From October 22 to 23, the IRIS team visited Slovakia to exchange ideas with colleagues from the LIFE Living Rivers project. The aim of the meeting was to learn from each other and share experiences on the implementation of river restoration measures. Both projects pursue similar approaches, such as reconnecting side arms, removing heavily engineered riverbanks, restoring riparian forests, and removing barriers to fish migration.

A common goal: living rivers

The LIFE Living Rivers project is coordinated by the Water Research Institute (VÚVH/WRI) and will run from 2023 to the end of 2032. Its aim is to implement the management plan for the Slovakian Danube and its tributaries (2021–2027).

Measures in the catchment areas of the Danube, Hron, Ipeľ, and Belá rivers are intended to improve the ecological status of the water bodies and upgrade a total of 344 kilometers of watercourses.

The first day of the meeting focused on presentations, discussions, and an intensive exchange of experiences. Both teams gained valuable insights and learned from each other. A return visit to Austria is already planned for next year. During this visit, the aim is to deepen cooperation and visit the LIFE IRIS project sites.

Excursion to the Danube floodplains near Gabčíkovo

On the second day, an excursion took the group to the Danube floodplains near the Gabčíkovo power plant. There, they were shown already implemented restoration measures and visited future project sites, including the planned construction of fish ladders in Čunovo.

We gained many new impressions and are already looking forward to further exchanges and the return visit of our Slovak colleagues to Austria next year.