Restoring natural river dynamics and biodiversity in the Upper Danube by removing groynes and embankments near Paradeis Island, the project aims to re-establish a free-flowing side channel, improve fish habitats, and enhance flood resilience, while supporting long-term ecological restoration efforts.
The Danube River is an ecological corridor of exceptional importance for Europe, connecting more biogeographic regions than any other European river and hosting an extremely rich biodiversity. Despite more than a century of riverbed modifications, the Danube still contains over 900 islands, which represent unique sites within the river ecosystem, embody intact river dynamics and sediment regimes, and showcase the natural beauty of rivers in their original state.
Among the best-preserved islands is ‘Paradeis Island’ (river km 1905.3 – 1903.5), located in the Donau-Auen National Park, Austria, within one of the last free-flowing sections of the Upper Danube. The island continues to support a complex diversity of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems and preserves a range of characteristic riparian species. For many years, Paradeis Island has been one of the most important breeding sites for the Little Ringed Plover in the Upper Danube, but it has recently begun to lose its significance due to ongoing sedimentation and succession.
| Project status | Live |
|---|---|
| Project type | Dam removal: demolition |
| Country | Austria |
| River | Danube |
| Removal date | 2025-2026 |
| Km to be opened | 2.7 km |
| Focal species | Little Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper, Sand Martin, European Bea-Eater, Kingfisher, White-tailed Eagle, Beaver, Fish Otter |
| Organisation | DANUBEPARKS Association |
| Website | DANUBEPARKS |
Even within the territory of the Donau-Auen National Park, the course of the Danube River is highly altered, largely embanked, and impacted by upstream hydropower plants, which increase flood and drought risks while decreasing fish biomass and habitat quality.
One of the most common hydraulic structures in the area is groynes. These are transversal navigation infrastructure elements, constructed perpendicular to the riverbank, which obstruct the river’s flow. The construction of groynes to secure the navigable channel near Paradeis Island has led to the loss of hydromorphological dynamics and ongoing sedimentation, resulting in the complete disappearance of the side channel at low water levels, succession, and the vanishing of characteristic riparian vegetation and fauna. These large lateral obstacles often completely disconnect the side channel from the main channel of the Danube, interrupting its longitudinal connectivity and free flow, especially during low water levels.
The project aims to restore a free-flowing side channel by removing 15 barriers on the sidearms of Paradeis Island to improve the hydrological conditions of about 2.7 km of hind arms and establish conditions for future side-arm restoration actions. These efforts will be enhanced by the removal of the adjacent embankment, provided through the synergetic Danube4All Horizon Europe project. Together, these complementary actions will re-establish natural dynamic processes, restoring ecosystem functions and services, and allowing the formation of natural riverbanks and vegetation along the second-largest navigable river in Europe.
The newly restored side arm will improve fish habitats by providing protection from wave stress and creating a mosaic of diverse micro-habitats, including shallow waters and gravel banks. Restoring the side channel will contribute to greater resilience and flood protection while addressing the problematic deepening of the riverbed. The project aims to improve the ecological and hydrological conditions, supporting the unique riparian ecosystem services.
Additionally, the revitalisation of the area will significantly improve the conditions for future restoration of the side branch system in the floodplain region near the village of Orth, paving the way for a follow-up upscaling project.
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