DanubeSediment_Q2

 To achieve these results, a transnational cooperation is needed. The value of this transnational cooperation is given by the fact, that sediments are transported from the mountains to the coast and thus only a joint effort of the countries along the Danube and the tributaries in the river basin will allow to improve sediment management. This will be reached by the initiated sediment cooperation between the Danube Basin countries, including governments, relevant stakeholders as well as interested groups. The DanubeSediment_Q2 consortium includes members from 14 different countries of the Danube River Basin. All riparian countries along the Danube River are represented in the consortium and also four countries from the Danube River Basin. Therefore, DanubeSediment_Q2 has excellent roots and connections in the Danube region and to larger transnational networks of local actors and communities, key opinion leaders and collaborators in the Danube River Basin to ensure successful implementation. Since the consortium consists of governmental institutions, NGOs, companies, research organizations, national parks, environmental agencies representing a wide range of professional experiences from engineering to ecology the needed expertise is available. In obtaining the defined outputs and results, it will be possible to contribute to the Significant Water Management Issue “Sediment Balance Alterations” firstly included in the 3rd Danube River Basin Management Plan. This decision to include sediment alteration was based on the projects DanubeSediment and SIMONA. These projects showed that the Danube has a completely disturbed sediment system, where either surplus or deficit of sediments dominate, also in relation to uncontrolled erosion and deposition of polluted sediments.

Thus, there is an urgent need to improve the quantity and quality of sediments by harmonized management practices being not yet defined in the Danube River Basin Management Plan. The DanubeSediment_Q2 project will facilitate an improved sediment balance and morphodynamics ensuring a good sediment quantity and quality. This will lead to a restored sediment continuity at barriers, a reduced sedimentation in impoundments, reduced riverbed and coastal erosion and control on polluted sediment transport. Consequently, a dynamic river morphology, a decreased flood risk, an improved groundwater level, river ecosystem, navigation and hydropower are envisaged.