On Wednesday, November 29, a meeting of the project steering committee members took place. Thirteen participants attended the meeting, including seven members of the steering committee. Together, we visited the successful implementation of project activities in Čiližské močiare.
Competition for water is high in the Danubian Lowland, especially during spring and summer. During those seasons, the water from the melioration canals is used to irrigate the surrounding fields.
This weekend, we were once again restoring grazing at Drieňové. In cooperation with a local farmer, staff from the Cerová vrchovina Protected Landscape Area, and volunteers, we cleared an overgrown pasture near the village of Petrovce, removing invasive shrubs and black locust trees.
Over the course of the last two centuries, people gradually changed the Danube branch system by building protective flood dams, regulating the Danube bed for navigation conditions, and later also using the river for energy purposes in connection with the construction of an artificial navigation channel (Gabčíkovo waterworks).
In August of this year, we were happy to announce the release of a herd of 20 cows on Apál Island. After several years of preparations, negotiations with farmers, processing permits, building fences and securing the overall infrastructure, we managed to restore the pasture that was once common here.
Works on D2a weir started in autumn. Construction of culvert will ensure flow of water into the currently dry branch which is connecting the Bodícke and Šulianske river branch.
We are very pleased that, after a long period of processing approvals, construction permits, procurement of a supplier, in accordance with the technical documentation, work aimed at restoring water flow of the E3 weir on the line E of the Danube river branch system is under construction.
Those who knew the Danube and its branch system before the construction of the Gabčíkovo waterworks, knew what the so-called Danube gates are and where they are located. Of course, they were not real gates, but just a name for the connection of the main flow of the Danube and its branch systems.
Slovakia is the only country in Europe where the European Roller (Coracias garrulus) has returned to breed after being locally extinct for 10 years—thanks largely to dedicated conservation efforts.
The aim of the proposed measures of the LIFE WILDisland is to contribute significantly to the restoration of lateral connectivity and the improvement of the water regime in the area of the Medvedovská river branch system.