Water quality changes of the Romanian rivers in Transylvania after 1990 with special emphasis on the effects of agriculture
Sárkány-Kiss Endre 1, Bálint Miklós2, Fodorpataki László2, Braun Mihály 3
1. Apáthy István Society; 2. Babe -Bolyai University; 3. Debrecen University • Running waters are Bodrog the most important Tisza surface waters in Transylvania Some Barc ău
C. Repede C. Negru • Large standing Cri ul Alb Mure waterbodies are completely missing Rivers marked were surveyed between 1991-1995 Additional samplings at several sites during 1998-2007 More information about these surveys and the results at http://folyok.adatbank.transindex.ro/ The Transylvanian rivers were generally polluted before 1989 The large industrial centers were the main polluters The most important industries were chemical factories (producing mainly fertilizers) Some of them remained functional for years after 1989
Târnava river Arad
Târgu Mure
Mure ş river (1991) – 742 km
Hamar & Sárkány-Kiss (eds), 1995: The Maros/Mure river valley Ore extraction and metal processing facilities had important effects on Transylvanian rivers beside pollution from chemical factories
Arie river
Târnava river
Arad
Hamar & Sárkány-Kiss (eds), 1995: The Maros/Mure river valley Agricultural areas are badly affected by heavy metals due to seasonal floodings
Heavy metals on riverside agricultural field after the 2000 heavy metal pollution of the Vasser – Vi eu – Tisza rivers Tisza Klub 2001 Tailing pond near Baia mare, Some basin Tailing pond near Baia mare, Some basin Increase in food availability is reflected by the algae.
It is hard to tell the exact role of the industry, agriculture or communal wastewaters.
Târnava river
Târgu Mure Arad
Hamar & Sárkány-Kiss (eds), 1995: The Maros/Mure river valley Catalase activity of Scenedesmus opoliensis along the Some river
200 a, b a, b
150 a
a
a 100
50 Upstream Downstream Downstream Upstream Downstream Cluj Cluj Dej Baia Mare Baia Mare
0 SzI SzII SzIII SzIV SzV
Sárkány-Kiss et al., 2007: Proceedings the 3 rd Conference of Env. Sci. in the Carpathian basin, Sapientia, Cluj Mussels were missing from a 420 km long section of the Mure .
Many parts of the river were recolonized as major polluters were gradually shut down after 1990.
Anodonta Unio Synanodonta
un N in a h tu ab ra it ll ab y le a re as
2000
Sárkány-Kiss, 1997: Trav. Mus. Hist. Nat. "Grigore Antipa" . updated with unpublished results Despite general increase in water quality accidental contaminations are very important and widespread
In 1995, we numbered 874 Unio crassus mussels on the Cri ul Alb river for a survey on body size growth
In 1997 these were completely eliminated due to a contamination with pesticides – an insecticide container was washed in the river, causing large scale damages Mussel populations became extinct on many river sections. The remaining populations are mainly segmented.
Sárkány-Kiss, 1997: Trav. Mus. Hist. Nat. "Grigore Antipa" . updated with unpublished results Agricultural fields usually extend to the rivershore, eliminating the original vegetation which served as a natural protection belt. The abandonment of degraded riverside fields accelerated after 1990.
These fields are completely invaded by a few adventive plant species.
Helianthus tuberosus on a rivershore Occurrence of invasive plants along the Some river The most common invasive plants
Reynoutria japonica
Amorpha fructicosa Impatiens glandulifera The use of river resources may directly affect agriculture. The riverbed was deepened by 1.5-2 m at several areas due to the unregulated gravel extraction.
As a result, freatic water freely runs into the rivers. Riverbed gravel extraction is widespread on the Transylvanian rivers. A state-owned company was involved in soil amelioration before 1989. The activities were focused on increasing the size of agricultural fields.
Large areas of wetlands and lakes were drained. The company also contributed to “river regulation” (straightening the riverbeds). Along the upper Mure river 27 km part was covered by peat bogs during the 1960’s, today the single remaining peat bog has a surface of 60 ha.
Drained peat bogs are a major problem today as they are regularly consumed by underground fire, leaving large wastelands behind. Remarks
• these surveys form a basis of later/future works • regular monitoring is the duty of Water Basin Authorities in the present • a major problem is the lack of specialists in biology and ecology (e.g. taxonomic expertise) Preconditions of rehabilitation
• abandoning of riverbed extraction • delimiting of arable lands on floodplains • protection of remaining riverside forests • real implementation of catchment area management principles
Probably the most important task: at least partial restoration of floodplain wetlands
Paradigm change of authorities is needed Additional resources http:/ /folyok.adatbank. transindex .ro
• Sárkány-Kiss, A., Hamar, J. (eds.) (2002): Ecological aspects of the Tisa River Basin. Tiscia monograph series, Szolnok – Szeged – Târgu Mure , Magyarország – Románia, 6, pp. 278. • Sárkány-Kiss, A., Sîrbu, I. (eds.) (2002): Contribu Ńii la cunoa terea ecologiei râurilor i zonelor umede din bazinul Tisei. Liga Pro Europa, Târgu Mure , Románia, pp.184. • Hamar, J., Sárkány-Kiss, A. (eds.) (1999): The Tisza River Valley. Tiscia monograph series, Szolnok – Szeged – Târgu Mure , Magyarország – Románia, 4, pp. 253. • Sárkány-Kiss, A., Hamar, J. (eds.) (1999): The Szamos/Some River Valley. Tiscia monograph series, Szolnok – Szeged – Târgu Mure , Magyarország – Románia, 3, pp. 450. • Sárkány-Kiss, A., Hamar, J. (eds.) (1997): The Cri /Körös Rivers’ Valleys. Tiscia monograph series, Szolnok – Szeged – Târgu Mure , Magyarország – Románia, 2, pp. 397. • Hamar, J., Sárkány-Kiss, A. (eds.) (1995): The Maros/Mure River Valley. Tiscia monograph series, Szolnok – Szeged – Târgu Mure , Magyarország – Románia, 1, pp. 253. • Sárkány-Kiss, A. (eds.) (1983): Marisia, 11-12(1), Studia scientiarum naturae. Marosvásárhely, Románia. Published collections Multilingual publications