About the planning process
SEPA is the authority responsible for leading and co-ordinating
implementation of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) and the river
basin planning process in Scotland. The Scottish Government has
also allocated river basin planning duties and responsibilities to
local authorities, Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Water and
other bodies.
Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003 (or
WEWS) 
The WEWS Act gives authority to SEPA to lead and co-ordinate river
basin planning in the Scotland river basin district.
Water Framework Directive (or WFD)
The WFD is a wide-ranging and ambitious piece of European
legislation that became law in Scotland in 2003 via the WEWS
Act.
Maps
The diagram below shows:
- the cyclical and iterative nature of river basin management
planning;
- the key steps in the planning process;
- the requirement for stakeholder participation.
Early basin planning work
In December 2005, SEPA published a
river basin planning strategy for the Scotland RBD. Responses to a
public consultation (2004) and stakeholder events (2003) helped
shape the strategy that presents actions for:
- establishing effective and efficient
administrative arrangements and working principles to support the
production of the RBMP
- providing opportunities for
participation and consultation
- integrating and coordinating the RBMP
with other plans and planning
Further
information on early river basin planning work.