**11. Irrigations and works for this purpose in lower Prut basin related to wetlands**

Integrated Measurements for Biodiversity Conservation in Lower Prut Basin 155

Reduction of wetlands and floodplains. Reduction of efficiency of nutrients sink. Reduction of the water running area of the river which increases the flow velocity and affects the flood forest and embankments. Reduction of water quality self-dynamics. Reduction of suspended solids transport

Increasing of erosion un downstream areas.

Decreasing of groundwater recharge

Disappearance of diverse habitats which offered life conditions for a high vegetal and

Decrease of economical (fisheries, wood, reeds, hunting) and touristic potential. Disappearance of micro – climate effects.

Disappearance of swamps, meadows, reed

Reduction of economically high quality

Increase of toxic substance loads.

Reduction of fish quantity.

The key issues of anthropogenic activities which have had effects on wetlands and

Regarding the industrial and diffuse pollution which have an impact on Prut ecology and water quality, this being closely linked with the ecology of the floodplain forested corridor and the existing wetlands, the situation is much severe in the upper part of the basin, based on a large concentration of industry, agriculture and human settlements in comparison with

Key issues Impact

efficiency.

capacity.

Agriculture and rural land use Increase of nutrients concentration in river

water.

beds.

species.

**Table 8.** The key issues of anthropogenic activities which have had effects on wetlands and floodplains

Fisheries Disappearance of spawning conditions.

Salinisation. Stepisation.

Water shortages.

animal. Birds biodiversity.

floodplains of the river Prut are represented in table 8.

the lower Prut where the impact is much smaller.

Hydrotechical works and reservoirs 8 non-permanent or semi-permanent reservoirs which keep 40 million m2 329 km of embankments along of 480 km

banks on the Prut river and some

industrial units.

tributaries to protect of near 100.000 ha of agricultural land, 25 localities and 120

The total surface included in the irrigation system in the Prut catchment area is about 100,000 ha and the drainage systems is about 130,000 ha.

In the irrigation system about 40,000 mc water are used, which are contributing to the groundwater sources increase. The dykes created near the river have reduced the floodplain wetlands, has disconnected the land from the river and creates problem with salinity and stepisation.

A part of the reservoirs mentioned above are used for water supply for irrigations. Other sources are the rivers and groundwater from the region and for distribution a large network of channels and ditches were constructed in the years 70s and 80s.

This has influenced the water flow regime as well as the supply of wetlands and floodplains of the river.

As a result of the drainage and irrigation systems created 2/3 of the Lake Brates (located in soth part of the basin) has disappeared its well as a lot of swamps, meadows, reed beds, which represented habitats for a high biodiversity, especially because it was closed located to another big wetlands Danube Delta and the Danub-Macin complex [18].

This was mainly happening inside of the protected area, in the agricultural land.

In the management plan for wetlands as well as in the proposal for future actions these channels are proposed for creations of micro-area for nature conservation. Fortunately a floodplain area was saved having about 5,000 ha in the lower part of Prut and located between embankments and river which in some places has few hundred meters width.

This is characterized by a flood plain with good water dynamics, flood plain gallery forest with different species, floodplain small lakes with macrophytes, meadows and reed beds which still preserves a number of birds and animal species, but which is characterized by a mainly economically-oriented management and less in the favor of biodiversity.

A recent study produced by WWF Danube - Carpathian Programme within the Danube Pollution Reduction Programme has indicated that about 51,000 ha. are possible to be restored in the locations of the previous wetlands and flood plains from the lower Prut area.

This will allow the restoration of floodplain by reconnecting areas to the water river dynamics having as effect improvement of water quality, restoration of wetland vegetation and biodiversity conditions enhancement.
