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Wetland restoration projects in the Wetland restoration projects in the Danube Delta Biosphere Danube Delta Biosphere

Reserve/RomaniaReserve/Romania

River Restoration Seminar – Iasi, May 2012

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HUMAN INDUCED CHANGES IN DANUBE DELTA

BY

POLLUTION

AND

HABITATALTERATIONS

DREDGING CHANNELS

HABITAT REDUCTIONS

BY

AND

BUILDING BARRAGESAT KM 942 AND KM 863 FROM RIVER MOUTHS

DAMMING UPSTREAM FLOODPLAINAND 22% OF THE DELTA

B l a c k S e a

A

TULCEA

Pollution

LEGENDDamming (22%)

New channels

Phosphorous: 45,000-60,000 t/yearOil: 45,000-50,000 t/year

DANUBE

Nitrogen: 300,000-400,000 t/year

SEE HydroPower - Seminar addressed to stakeholders of hydropower target groups in Romania, 18-19 May, Tulcea/Romania

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DAMMING FLOODPLAIN UPSTREAM DELTA

Jiu

Olt

Arges

Ialomita

Calmatui

Siret

<19601960-19651965-1970>1970

Damming period

Iron Gate II

Iron Gate I

Catch sizes in the Romanian Danube Delta and adjacent lakes

02000400060008000

1000012000140001600018000

1948

195 0

1952

1954

1956

1958

1960

1961

1964

1966

1968

1970

1972

1974

tons Cyprinus Carpio

Total

Damming floodplain area of the Danube river

0

100

200

300

400

500

1949 1952 1956 1960 1962 1966 1975

x1,000 ha

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DAMMING AND CHANNEL EXCAVATION

Danube

Legend

1903-1916

1952-1960> 19601941-19511930-19401880-1902

Excavation period Legend

1960-19701971-19801981-1989

Building period

Danube

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Channels blocking

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CHANGES OF HYDROLOGY AND WATER CHEMISTRY

DANUBE RIVER

Water inflow (cm/s)P(PO4) (mg/l)N(NO3) (mg/l)

P(PO4) inflowtons/year

N(NO3) inflowtons/year

DELTA ECOSYSTEMSBefore 1960 1971-1980 1980-1989

309 359 620<0,01 0,06 0,070,4 1,5 1,5

100 700 1400

4000 17000 29300

2003-20057000,050,6

1100

13500

SEE HydroPower - Seminar addressed to stakeholders of hydropower target groups in Romania, 18-19 May, Tulcea/Romania

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In 1994 - Babina (2,100 ha), - agricultural polder -

in 1996 - Cernovca(1,580 ha)- agricultural polder -

in 2000 - Popina(3,600 ha) - fishpond -

in 2002 - Fortuna (2,115 ha) -- agricultural polder -in 2006 - SF. Gheorghe arm’s meanders (687 ha)

In 2008 - Holbina -Dunavat(5,630 ha)- fishponds -

Restoration Works in the Danube Delta

TOTAL: 15,712

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BABINABABINA--CERNOVCA PILOT PROJECTCERNOVCA PILOT PROJECT

Babina(2,100 ha)

Cernovca(1,580 ha)

Research 1991 - 1994 1991 - 1996Design 1994 1996Implementation 1994 1996Monitoring 1995 - 2003 1997 - 2003

Project status

fullyimplementedreverted to

wetlandsince 1994

fullyimplementedreverted to

wetlandsince 1996

Present status

a mosaic of water types,clear to turbid water

systems, depending onthe connectivity to the

river

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A management master plan that have been elaborated in A management master plan that have been elaborated in a first phase for a first phase for DDBRcomprisedDDBRcomprised a number of areas to a number of areas to be restored. Preparative studies were conducted from be restored. Preparative studies were conducted from 19911991

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BEFORE FLOODINGBEFORE FLOODING

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2 YEARS AFTER FLOODING2 YEARS AFTER FLOODING

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AGRICULTURAL POLDER IN DANUBE DELTA

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BabinaBabina--CernovcaCernovca area area (satellite images)(satellite images)

1993

1996

1993

1996

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BIOLOGICAL FILTERING CAPACITYBIOLOGICAL FILTERING CAPACITYOF THE PALUSTRIAN AND AQUATIC VEGETATIONOF THE PALUSTRIAN AND AQUATIC VEGETATION

Studies based on the model proposed by ConstantinescuStudies based on the model proposed by ConstantinescuAnd And BakkumBakkum (2001)(2001)--on on proccessesproccesses occuringoccuring in reed covered areasin reed covered areasIncluding nitrate and phosphorus cycles (model DANUBS_WQ)Including nitrate and phosphorus cycles (model DANUBS_WQ)

334kg/ha/year mineral nitrogen and 14.5 kg/ha/year total 334kg/ha/year mineral nitrogen and 14.5 kg/ha/year total phosphorusphosphorus

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CONTACT OF CLEAN WATER FROM RESTORED AREACONTACT OF CLEAN WATER FROM RESTORED AREAWITH DANUBE WATER RICH IN SEDIMENTSWITH DANUBE WATER RICH IN SEDIMENTS

Positive effect Positive effect –– reduced reduced eutrophicationeutrophication

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CONTROL FISHING RESULTS IN RESTORED AREAS INDICATES CONTROL FISHING RESULTS IN RESTORED AREAS INDICATES THE PRESENCE OF BOTH REPRODUCERS AND YOUNG FISHESTHE PRESENCE OF BOTH REPRODUCERS AND YOUNG FISHES

Fish diversity (more than 29 sp.)Fish diversity (more than 29 sp.)

Reproduction areasReproduction areas

Feeding and raising ground for juvenile and adult fishFeeding and raising ground for juvenile and adult fish

Refuge areasRefuge areas

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•• S = 3,600 ha, fish pondsS = 3,600 ha, fish ponds --Research: 1996Research: 1996--19991999 --Implemented since 2000Implemented since 2000 --Status: permanent Status: permanent

wetland connected to the riverwetland connected to the river

Canalul Cardon

Popina Canal

Cardon Canal

Musura Branch

433283

860641

CHILIA Arm

POPINA I

Dâmbei Road

Popina Brook

M o n k

O p e n in g

EC 22

EC 21

POPINA PROJECTPOPINA PROJECT

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FORTUNA PROJECTFORTUNA PROJECT

Fortuna Lake

Danube

•• S = 2,115 haS = 2,115 ha --Former polder for forestryFormer polder for forestry --Research: 2000Research: 2000--20022002 --Present status: Present status: implementatedimplementated 20022002

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HOLBINAHOLBINA--DUNAVAT PROJECTDUNAVAT PROJECT

S = 5,630 ha, former fish farmsResearch: 1993-1996Result: Restoration strategyImplementation status:

Implemented 2010Evolution: water system reverted from turbid plankton- dominated state to clear macrophytes - dominated one (!)

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3 islands - created as a result of rectification of Danube arm - were proposed to be connected to river

S= 687 ha

Hydrological connectivity restoration MEANDERS PROJECT

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50-100 EURO/HA/YEAR with low costsinstead subsidies

FISH: 34 KG/HA/YEARREED: 1-2 TONES/HA/YEARPASTURE: 0,5 UVM/HA/YEAR

ECONOMICAL RESULTSECONOMICAL RESULTS

NUTRIENT REMOVAL- 15 KG PHOSPHORUS/HA/YEAR- 335 KG NITROGEN/HA/YEAR

SEDIMENT RETENTION- 11 TONES/HA/YEAR

HABITAT FOR BIRDS AND FISHES

AESTHETIC VALUES

WATER STORAGE

ECOLOGICAL VALUESECOLOGICAL VALUES

WETLAND REHABILITATION

UNSUSTAINABLE / ABANDONED POLDERS

BENEFITS OF ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION BENEFITS OF ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION BABINA&CERNOVCA PILOT PROJECTS BABINA&CERNOVCA PILOT PROJECTS -- S=3,600HAS=3,600HA

FILTERINGFILTERING

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ECONOMICAL INDICATOR: MAXIMUM COST/BENEFIT RATIOECONOMICAL INDICATOR: MAXIMUM COST/BENEFIT RATIOBABINA&CERNOVCA PILOT PROJECTS BABINA&CERNOVCA PILOT PROJECTS -- S=3,600HAS=3,600HA

COSTSCOSTS:

RESEARCH, DESIGN & IMPLEMENTATION: 100,000 EURO

BENEFITS:BENEFITS:

FISH YIELD: 3,600HA x 34KG x 0.5EURO/KG = 60,000EURO/YEAR

REED HARVEST: 3,600HA x 1T/HA x 16EURO/T = 60,000EURO/YEAR

TOURISM: 10TURISTS x 100DAYS/YEAR x 10EURO/DAY = 10,000EURO/YEAR

CATTLE: 100HA x 0.5UVM/HA x 100KG x 2EURO/KG = 10,000EURO/YEAR

TOTAL VALUE : 140,000 EURO/YEARTOTAL VALUE : 140,000 EURO/YEARat low labour costs

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&DANUBE DELTA BIOSPHERE RESERVE AUTHORITY

SUCCESSESSUCCESSES

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CONSTRAINTSCONSTRAINTS

LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK

POLITICAL DECISION PUBLIC AWARENESS

GAPS IN KNOWLEDGEIRREVERSIBLEMAN MADE CHANGES

WATER QUALITY

WETLAND RESTORATION

STAKEHOLDERS PARTICIPATION

FUNCTIONALINTEGRITY

(after (after StarasStaras, 2000), 2000)

ECONOMICECONOMICINTERESTINTEREST

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(after (after StarasStaras, 2000), 2000)

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THANK YOU

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Orhan IbramHydrobiology Lab.Danube Delta National Institute for Research and Development 165 Babadag street 820112 Tulcea / ROMANIA Phone 0040 240 524546Fax 0040 240 533547

Contact: orhan@indd.tim.ro