This book chapter gives an introduction into the environmental policy instruments for the protection of water bodies and reports on a practical case study regarding groundwater management in Hessisches Ried. Starting off with this instrumental approach, the chapter introduces the objectives of the German Working Group of the Federal States on water issues (LAWA) with regard to surface water. It continues with the strategic approach as it was embodied in the Water Framework Directive (WFD) and finally presents the actors in the area of water policy.

Not only environmental policy in general, but also water management policy in particular, undergoes constant change. Whereas in recent years the instrumental approach was predominant, today the strategic approach is prevalent and has been embodied in the Water Framework Directive (WFD). Because of the multitude of aspects and the inconsistencies that abound in the field of water policy, describing its various trends is a complex task. Even more difficult, however, is the attempt to identify the influence of the various actors on water policy. Furthermore, the fact that national environmental policy and legislation is increasingly being overlaid by EU environmental policy and legislation complicates the analysis. As a result, it is overconfident to speak of "controlling" in the field of water policy.