Chapter 8
Romanian Danube River Floodplain
Functionality Assessment
Cristian Trifanov, Alin Mihu-Pintilie, Marian Tudor, Marian Mierl˘ a,
Mihai Doroftei and Silviu Covaliov
Abstract The floodplain of the Lower Danube was formed by the complex action
of erosion and river accumulation, under the influence of the ascension trend of the
river riverbed during the Holocene and the oscillation of the water levels and discharges. Almost full embankment and the construction of non-submersible dams
have affected both the hydro-geomorphological system and the local and regional
topo-climates, which is a pronounced phenomenon in the conditions of global climate changes. All these alterations have led to a significant transformation of the
ecosystems. Transforming these ecosystems of the Lower Danube floodplain into
dry land ecosystems has reduced their ecological, recreational, aesthetic and educational functions to only one function: the economic one. The natural capital of
the Lower Danube floodplain has a productive capacity that must be known by
its functional cells in order to avoid degradation, destruction under anthropogenic
impact and to favor the sustainable use of its support capacity. Ensuring sustainable socio-economic development in the Lower Danube floodplain area is also based
on knowledge of ecological sustainability, ecosystem integrity, environmental sustainability, ecological, and regional ecosystem balance. The ecological and economic
resizing program of the managed areas of the Lower Danube floodplain was designed
C. Trifanov (B) · M. Mierl˘ a
Informational System and Geomatics Department, “Danube Delta” National Institute for Research
and Development, 165 Babadag Str., 820112 Tulcea, Romania
e-mail: cristian.trifanov@ddni.ro
A. Mihu-Pintilie
Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Ia¸ si, Interdisciplinary Research Department—Field Science,
54 Lasc˘ ar Catargi Str., 700107 Ia¸ si, Romania
M. Tudor
Management Department of the “Danube Delta” National Institute for Research and
Development, 165 Babadag Str., 820112 Tulcea, Romania
M. Doroftei
Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Use of Natural Resources Department, “Danube Delta”
National Institute for Research and Development, 165 Babadag Str., 820112 Tulcea, Romania
S. Covaliov
Ecological Restoration and Species Recovery Department, “Danube Delta” National Institute for
Research and Development, 165 Babadag Str., 820112 Tulcea, Romania
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
A. M. Negm et al. (eds.), Water Resources Management in Romania, Springer Water,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-22320-5_8
251
Romanian Danube River Floodplain
Functionality Assessment
Cristian Trifanov, Alin Mihu-Pintilie, Marian Tudor, Marian Mierl˘ a,
Mihai Doroftei and Silviu Covaliov
Abstract The floodplain of the Lower Danube was formed by the complex action
of erosion and river accumulation, under the influence of the ascension trend of the
river riverbed during the Holocene and the oscillation of the water levels and discharges. Almost full embankment and the construction of non-submersible dams
have affected both the hydro-geomorphological system and the local and regional
topo-climates, which is a pronounced phenomenon in the conditions of global climate changes. All these alterations have led to a significant transformation of the
ecosystems. Transforming these ecosystems of the Lower Danube floodplain into
dry land ecosystems has reduced their ecological, recreational, aesthetic and educational functions to only one function: the economic one. The natural capital of
the Lower Danube floodplain has a productive capacity that must be known by
its functional cells in order to avoid degradation, destruction under anthropogenic
impact and to favor the sustainable use of its support capacity. Ensuring sustainable socio-economic development in the Lower Danube floodplain area is also based
on knowledge of ecological sustainability, ecosystem integrity, environmental sustainability, ecological, and regional ecosystem balance. The ecological and economic
resizing program of the managed areas of the Lower Danube floodplain was designed
C. Trifanov (B) · M. Mierl˘ a
Informational System and Geomatics Department, “Danube Delta” National Institute for Research
and Development, 165 Babadag Str., 820112 Tulcea, Romania
e-mail: cristian.trifanov@ddni.ro
A. Mihu-Pintilie
Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Ia¸ si, Interdisciplinary Research Department—Field Science,
54 Lasc˘ ar Catargi Str., 700107 Ia¸ si, Romania
M. Tudor
Management Department of the “Danube Delta” National Institute for Research and
Development, 165 Babadag Str., 820112 Tulcea, Romania
M. Doroftei
Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Use of Natural Resources Department, “Danube Delta”
National Institute for Research and Development, 165 Babadag Str., 820112 Tulcea, Romania
S. Covaliov
Ecological Restoration and Species Recovery Department, “Danube Delta” National Institute for
Research and Development, 165 Babadag Str., 820112 Tulcea, Romania
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
A. M. Negm et al. (eds.), Water Resources Management in Romania, Springer Water,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-22320-5_8
251