The participants of the Harmoni-CA Forum (February 2004, Sikorska et al., 2004) concluded that there is a need for a toolbox that can guide water managers to appropriate tools and models. Models, tools and toolboxes are addressed at several points in both the legal Water Framework Directive (WFD) document and several guidance documents. Toolboxes for example are explicitly mentioned in the guidances 'planning process', 'Rivers and lakes - Typology reference conditions and classification systems' and 'Monitoring under the Water Framework Directive'. Though the WFD legal text and the guidances do not oblige the use of models and tools, the benefit of modelling and the use of tools is clearly recognized in guidances. What the factual role of models and tools will be during the WFD in general and the development of programmes of measures implementation is however yet unclear (Blind & de Blois, 2003, Blind, 2004). Also, no consistent definition of what a toolbox is, is provided.

During the 1^st CatchMod technical workshop (September 2003) a session was dedicated to toolboxes. The key conclusion of this session was that some project results (software toolboxes developed by the projects) can fit together providing a wider support to the implementation of WFD. The challenges for the future work within a CATCHMOD framework with regard to the development of a toolbox concept/system would, inter alia, include going from a theoretical, scientifically complicated starting point to a practical system that can be implemented, is easily understood and applied (Borgvang, 2003).
Within CatchMod several aspects of models, tools and toolboxes are researched and implemented. CatchMod is the European Cluster of projects researching catchment-modelling processes. The degree of maturity varies, for example the toolbox of the EC project 'Benchmark projects for the Water Framework Directive (BMW)' for model selection is almost finalized. On the other hands Harmoni-CA's web-portal (Working title: WISE-CE) that aims linking tools to specific sections of WFD guidances is in its infancy.
Also the purpose, target groups, and openness vary between projects.
To enhance the interaction between these projects, other research initiatives and upcoming projects, the concerted action Harmoni-CA facilitates the 2^nd CatchMod technical workshop.

Blind, M. and Ch de Blois, 2003,The Water Framework Directive and its guidance documents - Review of data aspects, In: Harmonised techniques and representative river basin data for assessment and use of uncertainty information in integrated water management (HarmoniRiB): Requirements report, Refsgaard, J. (ed.), chapter 5.

Blind, M., 2004, ICT Requirements for an 'evolutionary' development of WFD compliant River Basin Management Plans, paper presented at the IEMSS conference, Osnabrück, 14-17 June 2004.

Borgvang, 2003, Session 4B: Technical solutions, design and development of systems and approaches for model selection, in: ADVANCING PROJECT INTERACTIONS IN CATCHMENT MODELLING! THE CATCHMOD TECHNICAL WORKSHOPS, Results of workshop sessions, workshop held in Amsterdam, September 16-17 2003.
1st CatchMod technical workshops - RESULTS.pdf (348.73 Kb)

Sikorska et al, 2004, SUMMARY REPORT - HARMONI-CA FORUM AND CONFERENCE, Understanding each other's demand and support for implementing the WFD, report of the HARMONI-CA FORUM AND CONFERENCE held in Brussels, 18 & 19 February 2004.
Summary Report from Harmoni-CA Forum & Conference v.1.0.pdf (232.47 Kb)