RESULTS:1. Creating the management framework
Aiming the successful management of the project a Framework for the project management was created. It consisted of a Team for management of the project (TMP) and a Supervision council.  TMP was in practice the team responsible for the implementation of the project and consisted of: head of the project, operational manager, financial manager, accountant, auction procedures specialist and consultants in the different specialties: local communities, hydrobiology, hydro engineering, conservation management, ornithology, zoology, international consultant for management planning, etc. The experts in the TMP, who were not employees of Green Balkans, were chosen in correspondence to the Regulations for the auction procedures of the World Bank.
The Supervision council (Supervision board) aimed to gather the representatives of the main partners in the project. It consisted of members of the following institutions:  Green Balkans NGO – main beneficiary of the project, Municipal coincil of POmorie – main partner in the implementation of the project and beneficiary of the project activities, Ministry of environment and waters – responsible institution for the protected territories in Bulgaria, Black Sea Salt-pans – the biggest salt producer in Pomorie Lake, The regional inspectorate for control and protection of health – regional branch of the Ministry of Health Protection, responsible for the extraction and usage of the curative mud of Pomorie Lake.

2. Development of Pomorie Lake Management Plan
One of the most important project components is the development of a Management Plan for the protected area. This task is of particular significance for the maintenance and preservation of the complex of protected natural ecosystems, since it determines and prioritizes the activities that should and could be implemented within the complex. The combination of four types of protected areas according to the national and the international legislation, namely – Protected Site, Ramsar Site, SPA, and pSCI, as well as their partial overlapping, called for an integrated approach when developing the Management Plan.
The elaboration of the Management Plan was a long process that involved gathering of huge volumes of information regarding the biotic and abiotic components, implementation of field studies, meetings and interviews, identification of regimes and zones, and outlining of various management activities. This is a pilot Management Plan and one of the first documents in the Bulgarian practice intended to apply modern approaches to secure biodiversity conservation and sustainable management, as well as complex and synchronized management of several protected natural areas. In the course of work the regulation underwent significant changes, such as enactment of a Decree on the Development of Management Plans of Natura 2000 Sites, which resulted in further expansion of the scope of work.
In the process of preparation of the Plan took part 40 experienced experts in different areas of science and environmental protection. The Management Plan was presented in a large public discussion in which took part representatives of different state and local authorities, the business, local landowners, citizens and media.

3. Implementation of Pomorie Lake Management Plan

3.1. Restoration of the hydrological balance of the wetland
The physical restoration of the hydrological balance of the lake was identified as one of the most important project activities by all stakeholders and the scientific community as early as the development of its initial concept. Therefore, the team studied various options for restoration or change of the existing hydro-engineering facilities – the fresh water outflow system (consisting of an open canal, a pump station, and a pressure pipeline) and the sea-lake connection canal. The two facilities were in poor condition; therefore, the team elaborated technical design solutions for their restoration. During the development of the design of the freshwater outflow system, the team found out that the existing underground pressure pipeline was cut and damaged. This resulted in unexpected increase in the costs of the restoration activities, exceeding considerably the project budget. At the same time, thanks to the regular monitoring of the hydro-chemical indicators, it was found out that the system of existing embankments in the lake was functioning properly, preventing fresh water from flowing into the main part of the lake, used for salt and mud extraction. All these resulted in a decision to postpone the restoration of the system until funding was available.
The main facility maintaining the hydrological balance of the lake is the sea-lake canal situated in the southern part of the lake and running across the urban part of Pomorie. A bigger section of the canal was to be opened according to the new technical design. This was done by the removal of the non-used part of the railway infrastructure of Pomorie. This opening was intended both to secure more lighted area, which is of key significance for fish migration, and provide better accessibility needed for its future maintenance. The restoration was successful and the results immediate: stabilized hydrological balance without great amplitude of the water level (the amplitude varies as follows: 58 cm in 2007, prior to restoration, 30 cm in 2008, and 25 cm in 2009); improved fish migration; sufficient water column above the stocks of medicinal mud; sufficient inflow of seawater needed for the production of salt. The restoration was unanimously evaluated as extremely useful and successful by all stakeholders, as well as by the local people, especially those living near the facility.

3.2. Restoration and conservation nesting habitats of rare bird species  
An extremely innovative approach was applied in the technical design of the restoration of habitats of threatened water birds. The related international experience and the peculiarities of the region – i.e. prevailing NE winds and considerable NE oriented length of the water body generating high waves, hence erosion, revealed the necessity of strengthening the habitat. A proposal was made to reconstruct the existing eroded embankment in the central part of the lake into a big stable island to be reinforced with geo-web and covered with natural substrate suitable for breeding of birds. Unfortunately, due to the delayed provision of the necessary documentation by the local authorities, Green Balkans and the donor decided to reallocate the financial resource to the construction of an administrative building with a visitor’s center. Later, the project team developed a project proposal to Operational Program “Environment” 2007-2013 (OPE) for the realization of this new approach in the restoration of habitats of threatened colonially breeding waterfowl species.
Throughout the project lifetime, Green Balkans’ volunteers continued the well-established practice for maintenance, enhancement, and enlargement of the small islands harboring the biggest Sandwich Tern colony on the Balkan Peninsula, as well as other protected species, such as Avocet, Little Tern, and Common Tern. The results of the restoration activities are extremely successful - in 2009, the Sandwich Tern colony reached 1,500 pairs.

3.3. The Visitor’s Center
An administrative building with a visitor’s center was built to secure sustainability and successful implementation of the activities envisaged in the Pomorie Lake Management Plan. The launch of the construction works was delayed due to a variety of administrative difficulties on the part of the local authorities, such as the allotment of a suitable plot for the visitor’s center. This multifunctional building is intended to provide a working space to the unit in charge of the wetland conservation, including the maintenance and restoration of the biodiversity within the Protected Site, the Ramsar Site, and the two Natura 2000 sites.
Besides, the team and the visitor’s center will offer various education and information services aimed at popularizing the saline lagoon, developing eco-tourism, and mobilizing additional support and resources for the protection of the wetland.
The additional funding made available under Operational Program “Environment” 2007-2013 will secure the center’s furniture and equipment, as well as the production of an exhibition. In addition, this OPE-funded project provides for the establishment of a botanic path and a birding route, offering opportunities for observation of the interesting plant and bird species inhabiting the wetland.

4. Monitoring of biological diversity and hydro-chemical indicators
The monitoring of the biological diversity and the hydro-chemistry of the lake’s water was one of the main activities implemented in a systematic and methodical manner throughout the project lifetime. Specific equipment was purchased, including binoculars, GPS devices, a spotting scope, a device for measuring the hydro-chemical indicators of the water (oxidation, salinity, pH, temperature). A lot of data regarding the variation of the water level was gathered through the water gauge installed under the project. The location of the birds’ nests in the Pomorie Lake was identified and mapped. Field studies concerning the rest of the animal groups were also carried out. The whole volume of information was of particular importance for the planning of activities related to the management of the complex of protected natural areas. After the completion of the project and the development of the Management Plan, the monitoring remains an important activity, which will secure the information needed for the management of the wetland.  The monitoring program will be implemented by the team of Green Balkans also in the future.

5. Public Relations program
The program was developed in three areas of activity: environmental education program in the schools of Pomorie, popularization of the Pomorie Lake at national and international level, and exchange of national and international experience.
The environmental education program was funded through another project supported by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Bulgaria. The program involved numerous thematic lectures and field activities, such as afforestation actions, monitoring, visits to other protected areas, and celebration of international nature conservation holidays.
Good relations with the administration of Po Delta Park, Italy, were established through a project for exchange of experience funded by the European Commission. Representatives of the stakeholders were organized in a business trip to the Po Delta lagoon, and later on, the Italian experience was transferred to Bulgaria through the implementation of “The Magic of the Pomorie Lake” EcoFest in 2008 and 2009. This event gathered lots of nature-lovers both from Bulgaria and abroad, and contributed significantly to the popularization of the Pomorie Lake natural resources. Green Balkans NGO plans to turn this EcoFest into a traditional event, expanding its scope and promotion.

6. Management of the project, national and international co-operation
The management of the project was implemented by the Team for management of the project (TMP) in close co-ordination with team of the World Bank. One of the important tasks within the working process was to share and acquire the experience on how other projects of GEF and the World Bank were already implemented. As well as to acquire the experience gathered during the implementation of other project related to wetland conservation and restoration. In this relation important contacts were made with the team of the project for restoration of Danube wetlands, who gave us useful information on how the auction procedures should be done.
Useful contacts were made with the Secretariat of the Ramsar Convention, which highly valued the work of Green Balkans in Pomorie Lake. While choosing an international consultant for management planning were made important contacts with two of the leading organizations for protection and conservation of wetlands in the world: Wetlands International and the biological station Tour du Valat, France.  

The benefits
The benefits of the project are indisputable, as acknowledged by all stakeholders. The improved water regime of the lake favors both biodiversity (migration of fish, breeding of birds, etc.) and the related human activities. The rehabilitation hospitals and the SPA hotels using the stock of the unique medicinal mud can rely on the good storage and regeneration of this valuable recourse. Sufficient inflow of seawater – the main material needed for the extraction of salt, has been secured for salt-producers. The Visitor’s Center will support the Government and the Ministry of Environment and Water in the fulfillment of Bulgaria’s commitments for preserving the wetlands and halting the loss of biological diversity.
The environmental education program was highly praised by local teachers and educational supervisors, as well as by the international experts. For its main participants – the kids, this program brought new knowledge, interesting and useful out-of-class activities.
The two editions of the Festival contributed to the popularization of the Pomorie Lake as an important site for environmentally friendly eco-tourism.
Good partnerships were established at local level, involving Pomorie Municipal Council, Municipal Administration, salt producers, mud users, representatives of the tourist sector, schools, etc. In addition, the numerous contacts established at international level involved foreign institutions and partners, thus securing exchange of knowledge and experience and application of good practices for wetland management and conservation.