Regelsbrunner Aue

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Regelsbrunner Aue


Factsheet: Regelsbrunner Aue

General
Country AT
River Name Danube
Site Name Regelsbrunner Aue
River Characterisation
{{{rivertypes}}}
River typology
Location (Lat Lon) 48.11, 16.69
Altitude mid-altitude: 200 - 800 m
Catchment area very large: > 10000 km2
Geology Calcareous
National code/
River type name
AU

Biological quality elements
{{{bqe}}}
Ecosystem Services
{{{egands}}}
EU Directives
{{{eedandp}}}
Pressures
Morphological alterations
Presence of downstream artificial barriers on the catchment scale
Artificial barriers upstream from the site
Artificial barriers downstream from the site
Channelisation/Cross section alteration
Measures
Working with physical form and function of river and floodplains
Reconnect and restore historic aquatic habitats
Changes in system operation
Change operational regime of weirs and locks
Other
Project size 570 ha
Approximate costs 0
Synergy -
Status Realised
Period of realization 1999
Evaluation 1


Introduction

"The goal of the ‘Danube Restoration Project’ is to gradually degrade hydrological connectivity and ecological integrity between the river and its floodplain in a segment of the Austrian Danube. In order to test the effectiveness and success of this large-scale pilot project, a long-term evaluation program has been implemented, which includes abiotic, biotic and functional components. The biotic ‘functional describers’ include macrophytes, molluscs, odonates, amphibians, fish and benthic invertebrates. In the present analysis, the first four of these groups are focused upon, because sampling strategies for fish and benthic invertebrates are not compatible with the other groups."
(Tockner et al., 1999)[1]

"The study was conducted in the free-flowing section of the Danube River about 25 km downstream of Vienna (river-km 1895 and 1909). The area designated for restoration is a 570-ha floodplain sector on the right orographical bank of the Danube River (‘Regelsbrunner Aue’). At mean water level, the channel network is 37 km long, corresponding to a floodplain channel density of 6.5 km km2 and a total surface area of all floodplain water bodies of 120 ha. The backwater system is dominated by a former river channel (total length, ca. 10 km) that was cut off from the main river channel at its upstream end more than 100 years ago. This main side channel is subdivided by weirs into semi-isolated water bodies (channel segments I–IX in Figure 1). At present, this side channel has surface water connections to the river at its downstream end for about 180 days annually. Long stagnant periods are interrupted by short-term flood pulses (average duration, B4 days) caused by upstream connections at high water levels via former inflow areas in the streamside embankments. However, the floodplain system is dynamically connected to the river via its porous aquifer (seepage inflow). Water levels in the floodplain system follow the water level fluctuations of the Danube after only a short time lag."
(Tockner et al., 1999)[2]

References

  1. K, TOCKNER,F. SCHIEMER, C. BAUMGARTNER, G. KUM, E. WEIGAND, I. ZWEIMU, LLER AND J.V. WARD (1999). THE DANUBE RESTORATION PROJECT: SPECIES DIVERSITY PATTERNS ACROSS CONNECTIVITY GRADIENTS IN THE FLOODPLAIN SYSTEM. REGULATED RIVERS: RESEARCH & MANAGEMENT 15: 245–258.
  2. K, TOCKNER,F. SCHIEMER, C. BAUMGARTNER, G. KUM, E. WEIGAND, I. ZWEIMU, LLER AND J.V. WARD (1999). THE DANUBE RESTORATION PROJECT: SPECIES DIVERSITY PATTERNS ACROSS CONNECTIVITY GRADIENTS IN THE FLOODPLAIN SYSTEM. REGULATED RIVERS: RESEARCH & MANAGEMENT 15: 245–258.