Finland-Russia cooperation. Seppo Rekolainen, Finnish Environment Institute. Furthering water cooperation among nations and stakeholders. Making it happen! International Annual UN-Water Zaragoza Conference 2012/2013. Preparing for the 2013 International Year. Water Cooperation: Making it Happen! 8-10 January 2013

1. Transboundary water co-operation
between Russia and Finland
Seppo Rekolainen
Finnish Environment Institute
Member of the Transboundary Water
Commission between Russia and Finland

2. 25.01.13
Finland and Soviet Union: needs for joint
Seppo Rekolainen, SYKE
management of transboundary waters
arly sixties: large water quality problems, hydropower
regimes, flood management problems
ommon understanding of risks, benefits and costs in the
broad sense: knowledge and understanding of the
neighbours’ situation
pen atmosphere in both sides: willingness to face the
problems
egal basis: Agreement, signed 1964
ne agreement: all transboundary rivers and lakes (>400,
about 20 significant, large/significant issues) 2

3. Seppo Rekolainen, SYKE 25.01.13
Signing ceremony in 1964
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4. Seppo Rekolainen, SYKE 25.01.13
The agreement
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5. FINLAND – RUSSIA TRANSBOUNDARY
WATER COOPERATION
f
Location of
Norway
River Paatsjoki Finland
with Rivers
Vuoksi and
Sweden Paatsjoki
Finland
crossing
the
Russian
Lake
Saimaa Lake
Ladoga
border
River
Vuoksi
Russia

6. THE LAKE SAIMAA - RIVER VUOKSI
SYSTEM
atchment 69 500 km2
○ Finland 77 %, Russia 23 %
ake Saimaa
○ surface 4 460 km2
○ precipitation ~ 600 mm/a
iver Vuoksi natural discharge
○ mean 600 m3/s
○ max 1170 m3/s
○ min 220 m3/s

7. FINNISH - RUSSIAN AGREEMENT
ON THE UTILISATION OF
TRANSBOUNDARY WATERCOURSES
(1964)
egulations on:
○ Water flow and structural measures
○ Floods and water scarcity
○ Timber floating and navigation
○ Fisheries and fish migration
○ Pollution and water quality
○ Frontier guard issues (related with water)
○ Even public health and economic considerations

8. JOINT FINNISH – RUSSIAN
COMMISSION (1965)
ach Party appoints 3 members (including chair),
3 deputy members, experts, secretary
nnual meetings with reports from joint working
groups according to common annual plan
ecisions are made unanimously, binding on both
parties
f mutual understanding is lacking, the
Commission may take the issue to the
governments

9. 25.01.13
The Structure of the Commission
Seppo Rekolainen, SYKE
he Commission has Annual meetings (50th meeting in
2012, 50th anniversary in 2014)
ermanent working groups
1) the integrated water management group
2) the water protection group
3) the frontier guards group, and
4) the chairpersons group
Additionally: fisheries group
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10. Seppo Rekolainen, SYKE 25.01.13
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11. Seppo Rekolainen, SYKE 25.01.13
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12. LAKE SAIMAA AND RIVER VUOKSI
DISCHARGE RULE
ydropower and flood risks main challenges at the starting point in
1970s
anagement challenges – Russia
○ Low flows in winter, spill discharges at high flows - problems for hydro
○ Other interests: fisheries, abstraction, recreation
○ Two hydro power units in river Vuoksi
anagement challenges – Finland
○ Repeated floods (1899, -24, -36, -55, -62-63, -74-75) - losses to settlements,
industry, agriculture
○ Interests: hydro power, navigation, fisheries, recreation, endemic species
○ Low waters - problems to navigation, recreation in Lake Saimaa
○ Two hydro power units in river Vuoksi
nitiative of the Russian Party at the Joint Transboundary

13. LAKE SAIMAA AND RIVER VUOKSI
DISCHARGE RULE
evelopment targets at the outset
○ Increase winter discharge and minimum flows in River Vuoksi
○ Prevent exceptionally high and low water levels in Lake Saimaa
○ Prevent exceptionally high and low flows in River Vuoksi
• First plan 1979 accepted by Joint Commission
○ Counterarguments in both countries -> further planning and discussions
with stakeholders
everal alternatives jointly investigated
○ Impacts on livelihoods, fisheries, hydro and other industry, habitation,
navigation, water quality
• Joint discharge rule accepted 1989, implemented since
1991
• Main aim: minimise overall losses in Saimaa-Vuoksi basin

14. LAKE SAIMAA AND RIVER VUOKSI
DISCHARGE RULE
• Natural water level and discharge in normal circumstances
• When water level forecast goes beyond normal zone
discharge may be increased or reduced
• Natural discharge resumed when flood or drought threat
ceases

15. 25.01.13
Water quality and water protection
Seppo Rekolainen, SYKE
ommon monitoring programmes
○ Intercalibration of chemical analysis (present results
excellent)
○ Common reports on water quality
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16. 25.01.13
Vuoksi – COD Вуокса - ХПК
Seppo Rekolainen, SYKE
14
Vuoksi
12
10
8
6
4 CODMn mg/l FI
CODMn mg/l RUS
2 moving average (6 sampes), FI
moving average (6 samples), RUS
0
1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Kemiallisen hapenkulutuksen pitoisuudet (CODMn)
Vuoksella Suomen ja Venäjän puolella vuosina 1994–
2010.
Химическое потребление кислорода (ХПКMn) на р.
Вуокса в российском и финляндском створах в
1994–2010 гг.
Chemical oxygen demand (CODMn) in the River
Vuoksi in the Finnish side (blue) and the Russian side
(red) 1994–2010.
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17. 25.01.13
Water quality and water protection
Seppo Rekolainen, SYKE
ommon reports on loads and other pressures as well as all
protection and mitigation measures done and planned
250 2500
Vuoksen-Saimaan alue BOD7 t/d
t/d Kiintoaine t/d m3/d
100 t/d CODCr t/d
Tuotanto 100 t/d
200 Jätevesien määrä x1000 m3/d 2000
150 1500
100 1000
50 500
0 0
2
7
9
1
4
7
9
1
6
7
9
1
8
7
9
1
0
8
9
1
2
8
9
1
4
8
9
1
6
8
9
1
8
9
1
0
9
1
2
9
1
4
9
1
6
9
1
8
9
1
0
2
0
2
4
0
2
6
0
2
8
0
2
1
0
2
BOD, COD and Solids to the River Vuoksi
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18. Remaining challenges
limate change
○ Increased occurrence and variability
of heavy precipitation and drought
periods
○ Shorter snow period, more abundant
autumn and winter floods, less
severe spring floods
○ Alterations in ice conditions
• Ice and snow cover essential for
Saimaa seal nesting
orecasting and optimal flow control
become crucial
-> improved real-time data on hydrology
and meteorology
lood risk management tools: mapping
and planning

19. 25.01.13
FINLAND - RUSSIA COOPERATION:
Seppo Rekolainen, SYKE
CONCLUSIONS
dentification of shared interests and goals
nalysis of multiple interests disregarding state borders
inding an optimal solution for sharing costs and benefits
articipatory approach: involve stakeholders to identify their
needs, problems and priorities
ong-term commitment
eing open and transparent has increased the trust between
partners
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20. Seppo Rekolainen, SYKE 25.01.13
Thank you!
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