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Abstract. River discharges are the main expression of the hydrological cycle and are the results of climate natural variability. The signal of climate changes occurrence raises the question of how it will impact on river flows and on their extreme manifestations: floods and droughts. This question can be addressed through numerical simulations spanning from the past (1971) to future (2100) under different climate change scenarios. This work addresses the capability of a modelling chain to reproduce the observed discharge of the Po River over the period 1971–2000. The modelling chain includes climate and hydrological/hydraulic models and its performance is evaluated through indices based on the flow duration curve. The climate datasets used for the 1971–2000 period are (a) a high resolution observed climate dataset, and COSMO-CLM regional climate model outputs with (b) perfect boundary condition, ERA40 Reanalysis, and (c) suboptimal boundary conditions provided by the global climate model CMCC–CM. The aim of the different simulations is to evaluate how the uncertainties introduced by the choice of the regional and/or global climate models propagate in the simulated discharges. This point is relevant to interpret the results of the simulated discharges when scenarios for the future are considered. The hydrological/hydraulic components are simulated through a physically-based distributed model (TOPKAPI) and a water balance model at the basin scale (RIBASIM). The aim of these first simulations is to quantify the uncertainties introduced by each component of the modelling chain and their propagation. Estimation of the overall uncertainty is relevant to correctly understand the future river flow regimes. The results show how bias correction algorithms can help in reducing the overall uncertainty associated to the different stages of the modelling chain.

The variability in water quality and zooplankton community structure during downstream transport was investigated in the Po river (Italy) using for the first time a Lagrangian sampling approach. Two surveys were conducted, one in spring under relatively high discharge levels, and one at low flows in summer. Twelve stations along a 332‐km stretch of the river's lowland reach and four major tributaries were sampled. A hydrodynamic modelling system was used to determine water transport time along the river, with a satisfying fit between simulated and observed discharge values. No clear downstream trend in phosphorus and nitrogen concentrations was found. Conversely, a marked longitudinal decrease in dissolved silica supports the hypothesis of increasing downstream silica limitation during the phytoplankton growing season. In spring, at low residence time, no apparent plankton growth was observed during downstream transport. In summer, higher temperatures and lower turbulence and turbidity associated with longer residence time stimulated algal growth and in‐stream reproduction of fast‐growing rotifer taxa, with the gradual downstream development of a truly potamal assemblage and the increase of the ratio of euplanktonic to littoral/epibenthic rotifer taxa. Crustacean zooplankton density was generally low. The importance of biotic interactions within the zooplankton in driving community abundance and composition appeared to increase in the downstream direction, paralleled by a decrease in the influence of physical forcing. Tributary influence was especially evident where severe anthropogenic alterations of river hydrology and trophic status resulted in enhanced plankton growth, ultimately affecting zooplankton structure in the main river. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

<p>Water is very important for human consumption, production and services and also for inspiration, recreation, landscapes, ecosystems and wild life. UN and EU policies highlights the interaction of historical scientific, economic, societal and environmental factors and the linkage of water policies with biodiversity protection and Climate Change adaptation.  According to the European Green Deal (2019), for a fair and prosperous society, with a modern, resource-efficient and competitive economy working across sectors and disciplines, will be needed, also involving local communities. Moreover Political and management processes may take benefits from specific participatory Tools.</p><p>The Emilia-Romagna Regional Agency for Prevention, Environment and Energy (Arpae) helps sustainability developing  actions for water protection, water use, flood management and education to sustainability.  </p><p>Arpae Hydrological Service (HS) supports flood management and water management, as also design and management of hydraulic structures, through the Flood Early Warning System FEWS and  the Drought Early Warning System DEWS. Arpae HS also collect and publish hydrological time series (water, solid transport) and stage-discharge equations.</p><p>Within FP7 Enhance (2017) multi risk analysis and Public Private Partnership (PPPs) experiences were supported by  modeling tools combining flood /earthquake/Climate Change scenarios in a densely populated, highly developed land reclamation territory. An Application of the System for Economic and Environmental Accounting for Water (UN SEEA -Water) was developed in 2017. Within Interreg Proline-CE (2019), the FEWS and DEWS Systems, respectively supporting the Flood Forecasting Center and the Observatory on Water Uses, were proposed as Best Management Practices (BMPs) for land and water management useful for drinking water protection. BMPs where tested through workshops, questionnaires,  meetings and technical visits, useful for dissemination and  stakeholders involvement. H2020 Clara was useful to experience co-design/co-development approaches, to explore market segments and business models for water knowledge and climate services, and to set dedicated Policy Briefs for Water and Climate Change Adaptation; Arpae HS developed a set of modeling services  (Clara PWA) related to water management, solid transport, water quality and habitat availability, useful to understand the  influenced of climate change and the needs and proposal coming from market and  the institutions. Interreg boDEREC-CE is a current project on pharmaceutical and personal care pollutants (PPCPs), aimed at developing tools and strategies for protection of drinking water, water ecosystems and public health from pollution, bacterial resistance, toxicity and pathogens.</p><p>Arpae HS through these experiences has gained awareness of the inter linkage of hydrology with other sectors (economy, Earth sciences, ICT, health, ecology, society) and of the importance of developing specific decision support tools maximizing stakeholder participation, societal dissemination, transparency, education to sustainability and experts involvement.</p>

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