Danube Rivers Morphology and Revitalization - DANUBEPARKS

The higher reaches of the slopes which lead down to the Danube arepredominantly forested and are of special significance as protection andrecreational forests.The LIFE Nature project, in collaboration with the municipality of Mautern, hastaken the semi-natural forest around the Ferdinand-Warte look-out point nearUnterbergern out of utilisation. Forest protection areas covering almost 160 hectareshave been established, in collaboration with the Rossatz agricultural association andthe communities in Rossatz-Arnsdorf and Spitz. These untreated areas form thehabitat for many endangered bird species such as the black stork, white-backedwoodpecker, red-breasted flycatcher and many more. Old and deadwood arenecessary for the survival of endangered beetles such as the Great Capricorn beetleand the stag beetle. The new gravel islands enhance the landscape and the Danube as a naturalhabitat.The LIFE project and via donau have developed a gravel concept withecologists in which future gravel structures are predetermined. This will be thetemplate for ecological gravel management in the Wachau valley until 2020. Thedredged gravel is turned into new gravel embankments and islands away from theshipping channel. Gravel structures are planned for 13 sites between Melk andMautern. The new islands create shallow water zones, protected from the poundingof waves, which are used by migratory fish species as places to spawn. The fry havea greater chance of survival in these shallow spots behind the islands. Via donau hasalready created 25 island and embankment structures with over 500,000 m³ of gravelat Aggsbach Markt, Willendorf, Schwallenbach, Arnsdorf, Wösendorf, Rossatz andDürnstein.The newly created gravel islands enhance the natural landscape. Theyprovide spawn sites, nurseries for juvenile fish and habitats for birds which nest ingravel. Gravel embankments close to towns and communities are popular localrecreation areas. The LIFE Nature project has linked dry old tributaries to the Danube onceagain and created refuges for fish fauna.53