519
17.4 Improvements, Transformations and Alterations
of the Danube Delta Ecosystems
Over time, the development of fluvial-maritime navigation and of resource use policies applying to the Danube Delta (fish, agricultural, forestry, etc. resources) has
determined the main water system and landscape transformations in the delta. The
first interventions in the water system of the Danube branches occurred in 1857–
1858 after the creation in 1856 of the European Commission of the Danube (ECD)
following the signing of the Treaty of Paris at the end of the Crimean War. The
branch altered between 1857 and 1902 was the Sulina Branch in the central part of
the delta. After the shortcuts in the meanders of this branch, in particular the “great
M” (Dunarea Veche), the branch was shortened by 20.8 km, from 83.4 to 62.6 km,
and deepened from 2.4 to 7.2 m, to allow the navigation of heavy-tonnage ships of
up to 55,000 tdw. The alteration of the Sulina Branch also required the consolidation of the banks of the Danube and the building of a jetty at the entrance to the
Black Sea. This jetty offers protection against clogging with sediments brought by
the Chilia Branch. In 1895, also under the auspices of the European Commission of
the Danube, a small marshy area next to the Mahmudia Locality and close to the
Sfantu-Gheorghe Branch was altered for agricultural purposes. This area is also
known as the “Gradinile franceze si olandeze
1
”.
Other interventions in the water system of the delta date back to the 1900–1935
period, when, following the suggestions of the hydrobiologist Grigore Antipa
(1914a), several canals were built to facilitate the flow of water between the Danube
branches and the lake complexes within the delta or between these inner complexes
and the Razim-Sinoe complex. The goal of these improvements was the enhancement of fishing productivity in a natural environment (Antipa 1914b). Some of the
most important canals were built during this period, including the Dunavat (initially
called Regele Carol I) in 1907, the Dranov (Ferdinand Canal, which connects the
Sfantu Gheorghe Canal to the Razin-Sinoe complex) between 1912 and 1914, the
Enisala (Elisabeta Canal) in 1913, the Litcov (Carol II Canal) between 1929 and
1932, the Crasnicol (Voeivodul Mihai Canal) between 1930 and 1934, and the
Sireasa, which is parallel to the Sulina Branch connecting the Sontea-Furtuna
Complex to the Danube branch (Fig. 17.2).
Another alteration that may be traced back to before the Second World War is the
Tataru Polder (2500 ha), a small, dammed, drained and irrigated island on the Chilia
Branch; on this island, cereal production is considerable (up to 10,000 kg/ha of
corn). The Magearu and Eracle-Batacu Canals between the Chilia and the Sulina
branches were also built prior to 1950, as were the Rosulet-Garla Imputita and
Buhaz Ciotic Canals between the Sulina Branch and the Sfantu-Gheorghe Branch
and the Gotca and Iacob-Batacu Canals in the Pardina Depression.
All these hydrological interventions carried out in the delta were accompanied
by changes in the deltaic landscape. The issue of the use of the reed (Phragmites
1 The French and Dutch Gardens.
17 Alteration and Remediation of Coastal Wetland Ecosystems in the Danube Delta…
17.4 Improvements, Transformations and Alterations
of the Danube Delta Ecosystems
Over time, the development of fluvial-maritime navigation and of resource use policies applying to the Danube Delta (fish, agricultural, forestry, etc. resources) has
determined the main water system and landscape transformations in the delta. The
first interventions in the water system of the Danube branches occurred in 1857–
1858 after the creation in 1856 of the European Commission of the Danube (ECD)
following the signing of the Treaty of Paris at the end of the Crimean War. The
branch altered between 1857 and 1902 was the Sulina Branch in the central part of
the delta. After the shortcuts in the meanders of this branch, in particular the “great
M” (Dunarea Veche), the branch was shortened by 20.8 km, from 83.4 to 62.6 km,
and deepened from 2.4 to 7.2 m, to allow the navigation of heavy-tonnage ships of
up to 55,000 tdw. The alteration of the Sulina Branch also required the consolidation of the banks of the Danube and the building of a jetty at the entrance to the
Black Sea. This jetty offers protection against clogging with sediments brought by
the Chilia Branch. In 1895, also under the auspices of the European Commission of
the Danube, a small marshy area next to the Mahmudia Locality and close to the
Sfantu-Gheorghe Branch was altered for agricultural purposes. This area is also
known as the “Gradinile franceze si olandeze
1
”.
Other interventions in the water system of the delta date back to the 1900–1935
period, when, following the suggestions of the hydrobiologist Grigore Antipa
(1914a), several canals were built to facilitate the flow of water between the Danube
branches and the lake complexes within the delta or between these inner complexes
and the Razim-Sinoe complex. The goal of these improvements was the enhancement of fishing productivity in a natural environment (Antipa 1914b). Some of the
most important canals were built during this period, including the Dunavat (initially
called Regele Carol I) in 1907, the Dranov (Ferdinand Canal, which connects the
Sfantu Gheorghe Canal to the Razin-Sinoe complex) between 1912 and 1914, the
Enisala (Elisabeta Canal) in 1913, the Litcov (Carol II Canal) between 1929 and
1932, the Crasnicol (Voeivodul Mihai Canal) between 1930 and 1934, and the
Sireasa, which is parallel to the Sulina Branch connecting the Sontea-Furtuna
Complex to the Danube branch (Fig. 17.2).
Another alteration that may be traced back to before the Second World War is the
Tataru Polder (2500 ha), a small, dammed, drained and irrigated island on the Chilia
Branch; on this island, cereal production is considerable (up to 10,000 kg/ha of
corn). The Magearu and Eracle-Batacu Canals between the Chilia and the Sulina
branches were also built prior to 1950, as were the Rosulet-Garla Imputita and
Buhaz Ciotic Canals between the Sulina Branch and the Sfantu-Gheorghe Branch
and the Gotca and Iacob-Batacu Canals in the Pardina Depression.
All these hydrological interventions carried out in the delta were accompanied
by changes in the deltaic landscape. The issue of the use of the reed (Phragmites
1 The French and Dutch Gardens.
17 Alteration and Remediation of Coastal Wetland Ecosystems in the Danube Delta…