Environmental Viability Analysis of Connected European Inland–Marine Waterways and Their Services in View of Climate Change

Abstract

Inland waterways and their connections to marine transport systems constitute a substantial resource for the establishment of green infrastructures, flood prevention, and environmental conservation. However, these developments have numerous inherent environmental hazards such as water and air pollution, a loss of habitats, increased coastal erosion, the transfer of invasive species between connected watercourses and lakes, and the transport of pollutants through watercourses to coastal areas. Climate change may aggravate these environmental problems through changing temperatures, reduced precipitation, enhancing the adverse impact of excess nutrient discharge, and the entry of invasive species. In this study, we analyse the main European inland waterway corridors and their branches to assess the ecological viability of a pan-European inland waterway network. The environmental viability of such network depends on the right assessment of ecosystem services and protection of biodiversity. A model structure for landscape conservation, green infrastructure development, water replenishment, and ecosystem reconstruction is proposed, considering a sustainable combination of multimodal inland waterway and rail transport.

An Eco-Study for a Feasible Project: “Torun and Its Vistula Stretch—An Important Green Navigation Spot on a Blue Inland Waterway”

“…It is relevant to specify that sometimes river regulation for an inland navigation project may involve the transfer of invasive species, water pollution, damage to the natural filter layer, reduction of the river's self-cleaning properties, threatening drinking water supplies, and diminishing the river's ecosystem services [67]. All of these aspects should be taken into consideration for the Lower Vistula IWT project development.…”

Assessing the impact of climate change and weather conditions endangering inland waterway navigation

“…In addition to water levels, ice can also disrupt inland waterway operations, causing damage to the infrastructure and suspending navigation [12], especially in slow-flowing rivers; for example, navigation on the Danube was interrupted for several days in the winter of 2005 and 2006 due to ice [1]. Climate change worsens weather impacts [14], and extraordinary events caused by sudden, heavy rainfall and long drought period can occur in the same year [15]. The impact is harmful despite the decreasing number of days with low water levels because of an increase in the discharge levels due to an earlier melting season benefitting the operations in some regions [1].…”