521
australis) here was raised after the Second World War. An experimental research
station designed to study the possible uses of the deltaic reed was set up in Maliuc
in 1956. The main objective of this initiative was to alter certain depressions in such
a way as to allow semi-guided reed growth and development (dammed depressions
endowed with pumping stations designed to regulate the water levels depending on
the height of the reed) and its subsequent industrial use. Other reed- and reed-userelated topics, such as reed physiology, the advantages and disadvantages of reed
fires, the influence of heavy equipment (crawler tractors) on reed regeneration, the
influence of dyke building on reed growth and development, etc., were studied at
this experimental research station.
The Danube Delta reed had been used long before 1956 but in a traditional manner (on the ice, during winter, when the migratory birds had left the area and the fish
took refuge in deep waters) without any intervention in the deltaic environment.
Thus, the reed was used for construction purposes (roofs and fences), as a fodder
supplement and even in the cellulose production process (a cellulose factory, which
was destroyed during the war, operated in Braila between 1908 and 1916). After
1956, more precisely during the communist regime, reed was essentially used in the
cellulose production process; therefore, the cellulose factory was rebuilt (1958)
close to the town of Braila (Chiscani), approximately 100 km from the delta.
The 1960–1970 period, which is called the “reed age”, is also the first period of
deeper alterations of the deltaic ecosystems. First, many canals were built, and the
resulting alluvium was used to build 50 to 100 m-long and 2 to 3 m-high reed storage platforms above the Danube (Gastescu and Stiuca 2008). In the 1960s, most of
the polders were designed for reed use, in particular in the fluvial delta (eastwards);
these areas included the Pardina depression, the loop of the great M (DunareaVeche)
and the depression located west of the Caraorman levee, located between the Sulina
and the Sfantu Gheorghe Branches. These polders were irrigated by pumping
between March and October and were then drained for the end of autumn-winter
harvesting. This decade saw the peak of reed production in the Danube Delta. Thus,
reed production reached 226,000 tons in 1965, decreased to almost 100,000 tons in
the 1970s and did not exceed 20,000 tons in the 2000s.
What could be the explanation of this drop in reed production in the Danube
Delta? One of the most plausible explanations, which is adhered to by many authors,
is that the use of heavy machinery to harvest the reed destroyed its rhizomes. Other
possible causes have also been suggested: reduction in the reed’s regeneration and
natural drainage period and diminution of the sediments and nutrients in the water
pumped into the altered depressions. Several opportunistic hydrophilic species such
as the cattail (Typha sp.), the rush (Juncaceae family) and the sedges (Carex sp.)
appeared at this time and took advantage of the situation, proliferating to the detriment of the reed.
Due to the failure of reed processing in the delta, several reed-processing facilities (Rusca, Balteni, Maliuc, Obretin) were converted to fish-farming developments.
In fact, the 1970–1980 decade is considered to be the period of fish farming development in the delta. The 1980s were marked by the passing of a decree by the State
Council in 1983 (Programme for the Full Development and Exploitation of the
17 Alteration and Remediation of Coastal Wetland Ecosystems in the Danube Delta…
australis) here was raised after the Second World War. An experimental research
station designed to study the possible uses of the deltaic reed was set up in Maliuc
in 1956. The main objective of this initiative was to alter certain depressions in such
a way as to allow semi-guided reed growth and development (dammed depressions
endowed with pumping stations designed to regulate the water levels depending on
the height of the reed) and its subsequent industrial use. Other reed- and reed-userelated topics, such as reed physiology, the advantages and disadvantages of reed
fires, the influence of heavy equipment (crawler tractors) on reed regeneration, the
influence of dyke building on reed growth and development, etc., were studied at
this experimental research station.
The Danube Delta reed had been used long before 1956 but in a traditional manner (on the ice, during winter, when the migratory birds had left the area and the fish
took refuge in deep waters) without any intervention in the deltaic environment.
Thus, the reed was used for construction purposes (roofs and fences), as a fodder
supplement and even in the cellulose production process (a cellulose factory, which
was destroyed during the war, operated in Braila between 1908 and 1916). After
1956, more precisely during the communist regime, reed was essentially used in the
cellulose production process; therefore, the cellulose factory was rebuilt (1958)
close to the town of Braila (Chiscani), approximately 100 km from the delta.
The 1960–1970 period, which is called the “reed age”, is also the first period of
deeper alterations of the deltaic ecosystems. First, many canals were built, and the
resulting alluvium was used to build 50 to 100 m-long and 2 to 3 m-high reed storage platforms above the Danube (Gastescu and Stiuca 2008). In the 1960s, most of
the polders were designed for reed use, in particular in the fluvial delta (eastwards);
these areas included the Pardina depression, the loop of the great M (DunareaVeche)
and the depression located west of the Caraorman levee, located between the Sulina
and the Sfantu Gheorghe Branches. These polders were irrigated by pumping
between March and October and were then drained for the end of autumn-winter
harvesting. This decade saw the peak of reed production in the Danube Delta. Thus,
reed production reached 226,000 tons in 1965, decreased to almost 100,000 tons in
the 1970s and did not exceed 20,000 tons in the 2000s.
What could be the explanation of this drop in reed production in the Danube
Delta? One of the most plausible explanations, which is adhered to by many authors,
is that the use of heavy machinery to harvest the reed destroyed its rhizomes. Other
possible causes have also been suggested: reduction in the reed’s regeneration and
natural drainage period and diminution of the sediments and nutrients in the water
pumped into the altered depressions. Several opportunistic hydrophilic species such
as the cattail (Typha sp.), the rush (Juncaceae family) and the sedges (Carex sp.)
appeared at this time and took advantage of the situation, proliferating to the detriment of the reed.
Due to the failure of reed processing in the delta, several reed-processing facilities (Rusca, Balteni, Maliuc, Obretin) were converted to fish-farming developments.
In fact, the 1970–1980 decade is considered to be the period of fish farming development in the delta. The 1980s were marked by the passing of a decree by the State
Council in 1983 (Programme for the Full Development and Exploitation of the
17 Alteration and Remediation of Coastal Wetland Ecosystems in the Danube Delta…