Holbina-Dunavat
Key features of the case study
Research for ecological restoration is one of the main topics in the scientific co-operation between scientists from the Romanian Danube Delta Institute DDI, officials from the Romanian Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve Authority DDBRA and the Dutch Institute for Inland Water Management and Waste Water Treatment RIZA. In the framework of this co-operation, attention has been paid to the conservational status of the Holbina/Dunavat area for ecological restoration (5 630 ha) from 1993 to 1996. This resulted in a strategy for research and restoration, defined in 1995 and published in 1996 (Drost & Marin, 1996). The present report summarises the results of three years research, that has been carried out, according to this strategy, in 1996 - 1997 - 1998.
Site description
The Dunavat - Dranov region is a large depression, filled with peat, between two minor Danube distributaries. Both distributaries, presently the Dranov and Dunavat canals, flow from the Sf. Gheorghe Danube branch to the former Razim lagoon. The region was profoundly influenced by human activity in the 20th century. The Razim lagoon was cut off from the Black Sea and was changed into a fresh water reservoir with a raised water level. The isolated central peat area in the Dunavat - Dranov region was opened up to boats and to river water by an artificial canal system. The incoming river water from the Danube underwent a strong increase in nutrient contents, causing eutrophication of valuable mesotrophic water systems. Fish farm basins were constructed with ring dikes and pumping stations, a high-tension electric power line and some fish collection platforms with management buildings. The reed beds and peat soil in the fish farm basins were destroyed, causing a.o. a land subsidence with 0.5 - 1.0 meter.
Measures selection
Success criteria
Ecological response
Hydromorphological response
Monitoring before and after implementation of the project
Socio-economic aspects
Contact person within the organization
Marian Tudor
Extra background information
References
Related Measures
- No measures have been assigned to this project.
