The project will create the first comprehensive inventory and ecological prioritisation of barriers across the Târnava Mare River basin, providing the evidence and stakeholder engagement needed for their future removal.
The Târnava Mare River and its 50 tributaries lie in the Carpathian Basin of southern Transylvania, Romania. The river and tributaries are 1,617 km in length. It was severely ecologically damaged during the communist period (up to 1989), by hard interventions such as concrete barriers and weirs. A range of conservation efforts started after 2000, mainly by NGOs, but the problem of fragmentation of aquatic ecosystems was not approached due to bureaucracy and lack of funds.
Over 50 barriers of different sizes are known in this basin but no complete inventory has been made. Further, no prioritisation exists of the worst barriers most urgently needing removal. The effects of these physical barriers can be seen all over the basin in the skewed populations of native fish species of conservation and economic importance, and in the high degree of invasion by alien fish species. Several of the fish species currently present are of conservation interest and require urgent support.
| Project status | Live |
|---|---|
| Project type | Barrier identification and prioritisation |
| Country | Romania |
| River | Târnava Mare |
| Focal species | Eudontomyzon danfordi (Carpathian lamprey), Salmo trutta (brown trout), Barbus meridionalis (Mediterranean barbel), Rhodeus amarus (European bitterling), Chondrostoma nasus (common nase), Orthrias barbatulus (stone loach), Cottus gobio (bullhead) |
| Organisation | Fundatia ADEPT Transilvania in partnership with Milvus Group, Ecotur Sibiu, Bobalyert SRL |
| Website | fundatia-adept.org |
The project will include 100% coverage of the Târnava Mare River and its 50 tributaries, totalling 1,617 km, to create a barrier inventory and short description; develop a short list of barriers prioritised by various criteria including species studies; and establish contact with their owners regarding potential removal.
Effective implementation along this extensive river network will be made possible by the fact that the field work will be carried out by experts with considerable knowledge of the area, assisted also by volunteers. Partner Ecotur has studied the area for over 20 years and published many papers on the status and dynamics of ichthyofauna; the project team will share knowledge and approaches with Milvus Group and the Romanian Wildlife Society, who are finishing an A1 Open Rivers Programme project in the neighbouring Târnava Mică basin, including exchange visits to share experiences.
Barriers will be GIS mapped and prioritised based on existing ecological data, giving complete coverage of the Târnava Mare River and its 50 tributaries, totalling 1,617 km.
Based on this mapping and prioritisation, combined with the known status of ichthyofauna dynamics, the project team will identify a long list of 5-10 critical barriers suitable for removal.
Stakeholders, especially owners, will be identified and engaged.
Fish surveys will be carried out at these barriers, to provide information on species and ecology.
Based on the above, partners will discuss and agree on a short list of 3-5 barriers suitable for removal, which will form the basis of a further Open Rivers Programme grant for the next phase.
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