Monitoring of the LIFE IRIS Project
In IRIS, a comprehensive monitoring programme is carried out to assess and present the manifold impacts of the entire project.
The impacts of the IRIS project are documented on this page; on the one hand with reports and on the other hand with current monitoring results from the different IRIS pilot measures. The status of the monitoring work for the different indicators, which were selected for the individual measures, are presented for the pre- and the post-monitoring.
16.12.2020 – Framework Concept for Success Monitoring
In IRIS a new concept was developed, that creates uniform standards for monitoring the success of small-scale river restoration measures and includes a new and adapted evaluation system. One focus of IRIS is on the seven large-scale GE-RM plans, which contribute to the implementation of the Water Framework Directive and the Floods Directive in Austria, strengthen technical know-how, and actively involve the public in the planning process. In addition, integrative restoration measures for the improvement of river ecology and flood protection are implemented in the IRIS pilot rivers. These measures will affect the river’s structure (the so-called hydromorphology), the water balance and the climate (so-called regulative ecosystem services) as well as the aquatic fauna (fish, small animals on the river bed (so-called macrozoobenthos). However, they can also have a positive effect on adjacent terrestrial ecosystems (dragonflies, nature conservation), as well as for people, who gain better access to the rivers and can spend their leisure and recreation time there (so-called cultural ecosystem services).
Pre-monitoring of pilot measure Danube Marktau
Near the town of Wilhering an island will be created at the lower mouth of a Danube side arm by lowering the terrain. This will create wave-protected areas, habitats for juvenile fish, refuges for water birds, nesting areas for the kingfisher and a variety of leisure and recreational opportunities for people. Information on the measure and the pre-monitoring can be downloaded here as an overview and a detailed version (only in German).
2021 – Pre-Monitoring of pilot measure Untere Traun
In the European nature reserve “Traun-Donau-Auen”, the river will be widened on the left bank of the Lower Traun. This will improve the lateral connectivity of the Lower Traun with the floodplain and create river type-specific habitats for water-related plants and animals and recreational and leisure opportunities for people. Information on the measure and the pre-monitoring can be downloaded here as an overview or a detailed version (only in German).
2021 – Pre-Monitoring of pilot measure Enns Salzburg
In the area of the Mandlinger Bog, an old meander of the Salzburg Enns will be reactivated. This activates the land-water transition zone and creates a recreational area for people. Information on the measure and the pre-monitoring can be downloaded here as an overview and a detailed version (only in German).
2021 – Pre-Monitoring of pilot measure Leitha
On the river Leitha, the structure of the river will be extensively improved: spawning areas and current-protected zones will improve the age structure of the fish population, the lateral connectivity of the tree island between the main river and the side arm will be improved and the side arm will be re-connected to the Leitha on both sides. The measures lead to an improvement of flow retention and a reduction of flood levels. Information on the measure and the pre-monitoring can be downloaded here as an overview and a detailed version (only in German).