26
K. Kubiak-Wójcicka
of the reform, a three-level structure of territorial division was introduced, divided
into voivodships, districts and communes. According to this division, 16 voivodships
(instead of 49), 308 districts and 2489 communes were created [40]. This division,
since its introduction, has undergone minor modifications.
3.3 Water Management in Years 2001–2017
3.3.1 Water Management Organization Structure
The new Water Law act of 18 July 2001, valid until 2017, had a significant impact
on the shape of the water management system in Poland.
Water management in Poland was carried out both via the state and local governments. The authority responsible for the proper management of inland waters in
Poland, according to the provisions of the Water Law act of 2001, was the President
of National Water Management Authority, directors of national parks and Voivodeship Marshals. According to the act, water is the property of the State Treasury, other
legal entities, and private persons. Waters that belong to the State Treasury or local
government units are the public waters [41].
There was no single ministry which would deal with water management as a
whole, which means that competences in water management were divided among
different sectors of the national economy. Management of water resources and the
related infrastructure was carried out by the Ministry of the Environment, Ministry
of Naval Management and Inland Navigation, Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of
Agriculture and Rural Development (Fig. 3.1).
The Prime Minister exercised direct supervision over the Government Plenipotentiary for the “Program for the Oder – 2006”. The plenipotentiary was appointed by
the Act of 6 July, 2001 on establishing a long-term program “Program for the Oder
– 2006” (Journal of Laws No. 98, item 1067), which came into force in 2002. The
program included the reconstruction and modernization of the Oder Water System,
which was destroyed during the flood on the Oder River in 1997. The function
of the plenipotentiary was held by the voivode of Lower Silesia. The purpose of
this program was to modernize the Oder River to a modernly developed ecological
corridor in accordance with the principles of sustainable development. As part of
this program, specific statutory tasks were implemented in the area of construction
of a flood protection system, protection of the natural environment and water purity,
elimination of flood damage and preventive spatial development and restoration of
eco-systems. The Government Plenipotentiary for the “Program for the Oder – 2006”
served until the end of 2014. He was dismissed by the Council of Ministers, and all his
activities were then coordinated by the President of the National Water Management
Authority (KZGW) by the end of 2015.
A key role in the management of inland waterways is played by the Ministry of
the Environment, which has an extensive organisational structure. The Minister of
K. Kubiak-Wójcicka
of the reform, a three-level structure of territorial division was introduced, divided
into voivodships, districts and communes. According to this division, 16 voivodships
(instead of 49), 308 districts and 2489 communes were created [40]. This division,
since its introduction, has undergone minor modifications.
3.3 Water Management in Years 2001–2017
3.3.1 Water Management Organization Structure
The new Water Law act of 18 July 2001, valid until 2017, had a significant impact
on the shape of the water management system in Poland.
Water management in Poland was carried out both via the state and local governments. The authority responsible for the proper management of inland waters in
Poland, according to the provisions of the Water Law act of 2001, was the President
of National Water Management Authority, directors of national parks and Voivodeship Marshals. According to the act, water is the property of the State Treasury, other
legal entities, and private persons. Waters that belong to the State Treasury or local
government units are the public waters [41].
There was no single ministry which would deal with water management as a
whole, which means that competences in water management were divided among
different sectors of the national economy. Management of water resources and the
related infrastructure was carried out by the Ministry of the Environment, Ministry
of Naval Management and Inland Navigation, Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of
Agriculture and Rural Development (Fig. 3.1).
The Prime Minister exercised direct supervision over the Government Plenipotentiary for the “Program for the Oder – 2006”. The plenipotentiary was appointed by
the Act of 6 July, 2001 on establishing a long-term program “Program for the Oder
– 2006” (Journal of Laws No. 98, item 1067), which came into force in 2002. The
program included the reconstruction and modernization of the Oder Water System,
which was destroyed during the flood on the Oder River in 1997. The function
of the plenipotentiary was held by the voivode of Lower Silesia. The purpose of
this program was to modernize the Oder River to a modernly developed ecological
corridor in accordance with the principles of sustainable development. As part of
this program, specific statutory tasks were implemented in the area of construction
of a flood protection system, protection of the natural environment and water purity,
elimination of flood damage and preventive spatial development and restoration of
eco-systems. The Government Plenipotentiary for the “Program for the Oder – 2006”
served until the end of 2014. He was dismissed by the Council of Ministers, and all his
activities were then coordinated by the President of the National Water Management
Authority (KZGW) by the end of 2015.
A key role in the management of inland waterways is played by the Ministry of
the Environment, which has an extensive organisational structure. The Minister of