HYDROLOGY AND LIMNOLOGY KEY TOOLS IN RIVER BASIN

HYDROLOGY AND LIMNOLOGY – KEY TOOLS IN RIVER BASIN MANAGEMENT Cristina Sandu, Thomas Hein, Jürg Bloesch, Bernd Cyffka, Artem Lyashenko International Association for Danube Research, www. danube-iad. eu Kiev, Ukraine, 6 -8 November 2019

IAD – a scientific NGO Established: 1956 Aim: foster limnological research in the Danube Basin Major achievements: Danube monograph (Liepolt, 1967), floodplain ecology, macrophytes, invasive species, sturgeons Observer to ICPDR: since 1998 Key areas: research, education, public awareness Kiev, Ukraine, 6 -8 November 2019

How we work Transnational cooperation Interacademic exchanges Projects e. g. STURGEON 2020, MEASURES, Danube. Floodplain International conferences & workshops Dissemination: scientific publications, books, IAD Bulletin Danube News Kiev, Ukraine, 6 -8 November 2019

IAD wks: Hydrology and Limnology UNESCO IHP Ecohydrology project Petronell, Austria, October 2004 Hydrology – water quantity (abiotic environment) Limnology – water quality and biologic communities Outcome – possible joint projects: - flood risk management - contaminants load budget/calculation and modelling - foster cooperation between limnology and hydrology in universities, NGOs, other organizations Kiev, Ukraine, 6 -8 November 2019

Joint topics • Water quality • Flood control • Sediment balance • Ecological flow • Climate change Kiev, Ukraine, 6 -8 November 2019

Water quality - Improvement of water quality after 1990 - Decrease of nutrient loads to Black Sea - First water quality map of the Danube Basin (Schmid, 2004) Kiev, Ukraine, 6 -8 November 2019

Flood control § Rivers need space – channelization disturbs ecological processes § Restoration of lateral connectivity § Remove hard constructions (Natural Water Retention Measures) § Hydrological modelling combined with river ecology § Lateral/longitudinal connectivity – essential for aquatic/riparian communities (ecotonal areas) Hydromorphological changes of Rhine River Kiev, Ukraine, 6 -8 November 2019

Sediment balance Sediment erosion, accumulation and transportation River longitudinal continuity Sediment “traps” behind dams Sediments represent habitats for the aquatic communities Trophic cascades in rivers (from Allan, 1995) Danube News, No. 18 Kiev, Ukraine, 6 -8 November 2019

Ecological flow Alteration by hydrotechnical constructions (hydropower, navigation) Hydrological models of flow and discharge should take into account the biological needs – ecohydraulics (Schmutz & Moog, 2018) Ecological flow – water availability and flow regime alter dramatically aquatic and riparian communities Photo: Dan Dinu Kiev, Ukraine, 6 -8 November 2019

Climate change Increased water temperatures, altered precipitation and discharge, altered sediment transport, increased frequency/intensity of floods/droughts Far reaching impacts – e. g. alpine glaciers melt induced 9% increase of Danube discharge in the delta (Huss, 2011) Forecasted changes for DRB (ICPDR, 2018) - Strong decrease of summer precipitation in SE - Frequency and length of heatwaves will increase - Dry regions like LDRB will get dryer, wet regions (alpine areas) will get wetter Impact on aquatic communities: changes of oxygen/pollutants content, thermophilic species favored, changes in fish migration and spawning patterns, timing of algal development (food availability) Kiev, Ukraine, 6 -8 November 2019

IAD Vision for the conservation of the Danube River system Strengthen cooperation between scientists: limnology, floodplain ecology, hydrology (ecohydrology) Joint research projects – development of new concepts Joint meetings - facilitate knowledge exchange Kiev, Ukraine, 6 -8 November 2019

43 rd IAD Conference 2020 Rivers and Floodplains in the Anthropocene Upcoming Challenges in the Danube River Basin July 14 -17, 2020 Neuburg/Danube, Germany Venue: Castle of Gruenau Call for abstracts Submission of abstracts and registration – open Further information - available online at www. iad 2020. ku. de. Important Dates Deadline abstracts submission: Notification of acceptance: Deadline early bird payment: Deadline late payment: 29. 02. 2020 31. 03. 2020 15. 04. 2020 15. 06. 2020 Kiev, Ukraine, 6 -8 November 2019

Thank you for your attention Contact: cristina. sandu@danubeiad. eu Kiev, Ukraine, 6 -8 November 2019