Restoring Danube floodplains in Austria

The case study is located in the Danube River eastwards of Vienna, while actions potentially benefit, transnationally, around 100km of Danube and ist tributaries. The vicinity of the stretch that is now to be restored are rural areas.

Riverbank restorations are implemented on a stretch of approximately 800m shoreline of the Danube to increase lateral river-floodplain connectivity and the functioning of the floodplain as an ecosystem. The aim is to reach a good ecological status of the river as well as good navigation status. The case study works with an adaptive management process and adresses multiple pressures (ecological deficits, security of navigation, riverbed deepening, flood protection).

This case study is one of 17 that are part of the EU Horizon2020 project MERLIN - Mainstreaming Ecological Restoration of freshwater-related ecosystems in a Landscape context: INnovation, upscaling and transformation

The 800m shoreline that is being restored affects around 10.8 ha of floodplain area, enhancing ecosystem functioning, biodiversity and flood management.

• riverbed widening to counteract riverbed deepening
• recycling of removed riprap (circular economy)
• use of an integrative and adaptive catalogue of measures instead of inflexible large-scale projects

University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Institute of Hydrobiology and Aquatic Ecosystem Management (BOKU),  viadonau - Österreichische Wasserstraßengesellschaft mbH (Federal Austrian waterways company)