Transboundary River Hydrodynamic Conditions Assessment in Sustainable Development Context. A Case Study of Danube River: Chilia Branch - Bystroe Channel Area

Abstract

Located in the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve, the Chilia branch serves as country boundary between Romania and Ukraine. The former state started in 2004 a project intended to increase the navigability capacity of Bystroe Channel, the environmental impact of the works carried out being discordantly considered by the Romanian and Ukrainian authorities. The Inquiry Commission established under the Espoo Convention, of which both countries are part of, delivered its final opinion that the project was likely to have a significant adverse transboundary impact on the hydrodynamic local conditions and habitat loss for fish and birdlife. Statistical analysis was operated on daily and monthly averaged water discharge values and the results were graphically displayed as hydrographs and probability curves and distribution. Addressing the in situ data measurements deficit for the Chilia branch - Bystroe Channel Area, measurement campaigns have been carried out in order to monitor the alterations of the hydrodynamic parameters. Using the specialized Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers technique, there have been recorded water flow parameters (water discharge and water current velocity vectors) and the data used for analysis and 2D and 3D representation of the hydrodynamic conditions.