This study illustrated how local variation in institutional
arrangements on catchmentlevel resulted in significant differences
in the adaptation to the WFD requirements of stakeholder participation.
The study analyzed two adjacent catchments in southern
Sweden. Both Kävlinge and Rönne River Catchments suffer from
eutrophication problems caused by diffuse nutrientleakage mainly
from intensive agriculture. Initially, a comparable approach was
applied in both areas based on cooperation within the catchments
to facilitate the implementation of coordinated action of monitoring.
However, the institutional development in these catchments
diverged which affected local stakeholder participation and goal
achievement. In Kävlinge River Catchment, the local authorities
expressed through the inter-municipal agreement, commitment
to the Kävlinge River Project. The agreement, which included a
plan for funding, defined a scope for the project that went beyond
point source monitoring. In addition, a water management organization
was set up with a distinct division of responsibilities, which
also involved farmers. The organizational arrangement together
with the local commitment facilitated the creation of wetlands and
buffer zones which exceeded the goals and also lead to improvements
in recreation and biodiversity. Despite similar intensions in
the water quality plan, the achievements of the Rönne River Committee
were more limited. The lack of willingness among some
of the actors to make the investments to improve water quality
and an organizational arrangement that was not embedded among
the stakeholders are two reasons why limited actions were made
againstthe eutrophication problems in the Rönne River Catchment.