The Danube River has played a vital role in supporting both human and animal life for centuries. Since the late 19th century, human interventions have significantly altered the natural flow of the river to optimise its utility. These interventions have included actions such as straightening the riverbed, constructing hydropower plants, collecting freshwater, establishing nuclear power plants, engaging in agriculture, and facilitating navigation.
The combined effects of climate change and extensive river regulation have led to a significant disruption in the natural balance of sediment in the Danube River, increasing flood risks, altering hydropower production, decreasing navigability of the river, and affecting the biodiversity. Barriers and dams affect the water flow speed, which in turn affects the sediment transport and deposition. Dams and hydropower plants reduce the water flow, resulting in a surplus of sediments in the river and less disposal of sediments to the Black Sea. As a result, dredging activities are performed to keep the river navigable, which affects the quality and biodiversity of the sediments.
The goal is to restore the sediment balance, increasing sediment deposition in regions with high erosion and decreasing the sediment deposition in other regions, while improving water quality and biodiversity. Although many solutions have been put in place, the effect of these solutions is not always independently verified and a proper handbook for the implementation of these measures is missing.
The overall objective of the SUNDANSE project is to develop a Sediment Management Handbook for the Danube River – Black Sea system, with validated solutions to improve the management of sedimentation and sediment quantity and quality, that is applicable to a wide range of associated regions and other EU river basins. The handbook will rely on holistic evaluation models, validated through dedicated measurements, and will provide guidance for sediment management solutions for the restoration of sediment balance, quality and flow.
SUNDANSE will develop a Sediment Management Framework, maps for observation of critical points for excessive sedimentation and erosion, an Action Plan and Roadmap for associated regions, modelling of the sediment transport process, a Driver–Pressure–State–Impact–Response framework, an interconnected database, and portable on-vessel equipment prototypes for the direct analysis of microplastics and toxicity. Sediment management solutions will be demonstrated in locations in Serbia, Romania and Bulgaria, including nature-based hydrotechnical solutions and solutions for the reduction of the impact of inland water transport vessels on sediment transport.
SUNDANSE will contribute to the European Mission to Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030 by supporting sustainable sediment management in the Danube River – Black Sea system, providing validated knowledge, tools and guidance for river basin authorities, stakeholders and associated regions, and enabling the upscaling and replication of demonstrated solutions.
The project integrates an interdisciplinary approach combining sediment management, hydrodynamics, measurements and monitoring, modelling, biodiversity, microplastics, toxicity, and river management. Social Sciences and Humanities are addressed through stakeholder involvement, awareness-raising actions, education, cultural heritage preservation, community engagement, and the integration of these aspects in dissemination, training and capacity-building activities related to sustainable river basin management.
