Table 3. Qualitative scores of basins on criteria for adaptive management (- = low, 0 = average, + = high)

Criterion Orange Rhine
A. Actor networks (Average 1–4) 0 0 / +
1. Cross-sectoral cooperation - 0
2. Cooperation between administrative levels 0 0
3. Cooperation across administrative boundaries 0 +
4. Broad stakeholder participation 0 +
B. Legal framework (Average 5–6) - / 0 0 / +
5. Appropriate legal framework - +
6. Adaptable legislation 0 0
C. Policy (Average 7–11) 0 +
7. Long time horizon 0 +
8. Flexible measures, keeping options open 0 +
9. Experimentation 0 0
10. Full consideration of possible measures 0 +
11. Actual implementation of policies - +
D. Information management (Average 12–17) - / 0 0 / +
12. Joint / participative information production 0 +
13. Interdisciplinarity 0
14. Elicitation of mental models / critical self-reflection about assumptions
15. Explicit consideration of uncertainty 0 0
16. Broad communication +
17. Use of information - 0
E. Financing (18) - +
18. Appropriate financing system - +