Led by Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), WP1 will ensure the delivery of project outcomes by efficient project management, workflow coordination of Research & Development activities, and transparent progress tracking. It will arrange the involvement of stakeholder groups, facilitate internal communication, and ensure ethical research practice throughout the project while mitigating potential project risks.

Led by Pensoft Publishers, WP2 will maximise the impact of FERRO by strategically planning and implementing the communication, dissemination and exploitation activities of the project. This will be achieved through the use of tailored formats to raise awareness and reach a wide range of stakeholder groups and by creating synergies with existing biodiversity, conservation and restoration actors around Europe.

Led by Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), WP3 will gather and review knowledge from EU lakes that have undergone restoration measures in the past. The aim is to create a detailed database of restoration projects and experiences to help the restoration community decide on the best measures for their lakes. Knowledge sources to be explored include local and regional authorities, scientific publications, and grey literature. The developed database will be internally and externally tested.

Led by Brockmann Consult, WP4 will provide catchment-related and water quality information derived from remote sensing satellite data with the dual purpose of assisting in the prioritisation of lakes for restoration and monitoring the impact of restoration activities in space and time. To achieve this, a dedicated classification scheme to assist with the assessment and restoration prioritisation of European lakes will be adapted from existing methodologies (Politi et al. 2024)  that will be both customisable and transferable to other locations and continents. An interactive dashboard for monitoring restoration impact based on remote sensing products will be developed and maintained throughout the project lifetime, showcasing the strengths of remote sensing and its added value in lake restoration and management.

Led by the University of Southern Denmark (SDU), WP5 aims to improve the management and use efficiency of phosphorus (P). In order to encourage nutrient circularity, dewatered lake sediment and iron (Fe) filter material will be applied on agricultural fields where the P-rich material will serve as fertiliser. The WP will also focus on best practices of using native soil bacteria to improve P use efficiency and availability for crops. Through this nature-based solution, P leaching from agriculture into aquatic systems will be diminished, while simultaneously ensuring crop yields.

Led by Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), WP6 will concentrate on reducing nutrient loads from lake catchments by trapping incoming nutrients at inflows or pre-dams of drinking water reservoir (Droeda, Germany) through implementing and validating smart and adaptive flocculation with an iron (Fe)-based flocculent. Additionally, a methodology will be developed to recover the nutrient-rich flocs and assess their suitability for use as a fertiliser.

Led by the University of Southern Denmark (SDU), WP7 will develop the use of sonar analysis in lake restoration to help localise areas in large lakes with soft sediment which can be responsible for phosphorous (P) release. This approach enables  tailor-made lake restoration, focusing on the areas most strongly contributing to eutrophication. Sonar-based sediment maps can also be used to identify lake areas suitable for macrophyte re-establishment and areas responsible for methane emissions.

Led by the University of Southern Denmark (SDU), WP8 will work on developing an energy-neutral pumping system that can be deployed above phosphorous (P) - releasing hotspots (determined by sonar analysis - WP7) and connected to various types of filter systems such as nature-based wetlands and ponds, or chemical P-trapping filter systems. This will aid in the long-term management and P-balance of lakes in a sustainable way.

Led by the University of Helsinki (UH), WP9 will 1) develop a tool for the smart mapping of lakes potentially suitable for sediment removal (through using sonar maps and sediment P dynamics studies); 2) explore the viability of sediment removal at phosphorus (P) rich areas (i.e hotspots) while optimising for cost-efficiency, effectiveness and environmental risks; 3) elaborate best practices for the sediment reuse as P fertilisers.

Led by Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), WP10 will open a call for associated regions to apply for FERRO grants to be used for tackling eutrophication problems using the project-derived solutions. An action plan will be developed to adopt FERRO solutions in each of the three associated regions, and a series of webinars will help disseminate the methodologies on a larger scale in the EU.