ENSURING LONGITUDINAL CONNECTIVITY OF THE JIU RIVER NEAR ISALNITA DAM

Răzvan Voicu, Ecaterina Luca, Liliana Voicu

National Institute of Hydrology and Water Management Bucharest, Romania

Abstract

This paper continues the series of research concerning the longitudinal connectivity of rivers elaborated by the National Institute of Hydrology and Water Management (NIHWM) and represents a part of a complex study on ensuring fish migration upstream Işalniţa Dam (H= 18 m), located on the Jiu River. The objective of this paper is based on the need to ensure longitudinal connectivity of the inland rivers in order to establish sustainable ways of solving present problems of fish migration generated by dam construction. The goal is to provide solutions for the central or local institutions in order to solve the problems they are facing, to restore the longitudinal connectivity of the Jiu River near Işalniţa Dam. The water body “Işalniţa reservoir” has been classified as heavily modified water body, due to the dam’s presence. Therefore, the need to solve longitudinal connectivity and fish migration problems has led to technical frontal solutions in order to ensure fish migration upstream and downstream Işalniţa Dam. The proposed technical solutions will contribute to restore longitudinal connectivity of the Jiu River and aquatic habitats and also to improve the natural ecosystems and water quality. In this way, restoration of longitudinal connectivity of Jiu River near Işalniţa Dam would provide habitats reconnection on the area located at the confluence between the Jiu River and Turceni Dam and create optimal conditions for fish migration and aquatic fauna development.

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