Mathias Jungwirth and Dr. Susanne Muhar in the Institute of Hydrobiology and Aquatic Ecosystem Management department. This was a great opportunity to not only learn about river restoration but interact with students who are from a variety of places in Austria and other parts of Europe.
On the first day we stopped at a couple of LIFE Nature Projects in the Wochau Valley area of the Danube River north of Krems, Austria. The LIFE Program is the European Union's funding program for environmental and nature projects throughout the European Union. Side channels are being restored in this area to promote fish spawning and to encourage sediment transport.
Completed side channel restoration on Danube River
Fisherman on the Danube River near the side channel restoration
Visiting a fish passage facility near Melk
Restoration project in progress
On the second day we visited the Isel River, one of the most naturally functioning glacial rivers remaining in Austria. However, like other rivers it has been altered and straightened in some areas and there are efforts to restore parts of the river's natural hydrology by removing some of these structures. Scientists from the National Park Hohe Tauern, a park whose glaciers feed the river, have been coordinating with local residents for over 20 years to plan some of these projects. Although the planning process has taken a long time and the projects are just now ready to start, the scientists knew it was important to work closely with the local farmers and other stakeholders to gain their trust and buy-in before they could move forward.
Isel River
Being provided a general overview of the Isel River
Experiencing the Isel River up close!
Cows in a pasture near the Isel River. The national park sells cheese produced from alpine meadow
cows and some of the sandwiches we were provided contained alpine cheese.
On the last day we learned about vegetation ecology on the Drau River. Floodplain forests in this area are dominated by a tree species, the gray alder, and a large shrub layer. Aroound 200 bird species use alluvial forests in this area.
Patch of Canada goldenrod, a species native to North America that is highly invasive in floodplain forests along the Drau River
We also visited a fish passage facility at a power plant on the Mur River. The power plant is fairly old, having been built in 1907, but was fully modernized in 1985 and a fish passage ladder was built in 2004 so the plant would be in compliance with environmental regulations. The grayling is the most common fish species in this area but a few individuals of the Danube salmon that are able to pass over a weir on the river are also found. The Danube salmon is the largest freshwater species of salmon in the world.
