DPS 3: Dyje/Thaya sub-catchment of the Danube River catchment [CZ]

Location: Thaya River catchment area, Czech Republic (83%) and Austria (17%)
Significance: Major tributary of the Morava River in the Danube basin
Challenges:
- Anthropogenic modifications (reservoirs) affecting water resources
- Diverse landscapes with varying water needs
- Coniferous forest damage from bark beetle outbreak (2015-2019)
Importance:
- Part of the Lower Morava Biosphere Reserve (BR) with diverse ecosystems
- Rich biodiversity and protected areas (Natura 2000, Ramsar)

Focus: Apply research from Lower Morava BR for revitalization
Actions (tailored for Thaya Basin):
- Wetland restoration (addressing historical human impact)
- Revitalization projects (Allahy ponds, Obelisk floodplain) with various methods (overgrowth removal, dredging, weirs, sluices, species reintroduction)
- Upcoming dam project ("Giving Water Back to the Forest") for raising water levels and irrigating forests
- Planned Soutok Protected Landscape Area declaration

Shift from technical river management to natural process restoration
Goals:
- Enhance biodiversity
- Manage pollution
- Mitigate floods and droughts
Challenges: Balancing conflicting interests (e.g., bird populations vs. protected plants)
Importance of ecosystem approach for river-floodplain habitat connection

Original situation: Extensive floodplain forests, vulnerable to floods. Dam construction and water management practices led to forest loss and water shortage.
Implemented measures: Meander restoration, controlled flooding, wetland restoration, channel connection, pool restoration.
Planned measure: New flap weir construction (by 2025).
Replication focus within Dalia project (€100,000 per action): Refining hydrological balance through precise measurements (streamflow, climate, groundwater, evaporation). This approach provides a more accurate picture of water loss due to evaporation, crucial for climate change adaptation.

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