Europe has experienced a number of extreme hydrological events in recent years - from extended periods of drought to the severe flooding of major river systems. It is essentiel to understand the temporal and spatial variability of such hydrological extremes in order to advance hydrological science and to provide robust and internationally consistent design procedures.

FRIEND, an international collaborative study, aims to improve this understanding at the European scale. By creating a central hydrological data base, the European Water Archive, and applying consistent methods of analysis to catchments across Europe, the project has been successful in parameterising hydrological regimes. Data from small experimental catchments and from national hydrometric networks are cornbined in the analysis.

FRIEND is a major comportent of the UNESCO International Hydrological Programme (IHP) and was designated Project 1. 1 of IHP-V in February 1995.

The results are of practical value in improving hydrological design for both low flow problems (river abstraction schemes, dilution of effluent and stream ecology) and high flows (culvert, bridge and reservoir spillway design). It supports studies into continental-scale water budgets. The project will also assist planners and policy makers at the national and European scale and will be of value to organisations developing multidisciplinary international research programmes.

22 European countries are represented on the FRIEND steering committee, alongside représentatives from AMHY, UNESCO, the World Meteorological Organization, UNEP-GRID and the European Environment Agency. Over 50 organisations actively participate in the project, including

• Hydrographisches Zentralbüro, Austria
  
• Administration of Hydrometeorology, Belarus
  
• University of Ghent, Belgium
  
• Technical University of Denmark
  
• University of Aarhus, Denmark
  
• Meteorological and Hydrological Institute, Estonia
  
• National Board of Waters and the Environment, Finland
  
• CEMAGREF, France
  
• Federal Institute of Hydrolog-y, Germany
  
• University of Freiburg, Germany
  
• Technical University of Braunschweig, Germany
  
• VITUKI, Hungary
  
• Wageningen Agricultural University, Netherlands
  
• University of Utrecht, Netherlands
  
• The Norwegian Water and Energy Administration, Norway University of Oslo, Norway
  
• Hydrometeorological Institute, Poland
  
• University of Warsaw, Poland
  
• T G Masaryk Institute, Czech Republic
  
• Hydrometeorological Institute, Czech Republic
  
• State Hydrological Institute, Russia
  
• Hydrometeorological Institute, Slovak Republic
  
• Institute of Hydrology and Hydraulics (SAS), Slovak Republic
  
• Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute, Sweden
  
• University of Linköping, Sweden
  
• Service Hydrologique et Géologique Nationale, Switzerland
  
• State Committee of Hydrometeorology, Ukraine
  
• Southampton University, UK
  
• Lancaster University, UK
  
• Institute of Hydrology, UK

About SOUTHERN AFRICA

The analysis of Flow Regimes from International Experimental and Network Data (FRIEND) is being applied in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. The countries participating in the Southern African FRIEND project include :
Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.

The Institute of Hydrology is a component establishment of the Natural Environnement Research Council

IWRA : International Water Resources Association

Source : Documentation IWRA

" WHO WE ARE

IWRA is a non-profit, nongovernmental, educational organisation connecting professionals, students, and individuels who are concerned with the sustainable use of our water resources.IWRA provides a global forum for bridging disciplines and geographies.

OUR MEMBERSHIP

The more than 1400 members of IWRA from 110 countries represent every profession and academic discipline involved in the management of the world's water resources. Our members are committed to their professional development and networking with the people, information, and institutions necessary to sustain our water resources. We invite you to join us! "

Headquarters :
4535 Faner Hall Southern Illinois University Carbondale, IL 62901-4516 USA
Ph: 618.453.5138 Fax: 618.453.2671
Email: iwra@siu.edu
Web Site: www.iwra.siu.edu

MISSION STATEMENT

IWRA is an international gateway to the people, ideas, and networks, wich are critical to sustainable management of water resources around the world. We seek to improve and expand the understanding of water issues through education, research, and information exchange between countries and across disciplines.

THE IWRA VISION

The International Water Resources Association is recognized and respected as a leading advocate in advancing the understanding and management of water resources worldwide. IWRA publications and conferences enhance members knowledge and effectiveness as water resource professionals and as participants in water resourcess decisions. The interdisciplinary focus of the organisation and its membership promotes a broad-based comprehensive understanding of water resource issues and their solutions.
IWRA seeks to continually improve water resource decisions by improving ont collective understanding of the physical, ecological, chemical, institutional, social, and economic aspects of water. IWRA is deeply committed to the sound management of water resources through :

THE ORGANIZATION

IWRA has strived to improve water management around the world through dialogue, education, and research since 1972. The Association is governed by a seventeen member Executive Board of Directors who each serve a three year term. The President and three Vice-Presidents are all elected to represent different continents and all Directors must be from different countries. The Association operates from its Headquarters at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois, USA. Carbondale is located 160 kilometers southeast of St.Louis and 450 kilometers south of Chicago, near the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers.

GLOBAL AND REGIONAL OUTREACH

IWRA is a founding member of the World Water Council and played a strong role in bringing it to fruition. As stated by the Executive Director of the World Water Council, "At the 1994 IWRA World Water Congress in Cairo, the World Water Council, preiviously no more than a subject of discussion and debate, was transformed into action through the decision of the IWRA to establish the Interim Founding Committee, the catalyst for the Council's Creation in 1996." IWRA hosted the 1997 meeting of the World Water Council as well at its World Water Congress in Montreal, Canada.

IWRA actively promotes the exchange of knowledge and experiences across countries and regions. The critical importance of local-based knowledge and experiences is strongly emphasized in our information exchange activities. The belief that sustainability requires interdisciplinary action and international cooperation is a driving force in the Association.

IWRA has developed regional committees to further implement its mission and focus its activities geographically. These committees allow for extensive regional networking among IWRA members. Updates on the activities of these committees are regularly posted to the IWRA Web Site.