Each year is characterized by a specific hydrological and climatic situation, which must be taken into account, in the process of development of the hydrograph of the artificial flood, which has the purpose to imitate the natural flood of the river. This is necessary for the regeneration of the river ecosystem, explained the executive director of the Eco-TIRAS International Association of River Keepers Ilya Trombitski, a member of the Working Group on the Dniester river basin Planning and Management of the Dniester Commission.
In a news conference at IPN, Ilya Trombitski, said spring is a period of reproduction for fishes and birds, in particular, from the wetlands of the Lower Dniester. In 2020 there were no favorable conditions for the realization of the spring ecological flood, in the current year, 2021, the hydrological situation is much better.
The members of the Working Group put the effort to negotiate with the Ukrainian team regarding the volumes of water to be stored in the reservoir at the Dnestrovsk dam, and on the ecological flood graph (hydrograph of the spring ecological flood) which should be planned in a way to take in consideration all the interests of different species of fish and birds in the Dniester river floodplain.
Ana Jeleapov, head of the Working Group, said that within the activities of the working group, they are concerned with a large set of issues, including the development and implementation of the Dniester River management plan for both sectors: both in Moldova and in Ukraine, development of proposals regarding the spring ecological flood to be evacuated from the reservoirs of the Dniester Hydropower Complex to ensure the development of ecosystems but, especially, of fish in the middle and lower course of the Dniester River, development of recommendations to improve the Regulation of the Dniester Hydropower Complex Operation, development of the Geoinformation System and the Atlas of the Dniester river basin, assessment of the hydrological and hydromorphological state of the river, mutual information about the activities of Basin Committees, joint participation in various events related to water and the Dniester river.
The Management Plan for the Dniester river was approved in 2017 for a period of 6 years. “The essential element of the Management Plan is the program of measures. In the first cycle of the plan, this program focuses on improving the legal, informational framework in the field of water but also on increasing capacity and public awareness and information on water status, as well as on the protection and restoration of natural ecosystems, prevention and progressive reduction of surface and groundwater pollution. A large part of the measures has been implemented, other measures are in the process of realization, but another set of measures requires funds but also more time to be accomplished,” stated Ana Jeleapov.
She noted that recently, the Strategic Action Program for the entire Nistru river basin for the period 2021-2035 has been developed and is under finalization. This document aims to strengthen the cross-border cooperation between Moldova and Ukraine by drawing up strategic directions, specific objectives, measures and actions in order to improve the water status of the Dniester river basin. The strategic directions refer to: reduction of water pollution from point and diffuse sources, as well as plastic pollution; management of tailings storage facilities and prevention of accidental pollution; improvement of the hydromorphological status of surface water bodies; protection and prevention of surface and ground water degradation.
“A massive platform for Moldovan-Ukrainian collaboration on various themes, aspects and directions is being formed. Governmental and non-governmental organizations, scientific institutions, associations, universities, civil society and anyone who considers the protection of water resources important can participate in the implementation of the set of measures. Respectively, we call both parties to collaborate effectively in the field of water,” stated Ana Jeleapov.
