Developing a pan-European Data Base of Drainage Newtorks and Catchment Boundaries from a 100 Meter DEM

Digital data on river networks, lakes and drainage basins (catchments) are an important prerequisite for modelling hydrological processes, including the analysis of pressures and their impact on water resources. Datasets covering extensive areas such as the European continent are especially important for mapping and monitoring activities of European institutions. The European Water Framework Directive, for example, explicitly asks for the setup of Geographical Information Systems including detailed layers of water bodies (rivers, lakes, wetlands) and their drainage basins, while the European Environment Agency (EEA) requires adequate river and catchment data for monitoring the status and trends of water resources over the entire pan-European continent.