Image courtesy of DANUBEPARKS
Progress on restoration measures at the Upper Danube Demonstration Site continues apace, as partners met on February 22nd to discuss the final aspects of technical planning at the site. Experts from viadonau, including their waterway department, Navigation Surveillance Hainburg, as well as from BOKU, Donau-Auen National Park, DANUBEPARKS and the engineering company RIOCOM were all present.
The meeting was hosted by Austrian waterway operator viadonau as the project partner responsible for the implementation of the restoration works, DANUBEPARKS as the partner responsible for the planning, and RIOCOM as the company selected to prepare the technical plans for the up-coming construction works.
RIOCOM presented the results of recalculations based on the optimizations suggested at the previous planning meeting. Conclusions on the expected impact of the hydrological regime following the revitalization measures (embankment removal and groyne adaptation) were also presented.
The updated calculations show that the groyne interventions suggested are expected to cause no major impact on the navigation channel. Our colleagues from BOKU also presented a 2D hydrological model suggesting a way to reconnect a currently silted side-arm. The aim of this modeling exercise is to assist the planning and preparation of a second project for reconnecting the river with the floodplains.
The technical plans will now be finalized with the agreed parameters, so the plans can be submitted to the relevant authorities for approval. On-site sampling will also soon begin in order to assess the quantity of stones that will be removed and the specific construction costs.
