Current status and restoration options for floodplains along the Danube River

Science of the Total Environment

Volumn 543, Issue , 2016, Pages 778-790

  Hein, Thomas ^a,b   Schwarz, Ulrich ^c   Habersack, Helmut ^b   Nichersu, Iulian ^d   Preiner, Stefan ^a,b   Willby, Nigel ^e   Weigelhofer, Gabriele ^a,b  

^a Inter University Centre for Aquatic Ecosystem Research   (Austria)

^b UNIVERSITY OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND LIFE SCIENCES   (Austria)

^c FLUVIUS Floodplain Ecology and River Basin Management ^*  (Austria)

^d Danube Delta National Institute for Research and Development   (Romania)

^e UNIVERSITY OF STIRLING   (United Kingdom)

Author keywords

Danube river; Flood protection; Floodplains; River restoration; Water framework directive

Indexed keywords

BANKS (BODIES OF WATER); CLIMATE CHANGE; ECOLOGY; ECOSYSTEMS; ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS; FLOOD CONTROL; FORESTRY; LAND USE; RESTORATION; RIVERS; WATER CONSERVATION;

DANUBE RIVERS; FLOOD PROTECTION; FLOOD-PLAINS; RIVER RESTORATION; WATER FRAMEWORK DIRECTIVES;

FLOODS;

ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION; FLOOD CONTROL; FLOODPLAIN; PLANNING PRACTICE; RIVER BASIN;

AQUATIC ENVIRONMENT; ARTICLE; CLIMATE CHANGE; ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION; ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT; ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION; EUTROPHICATION; FISH; FLOODPLAIN; HABITAT; LAND USE; PRIORITY JOURNAL; RIVER; SHRIMP; SPECIES INVASION; WATER MANAGEMENT; WATER RETENTION; WATER TEMPERATURE; AUSTRIA; CHEMISTRY; ECOSYSTEM; ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING; FLOODING; GERMANY; PROCEDURES;

DANUBE RIVER;

AUSTRIA; CLIMATE CHANGE; CONSERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES; ECOSYSTEM; ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY; ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION AND REMEDIATION; FLOODS; GERMANY; RIVERS;

EID: 84984861288     PISSN: 00489697     EISSN: 18791026     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.09.073     Document Type: Article

References (86)

1. Amoros, C., Bornette, G., Connectivity and biocomplexity in waterbodies of riverine floodplains. Freshw. Biol. 47 (2002), 761–776.
2. Badea, L., Geografia Văii Românești. 1969, Romanian Academy Publishing, Bucharest, Romania, 12–14.
3. Barredo, J.I., Major flood disasters in Europe: 1950–2005. Nat. Hazards 42 (2007), 125–148.
4. Birk, S., Van Kouwen, L., Willby, N., Harmonising the bioassessment of large rivers in the absence of near-natural reference conditions — a case study of the Danube River. Freshw. Biol. 57 (2012), 1716–1732.
5. Bogdanovic, S., Legal aspects of transboundary water management in the Danube Basin. Arch. Hydrobiol. Suppl. 158:1-2 (2005), 59–93 (Large Rivers 16/1–2).
6. Bondar, C., Studiu sectorial referitor la hidrologie și calitatea apei pentru elaborarea Obiectivelor de management pentru Conservarea Biodiversității și Dezvoltare Durabilă în Rezervația Biosferei Delta Dunării. 1996, 21.
7. Boon, P.J., The catchment approach as the scientific basis of river basin management. Arch. Hydrobiol. Suppl. 158:1-2 (2005), 29–58 (Large Rivers 16/1-2).
8. Bloesch, J., Flood plain conservation in the Danube River Basin, the link between hydrology and limnology: summary report on the 34th IAD-conference, August 27-30, 2002, in Tulcea (Romania) and the 21st IHP/UNESCO-hydrological conference, September 2-6, 2002, in Bucharest (Romania). Arch. Hydrobiol. Suppl. 147:3-4 (2003), 347–362 (Large Rivers 14/3-4).
9. Buijse, A.D., Coops, H., Staras, M., Jans, L.H., Van Geest, G.J., Grift, R.E., Ibelings, B.W., Oosterberg, W., Roozen, F.C.J.M., Restoration strategies for river floodplains along large lowland rivers in Europe. Freshw. Biol. 47 (2002), 889–907.
10. Bunn, S.E., Arthington, A.H., Basic principles and ecological consequences of altered flow regimes for aquatic biodiversity. Environ. Manag. 30:4 (2002), 492–507.
11. CLC, 2006 (Corine Land Cover inventory) Technical Guidelines, 2007. EEA Technical report, No 17/2007. ISSN 1725-2237.
12. Council of the European Communities, Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora. Off. J. Eur. Communities L206 (1992), 7–50.
13. Council of the European Communities, Council Directive 2000/60/EC of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for community action in the field of water policy. Off. J. Eur. Communities L327 (2000), 1–72.
14. Council of the European Communities, Council directive 2007/60/EC of 23 October 2007 on the assessment and management of flood risks. Off. J. Eur. Communities L288 (2007), 27–34.
15. Covasnianu, A., Tudose, O.G., Cazacu, M.M., Nichersu, I., Memier, M., Balin, I., R.E.E.L.D. (Economical and Ecological Reconstruction of the Danube Flood Plain) Campaign: airborne LIDAR data and GIS technique outputs. European Geosciences Union, Genneral Assembly 2010, Vienna, Austria, 02.-07. May 2010, 2010.
16. Danube Pollution Reduction Programme (DPRP), Evaluation of Wetlands and floodplain areas in the Danube River Basin. WWF Danube-Carpathian Programme and WWF-Auen-Institut (WWF-Germany). 1999, 92.
17. European Commission, Common Implementation Strategy for the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC): Guidance document N. 12: the role of wetlands in the Water Framework Directive. 2003.
18. European Commission, Green Infrastructure (GI) — enhancing Europe's natural capital. Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions. Burssels, 6.5.2013, 2013.
19. Gilvear, D., Willby, N., Channel dynamics and geomorphic variability as controls on gravel bar vegetation; River Tummel, Scotland. River Res. Appl. 22 (2006), 457–474.
20. Gollasch, S., Nehring, S., National checklist for aquatic alien species in Germany. Aquat. Invasions 1:4 (2006), 245–269.
21. GZÜV — Gewässerzustandsüberwachungsverordnung, 2006. BGBl. II Nr. 479/2006, Novellierung mit BGBl. II Nr. 465/2010. Austria.
22. Habersack, H., Haspel, D., Kondolf, M., Large rivers in the anthropocene: insights and tools for unterstanding climatic, land use and reservoir influences. Water Resour. Res. 50:5 (2014), 3641–3646.
23. Habersack, H., Schober, B., Hauer, C., Floodplain evaluation matrix (FEM): an interdisciplinary method for evaluating river floodplains in the context of integrated flood risk management. Nat. Hazards 75 (2015), 5–32.
24. Hein, T., Baranyi, C., Reckendorfer, W., Schiemer, F., The impact of surface water exchange on the nutrient and particle dynamics in side-arms along the River Danube, Austria. Sci. Total Environ. 328 (2004), 207–218.
25. Hein, T., Blaschke, A.P., Haidvogl, G., Hohensinner, S., Kucera-Hirzinger, V., Preiner, S., Reiter, K., Schuh, B., Weigelhofer, G., Zsuffa, I., Optimised management strategies for the Biosphere reserve Lobau, Austria — based on a multi criteria decision support system. Int. J. Ecohydrol. Hydrobiol. 6 (2006), 25–36.
26. Henry, C.P., Amoros, C., Restoration ecology of riverine wetlands: 3. Vegetation survey and monitoring optimization. Ecol. Eng. 7 (1996), 35–58.
27. Hohensinner, S., Drescher, A., Historical change of European floodplains: the Danube River in Austria. Klimo, E., Hager, H., Matic, S., Anic, I., Kulhavý, J., (eds.) The Floodplain Forests of temperate zone of Europe, Lesnická práce, Prag, 2008.
28. ICPDR, Development of Inland Navigation and Environmental Protection in the Danube River Basin. Vienna. 2008.
29. ICPDR, Danube River Basin Management Plan (DRBMP) according to EU Water Framework Directive (WFD). Vienna. 2009.
30. ICPDR, 2010. EU PLATINA manual on Good Practices in Sustainable Waterway Planning. PLATINA SWP 5.3 project (2008–2010). Vienna.
31. ICPDR, Climate Adaption Strategy for the Danube River Basin. 2013.
32. ICPDR, Transnational monitoring network — Yearbook 2012, 2014, Vienna. 2014.
33. ICPDR, Joint Danube Survey 3. A comprehensive analysis of Danube Water Quality. Vienna. 2015, 369.
34. JRC, Annual Report of the Joint Research Center of the European Commission 2012 — Environment and Climate Change. 2012, 16–17.
35. Keruzore, A., Willby, N.J., Gilvear, D.J., The role of lateral connectivity in the maintenance of macrophyte diversity and production in large rivers. Aquat. Conserv. Mar. Freshwat. Ecosyst. 23 (2013), 301–315.
36. Kum, G., Der einfluss der öffnungsmaßnahmen auf die makrophytengemeinschaft im regelsbrunner altarmsystem — the impact of restoration on the macrophyte community of the “regelsbrunner Au”. Abh. Zool.-Bot. Ges. Österreich 34 (2004), 67–76.
37. Lorenz, C.M., Van Dijk, G.M., Van Hattum, A.G.M., Cofino, W.P., Concepts in river ecology: implications for indicator development. Regul. Rivers Res. Manag. 13 (1997), 501–516.
38. Lovász, G., Water temperatures of the Danube and Tisza Rivers in Hungary. Hungarian Geographical Bulletin 61 (2012), 317–325.
39. LUCAS — Land Use/Cover Area Frame Survey, 2012. Technical Reference Document: C-3 Land use and Land Cover Classicfication, European Commission, Eurostat, Directorate E: Sectoral and Regional Statistics Unit E-4: Regional Statistics and Geographical Information.
40. Mauser, W., Prasch, M., Koch, F., Weidinger, R., Danube Study – Climate Change Adaptation: Study to provide a common and basin-wide understanding towards the development of a Climate Change adaptation strategy in the Danube River Basin. Final report. 2012, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Germany, 174.
41. Meyerhoff, J., Dehnhardt, A., The European Water Framework Directive and Economic Valuation of Wetlands: the restoration of floodplains along the River Elbe. Eur. Environ. 17 (2007), 18–36.
42. Moss, B., The Water Framework Directive: total environment or political compromise?. Sci. Total Environ. 400:1–3 (2008), 32–41, 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2008.04.029.
43. Naiman, R.J., The potential importance of boundaries to fluvial ecosystems. J. N. Am. Benthol. Soc. 7 (1988), 289–306.
44. Navodaru, I., Staras, M., Buijse, A.D., De Leeuw, J.J., Changes in fish populations in Danube delta lakes: effects of hydrology and water quality change. Review of results and potential for rehabilitation. Ecohydrol. Hydrobiol. 5 (2005), 245–256.
45. Nichersu, I., 2006. Report of Ecological and Economical Resizing of Lower Danube Floodplain (REELD) Program — Romanian Government Decision HG 1208/06.09.2006.
46. NP Donau-Auen Managementplan, 2009. Nationalpark Donau-Auen GmbH, 2304 Orth/Donau.
47. Ooosterberg, W., Staras, M., Bogdan, L., 2000. Ecological gradients in the Danube Delta lakes: present state and man-induced changes. RIZA rapport, 2000.015. RIZA, Lelystad, The Netherlands. IAPN 90.369.5309 ×.
48. Pahl-Wostl, C., The importance of social learning in restoring the multifunctionality of rivers and floodplains. Ecol. Soc., 11(1), 2006, 10 [online] URL: http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol11/iss1/art10/.
49. Paunović, M., Csányi, B., Stanković, I., Graf, W., Leitner, P., Bammer, V., Huber, T., Szekeres, J., Borza, P., Invasive Species. In: Joint Danube Survey 3 — Final Scientific Report. ICPDR – International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River, Vienna. 2015, 140–148.
50. Pekarova, P., Halmova, D., Miklanek, P., Onderka, M., Is the water temperature of the Danube River at Bratislava, Slovakia, rising?. J. Hydrometeorol. 9 (2008), 1115–1122.
51. Posthumus, H., Rouquette, J.R., Morris, J., Gowing, D.J.G., Hess, T.M., A framework for the assessment of ecosystem goods and services; a case study on lowland floodplains in England. Ecol. Econ. 69 (2010), 1510–1523.
52. Rahel, F.J., Olden, J.D., Assessing the effects of climate change on aquatic invasive species. Conserv. Biol. 22 (2008), 521–533.
53. Reckendorfer, W., Steel, A., Effects of hydrological connectivity on hydrology, morphology and sediments. Abhandlungen der zoologisch-botanischen Gesellschaft Österreich 34 (2004), 19–30.
54. Reckendorfer, W., Schmalfuss, R., Baumgartner, C., Habersack, H., Hohensinner, S., Jungwirth, M., Schiemer, F., The Integrated River Engineering Project for the free-flowing Danube in the Austrian Alluvial Zone National park: contradictory goals and mutual solutions. Large Rivers 15. Arch. Hydrobiol. Suppl. 155 (2005), 613–630.
55. Reckendorfer, W., Klasz, G., Korner, I., Mühlbauer, M., Ratschan, C., Zauner, G., 2009. Zur Optimierung von Gewässervernetzungen am Beispiel der Donau. Opimization of sidearm reconnections: The Austrian Danube as a case study. Österreichische Ingenieur- und Architekten-Zeitschrift (ÖIAZ), 154. Jg., Heft 1-6/2009, 1–8.
56. Sanon, S., Hein, T., Douven, W., Winkler, P., Quantifying ecosystem trade-offs: the case of an urban floodplain in Vienna, Austria. J. Environ. Manag. 111 (2012), 159–172.
57. Schiemer, F. and Waidbacher, H., 1992. Strategies for conservation of a Danubian fish fauna. In: Boon, P.J., Calow, P. and Petts, G.J. (Eds.): River Conservation and Management. John Wiley & Sons Ltd., 363–382.
58. Schiemer, F., Reckendorfer, W., Das Donau-Restaurierungsprojekt. Ökologische Auswirkungen, 2004, Verlag der Zoologisch-Botanischen Gesellschaft in Österreich, Wien.
59. Schiemer, F., Hein, T., Reckendorfer, W., Ecohydrology, key-concept for large river restoration. Ecohydrol. Hydrobiol. 7 (2007), 79–88.
60. Schindler, S., Sebesvari, Z., Damm, C., Euller, K., Mauerhofer, V., Schneidergruber, A., Biró, M., Essl, F., Kanka, R., Lauwaars, S.G., Schulz-Zunkel, C., Van der Sluis, T., Kropik, M., Gasso, V., Krug, A., Pusch, M.T., Zulka, K.P., Lazowski, W., Hainz-Renetzeder, C., Henle, K., Wrbka, T., Multifunctionality of floodplain landscapes: relating management options to ecosystem services. Landsc. Ecol. 29 (2014), 229–244.
61. Schneider, E., The ecological functions of the Danubian floodplains and their restoration with special regard to the Lower Danube. Arch. Hydrobiol. Suppl. 141 (2002), 129–149.
62. Schober, S., Hauer, C., Habersack, H., A novel assessment of the role of Danube floodplains in flood hazard reduction (FEM method). Nat. Hazards 75 (2015), 33–50.
63. Schoenbrunner, I., Preiner, S., Hein, T., Impact of drying and re-flooding of sediment on phosphorus dynamics of river-floodplain systems. Sci. Total Environ. 432 (2012), 329–337.
64. Scholz, M., Mehl, D., Schulz-Zunkel, C., Kasperidus, H.D., Born, W., Henle, K., Ökosystemfunktionen von Flussauen — Analyse und Bewertung von Hochwasserretention, Nährstoffrückhalt, Kohlenstoffvorrat. Treibhausgasemissionen und Habitatfunktion. Naturschutz und Biologische Vielfalt, 124, 2012, 257.
65. Schwarz, U., 2010. Assessment of the restoration potential along the Danube and main tributaries. For WWF International Danube-Carpathian Programme, Vienna, 58 p.
66. Schwarz, U. (2013). Assessment of the restoration potential in the transboundary Unesco Biosphere Reserve “Mura–Drava–Danube”. For WWF Austria, Vienna, 167 pp.
67. Sommerwerk, N., Bloesch, J., Paunovic, M., Baumgartner, C., Venohr, M., Schneider-Jacoby, M., Hein, T., Tockner, K., Managing the world's most international river: The Danube River Basin. Mar. Freshw. Res. 61 (2010), 736–748.
68. Staras, M., 2001. Restoration programme in the Danube Delta: Achievements, benefits and constraints. In: Eds. H.J. Nijland and M.J.R. Cals. River Restoration in Europe, RIZA Report 2001.023. Lelystad, The Netherlands. 95–102.
69. Suciu, R., Constantinescu, A., David, C., The Danube Delta: filter or bypass for the nutrient input into the Black Sea?. Arch. Hydrobiol. Suppl. 141:1-2 (2002), 165–173 (Large Rivers 13/1-2).
70. Tockner, K., Malard, F., Ward, J.V., An extension of the flood pulse concept. Hydrol. Process. 14 (2000), 2861–2883.
71. Tockner, K., Stanford, J.A., Riverine flood plains: present state and future trends. Environ. Conserv. 29:3 (2002), 308–330.
72. Tockner, K., Uehlinger, U., Robinson, C.T., 2009. Rivers of Europe. Academic Press, 28. ISBN: 9780123694492.
73. Tockner, K., Pusch, M.T., Borchardt, D., Lorang, M.S., Multiple stressors in coupled river-floodplain ecosystems. Freshw. Biol. 55:1 (2010), 135–151.
74. Townsend, C.R., The patch dynamic concept of stream community ecology. J. N. Am. Benthol. Soc. 8 (1989), 36–50.
75. Tudor, M., Nutrient retention. Schneider, E., Tudor, M., Staras, M., (eds.) Evolution of Babina polder after restoration works, 2008 WWF Auen Institute, Germany/Danube Delta National Institute, Romania, 28 p.
76. Webb, B.W., Nobilis, F., Long-term changes in river temperature and the influence of climatic and hydrological factors. Hydrol. Sci. J. 52 (2007), 74–85.
77. Weigelhofer, G., Preiner, S., Funk, A., Bondar-Kunze, E., Hein, T., The hydrochemical response of small and shallow floodplain water bodies to temporary surface water connection with the main river. Freshw. Biol. 60 (2015), 781–793.
78. Welti, N., Bondar-Kunze, E., Singer, G., Tritthart, M., Zechmeister-Boltenstern, S., Hein, T., Pinay, G., Large-scale controls on potential respiration and denitrification in riverine floodplains. Ecol. Eng. 42 (2012), 73–84.
79. Willi, H.P. & Eberli, J., 2006. Differenzierter Hochwasserschutz an der Engelberger Aa. tec 21, 36/2006, p. 4–7.
80. WRG — Wasserrechsgesetz-Novelle, 2003. BGBl. I Nr 112/2003. Austria.
81. WWF, A Green Corridor for the Danube. An initiative of the Ministries of Environment (Bulgaria, Moldova, Romania, Ukraine) supported by WWF. WWF-Danube–Carpathian Programme, Vienna, Austria, 2000.
82. Zauner, G., Ratschan, C., Mühlbauer, M., Fachbeitrag Tiere — Bericht Fischökologie. Umweltverträglichkeitserklärung zum Flussbaulichen Gesamtprojekt Donau östlich von Wien. Wien, 198 p. 2005.
83. Zöckler, C., Wise Use of Floodplains — review of restoration projects in a number of European countries. WWF European Freshwater Programme, 100 p. 2000.
84. Zsuffa, I.J., Multi-criteria Decision Support for the Revitalisation of River Floodplains. PhD Thesis. 2001, Wageningen University, Wageningen (ISBN 9058083349).
85. Zweimüller, I., Der Einfluss der Öffnungsmaßnahmen auf die Fischfauna im Regelsbrunner Altarmsystem — The impact of restoration on the fish community of the “Regelsbrunner Au”. Abh. Zool.-Bot. Ges. Österreich 34 (2004), 137–156.
86. Zweimüller, I., Zessner, M., Hein, T., Effects of climate change on nitrate loads in a large river: the Austrian Danube as example. Hydrol. Process. 22 (2008), 1022–1036.