideen om inddragelse af interessenter stammer fra EU, men niveauet af inddragelse er i høj grad defineret af medlemslandene selv. Dette speciale ønsker at undersøge samspillet mellem kommunen og vandråd i relation til, hvordan tilgangen til opgave 1, om afgrænsning af små vandløb, og opgave 2, om udpegning af kunstige og stærkt modificerede vandløb, bør se ud? Til at besvare problemformuleringen undersøges tre temaer: A) Er regelgrundlaget klart? B) Hvordan er det tekniske grundlag for udpegningen? C) Er klima- og grundvandsproblematikkerne inddraget? Målet med at se på regelgrundlaget var at undersøge vandrådenes rolle. Undersøgelsen viste, at vandrådenes rolle er rådgivende, og vandrådene har ingen hjemmel til at træffe beslutninger. Selv om det er kommunen, der laver den endelige plan, er organisationerne i vandrådene stærke interessenter, der er derfor en risiko for konflikter, hvis kommunerne ikke vælger at inddrage vandrådenes beslutninger. I den tekniske undersøgelse af opgaven kom det frem, at regeringen har fastlagt kriterier for afgrænsning af små vandløb på et specifikt niveau. Der er derfor i afgrænsningen af de små vandløb ikke lagt op til, at vandrådene skal kunne bidrage med deres egen lokale viden. Yderligere er kriterierne besluttet politisk og sat med værdier, hvor små vandløb med gode muligheder for god tilstand udtages, og vandløb med lille naturværdi medtages. Generelt er både opgave 1 og 2 forsimplet på et niveau, hvor det ikke medregner anden planlægning. En måde at inddrage en større kompleksitet er ved inddragelse af Driver, Pressure, State, Impact og Response modellen (DPSIR). DPSIR inddrager en større kompleksitet ved både at se på, hvilke faktorer der er vigtige for erhverv og landbrug, mens den samtidig viser effekten på miljøet og samfundet. DPSIR viser imidlertid ikke tendenser, og skal planlægningen være robust, er særlig inddragelse af klimaforandringer vigtigt. I de kommende år bliver det mere og mere vigtigt, at vandløb kan bruges til at lede større mængder vand væk for at undgå oversvømmelse. Samtidig kan en ændring i nedbørsmønsteret betyde flere og længere tørre perioder om sommeren, der kan gøre det vanskeligt at opnå god økologisk tilstand. Til sidst blev det diskuteret, om opgave 1 og 2 burde have handlet om prioritering i stedet for at gennemgå alle vandløb. En presset tidsplan og to fastlagte fløje ledte til konflikter i nogen vandråd. Interview deltagere til specialet var alle enige om, at en prioriteringsopgave ville have givet et større incitament for samarbejde, og et samlet vandråd vil stå stærkere end individuelle udtalelser., The European water framework directive focus on improving the water quality in all European countries, to “good ecological” condition. This condition is referred to as a natural state, meaning untouched by human interference. In Denmark the second water planning period runs for 2016-2021. Two of the objectives in the second planning period are: 1) To delimit the small streams and 2) To define artificial and heavily modified streams. Denmark follows the Europeans recommendations on the use of stakeholders. In Denmark the stakeholders are represented in the form of water councils consisting of around 20 stakeholders for each of the 23 water councils. This thesis seeks to investigate the decision-making process in the water councils which has been assigned the two tasks. The thesis statement to be investigated: The interaction between the municipality and the water councils regarding, what should the approach to delimiting small stream and defining artificial and heavily modified stream consider? To examine the thesis statement three sub-themes were discussed: A) The legal basis, B) The technical criteria C) Climate change and groundwater. Methods for the thesis include qualitative interview with members of the water councils, document analysis and case study of tree Danish streams. Starting with the legal basis, the role of the water council and the municipality was investigated. It was found that the water councils role was advisory, and the municipality would make their own delimitation and definition on small, heavily modified and artificial streams. This lead to a discussion on the level of involvement. The municipality is not bound to look at the water council’s decisions, but as the water councils consist of power full stakeholders it may politically be unwise not to take their decisions in to account. In the technical investigation of the assignments, it was discovered, that the government had imposed criteria for determination of the delimitation of small streams. The criteria were on a specific level, leaving little to no room for the stakeholder’s own knowledge to come of use. This caused some conflicts in the water councils, furthermore the criteria were politically decided and could lead to a inexpedient designation allowing heavily modified streams to be identified as natural, small natural lakes removed from the plans and visa versa. Another issue was raised, when discussing other planning subjects. The government has simplified the assignment with its criteria to a level, where it may be too simple to be used. To determine whether a stream should have god ecological condition or whether the focus should be discharge of water should be determined by looking at climate change, groundwater abstraction, preservation etc. Using the Drive, Pressure, State, Impact and Response (DPSIR) model, will give an overview of the complex issues regarding the use of streams. Taking the complexity into account will not only make the planning viable, but will also visualize the importance of securing both the discharge and the ecological condition. If the water councils and municipality only determine streams by the criteria the results may come in conflict with other planning. The DPSIR model does not take the future into account. Climate change will lead to a change in rain pattern which can affect not only the ecological condition, but also the risk of flooding. Finally, it was discussed if the water council’s assignment should have been prioritization task rather than a full investigation of all streams. By prioritizing the water councils might have come more in agreement with one another, and the limited budget indicate, that it is unlikely that all streams appointed by the municipality and water councils will reach a good ecological condition by 2021.