Danube Delta

Lake Sărături Murighiol, a Strictly Protected Area within the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve, spans approximately 2 km in length and 500 m in width, with highly salinized waters rich in zoo and phytoplankton. This area plays a vital ornithological role, hosting rare species like the black-winged stilt and pied avocet, along with nesting colonies of seagulls and terns. However, recent drying of the lake has led to habitat loss. To address this, the restoration strategy includes reconnecting the lake to the surface aquifer and improving water circulation, reintroducing 63 hectares into the natural cycle. Additionally, Danube Delta Demo will restore the lateral connectivity of Caraorman Fish Pond with an enhanced Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) and focus on preserving coastal wetlands between Sulina and Sf. Gheorghe.

Danube Delta – Ramsar Wetland
Part of UNESCO World Heritage Sites; part of UNESCO Programme on Man and the Biosphere; marked as Biosphere Reserve since 1998.

Pilot Locations

Caraorman Lake to restore local ecosystems
Black Sea Coastal Cord area
Sărături Murighiol Lake











Sibling Locations

Prut tributary
Lower Prut Floodplain
Roșu-Puiu lake complex
Olt-Danube Confluence
Calafat-Ciuperceni-Danube
Lake Călărași | Srebarna
Bistret | Ibisha Island
Lake Călărași | Srebarna and Suhaia – Belene Islands Complex
Beleu
Stipoc Fish Pond
Murighiol Fish Pond
Dranov Fish Pond
Buhazul Mare Channel
Nuntași Lake- Salt Marshes
Lake Velence

Challenges

  • During last years the lakes of Sărături – Murighiol became dried and the bird’s colonies and habitats were lost.
  • The protection of discrete spatial areas such as salt-marshes can be present through a vertical connectivity by making the connection with the surface aquifer, being a challenge for the conservation of specific species.
  • Such species can widely use disparate habitats and are vulnerable to anthropogenic impacts, which require both spatial and temporal considerations in planning and management.

Innovative Solutions

Combined remote sensing, hydraulic modelling and in-situ monitoring
Reed management and monitoring for improved carbon sequestration


Improvement of hydrological conditions in lakes & salt marshes
Improved Recirculating Aquaculture System for fish farming solutions

Middle Danube Core Team

DDNI

Danube Delta National Institute for Research and Development

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MEWF

Ministry of Environment, Waters
and Forests from Romania

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UBP

University Politehnica of Buchares

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GEOS

Geostud

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COMPLEX

SC Complex Delta SRL

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MunMUR

Municipality of Murighiol

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Findings

Contribute to the European Green Deal, the EU Biodiversity Strategy, the EU Zero Pollution Action Plan and the Water Framework Directive as well as other EU instruments/policies on freshwater ecosystem protection

Contribute to the implementation of the protection and restoration of wetlands, flood plains and coastal wetlands and salt marshes

Reverse the deterioration of the state of wetlands, flood plains coastal wetlands and salt marches in the Danube River basin

Improve protection of local communities and ecosystems from extreme events (flood, droughts, storms)

Improved monitoring of carbon sequestration capacity of wetlands and coastal wetlands and salt marshes

Actions

Improvement of hydrological conditions in wetlands, floodplains and coastal areas

Improvement of hydrological conditions in salt marshes

Strategy of the improvement of additional and sibling locations

Surface water quality monitoring system

Implementing Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) for improvement of water quality and environmental status

Reed management – holistic approach of reverting the ecosystem to the conditions prior to its disturbance & assessing potential of restoring carbon fluxes