
Ensuring effective grant management for lake and stream restoration
Denmark, like all EU countries, is required to maintain good qualitative and quantitative status for its water bodies under the EU Water Framework Directive. To support this effort, the Danish Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) subsidizes municipal projects aimed at improving the ecological status of lakes and streams. These projects focus on restoring fish passage, improving spawning conditions, and protecting aquatic flora.
Denmark’s water restoration efforts depend on municipalities applying for subsidies to implement projects aligned with national water plans. The challenge was to create a system that could efficiently screen applications, prioritize projects based on cost-effectiveness, and ensure compliance with environmental goals under the EU Water Framework Directive.
Managing applications manually risked inefficiencies, inconsistencies, and delays in fund distribution, making it crucial to adopt a structured and accountable approach to close the time gap from political decision to execution.