From Research to Investment for Public Safety: Romanian Waters at GEO-IAȘI 2026

How do we transform research on Danube sediments into concrete solutions for reducing flood risk? This was the theme of the paper presented by the National Administration Romanian Waters (NARW) at the GEO-IAȘI 2026 International Scientific Symposium, held in the city of Iași from October 23–25. The presentation was delivered by Project Manager Vlad Florea-Gabrian (engineer) and highlighted how findings from the transnational project DanubeSediment_Q2 are being leveraged within the cross-border project Danube RISK Prevention—a 17.5-million-euro initiative set to begin in November 2026.

Why is sediment transport along the Danube important? The accumulation or erosion of sediments alters the riverbed, affecting the stability of embankments, flood risk, the connectivity between the Danube and its floodplain, as well as environmental quality.

From research to concrete protection measures:

Embankment safety – assessing vulnerable areas and conducting 144 boreholes across 72 sites along the Romanian bank to analyze stability and seepage.
Floodplain reconnection – restoring at least 67 hectares of green infrastructure, based on hydromorphological and sediment quality analyses.
Climate change adaptation – integrating research findings into a joint Romanian-Bulgarian strategy and developing an online catalog of measures.
Monitoring and preparedness – development of a cross-border monitoring system and training of specialists at the first joint Romanian-Bulgarian center dedicated to water-related risks, located in Dorobanțu, Călărași County.

NARW coordinates activities across both projects, ensuring that research findings are translated into investments and practical measures along the Romanian-Bulgarian section of the Danube. 930,553 people will benefit from the flood protection enhancement measures outlined in the Danube RISK Prevention project. In this way, research becomes a tangible tool for creating safer communities that are more resilient to climate change.