Water and Wetland Index Results for five Accession Countries: Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Slovakia and

Appendix: Scores and comments

WWF European Freshwater Programme 5 December 2000 Water and Wetland Index – Results for Five Accession Countries – Appendix: Scores and Comments

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION 1

Table 1. Overview of assigned country scores for Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Slovakia and Turkey 2- 3

NATIONAL SCORES AND COMMENTS ON DATA QUALITY AND ECOLOGICAL STATUS:

Rivers, lakes and wetlands:

Table 2. Selected rivers – scores and comments 4- 7 Table 3. Selected lakes – scores and comments 8-11 Table 4. Selected wetlands – scores and comments 12-17

Fragmentation of rivers and degree of undisturbed rivers and lakes

Table 5. Undisturbed river stretches – estimates and comments 18-19 Table 6. Undisturbed lakes – estimates and comments 20-21 Table 7. Fragmentation of selected rivers – scores and comments 22-24

Aspects of sustainable water use

Table 8. Stressed wetlands – scores and comments 25-28

NATIONAL COLLABORATORS 29

Citation: WWF European Freshwater Programme, December 2000. Water and Wetland Index – Results for Five Accession Countries – Appendix: Scores and Comments. Denmark, Copenhagen. Water and Wetland Index – Results for Five Accession Countries – Appendix: Scores and Comments

Introduction

This document contains the Water and Wetland Index results that were reported from Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Slovakia and Turkey. It document the scores and comments from each country, that are the basis for the conclusions presented in the report “Water and Wetland Index – Results for Five Accession Countries”. This report can be downloaded from www.panda.org/europe/freshwater.

Results for these five countries were launched on 5 December 2000. On 1 February 2001, the first phase results for all 16 countries will be published in a comprehensive European wide report including: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and the five accession countries mentioned above.

The scores

Where possible, the scoring for the Index is based on the logic of the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD). The WFD aims to achieve “good status” in all waters and to prevent further deterioration. It uses "status" categories (high, good, moderate etc.) that measures how much the status of a body of water deviates from "undisturbed" conditions.

The Water and Wetland Index examines the “ecological status” of rivers, lakes and wetlands, which is one major aspect of the “good status” requirement of the WFD and employs a similar scoring scale (high, good, moderate, etc.). When assessing areas not covered by the Water Framework Directive, e.g. threatened species or fragmentation of rivers by dams, other but similar scoring scales are used (with 0 or 1 representing the worst condition and 4 the best). The Index also looks at the quality of the data so when, for example assessing a river, the Index scores on the availability, accuracy and comparability of the data themselves and on the ecological status of this river.

The scoring is based on national monitoring data and other data sources. A Working Document provides detailed guidelines on how to score. Data are collected nationally by WWF and partner organisations who accompany their reporting with detailed comments. Contact WWF’s European Freshwater Programme for more information on the data sources and the detailed criteria.

What the Index does and does not show

Measuring the pressures, status and impacts on freshwater ecosystems and water resources is an ambitious task. Given the complexity of the issue, one should not expect perfect answers. Describing stresses, alterations and potential threats to the “health” of the freshwater ecosystem with relatively few indicators can only lead to a piecemeal overview. There is also the problem of lack of good data: sometimes inventories or basic monitoring programmes do not exist for all the selected indicators or the environmental data are patchy in coverage with much variation in origin, date, resolution and quality. Therefore, the indicators are sometimes based on “best available data” and should not be viewed as a substitute for a proper scientific study, but rather serve as an awareness raising tool that demonstrates key stresses, alterations and threats to water, rivers, lakes and wetlands in Europe .

1 Water and Wetland Index – Results for Five Accession Countries – Appendix: Scores and Comments

Table 1. Overview of assigned national scores of 1st Wave indicators of the Water and Wetland Index for Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary and Turkey.

Name of Area, Category and Indicator Max-score Bulgaria Estonia Hungary Slovakia Turkey WETLAND (ECOSYSTEM) HEALTH State of wetland habitat types Data quality of parameters related to ecological state of selected rivers 4 Data in Table 2 Ecological state of selected rivers 4 Data quality of parameters related to ecological state of selected lakes 4 Data in Table 3 Ecological state of selected lakes 4 Data quality of parameters related to selected wetland habitats 4 Data in Table 4 Ecological state of selected wetland habitats 4 Sufficiency and quality of ecological corridor existence for maintaining the biological diversity of a particular biogeographic region – with focus on migratory 4 2 2-3 3 2-3 1 fish

State of associated species (flora and fauna) of Wetland habitats Data quality of National Red List species 4 23-4231 Ecological state of National Red List species 4 02-3000 Data quality of alien invasive species (biodiversity loss of native species) 4 112-321 Ecological state of alien invasive species (biodiversity loss of native species) 4 03020

Sufficiency of inventory and monitoring data of Wetlands Completeness and quality of national monitoring/inventory programmes for running 4 2-3332-32 water Completeness and quality of national monitoring/inventory programmes for lakes and 4 1-2 3 2-3 2-3 2-3 reservoirs Completeness and quality of national monitoring/inventory programmes for wetlands 4 1 3-4 2 2-3 2

Degree of “naturalness” and human-induced fragmentation of rivers and other wetland habitats Ecological representation of natural undisturbed running water habitats (minimal % Data in Table 5 anthropogenic alterations). Ecological representation of natural undisturbed lakes (minimal anthropogenic % Data in Table 6 alterations). Physical disturbances/changes of selected rivers. 4 Data in Table 7

2 Water and Wetland Index – Results for Five Accession Countries – Appendix: Scores and Comments

Name of Area, Category and Indicator Max-score Bulgaria Estonia Hungary Slovakia Turkey WATER RESOURCE “STATUS OF WATER USE AND ITS EFFECT ON WETLAND ECOLOGY”

State of regionally stressed surface water and groundwater areas and its effect on the ecological function of associated wetland ecosystems Data quality of parameters that assess potential effects on the ecological function of 4 wetland ecosystems in selected areas with over-exploitations of groundwater reserves Ecological state of water stressed wetlands in selected areas with over-exploitations 4 of groundwater reserves Data quality of parameters that assess potential effects on the ecological function of 4 Data in Table 8 wetland ecosystems in selected areas with over-exploitations of surface water Ecological state of water stressed wetlands in selected areas with over-exploitations 4 of surface water

Sustainable management of water resources - sufficiency of inventory and monitoring data Completeness and quality of national monitoring/inventory programmes for 4 1-2 2-3 3-4 2-3 2 assessment of sustainable use of groundwater resources. Completeness and quality of national monitoring/inventory programmes for assessment of sustainable use of surface water resources (rivers, lakes, water 4 2-3 2-3 3-4 2-3 1-2 reservoirs)

Pressure on water resources from agriculture, aquaculture, industry, household and tourism Data quality related to pressure on surface and groundwater catchments from 413322 agriculture/horticulture: Data quality related to pressure on surface and groundwater catchments from 41- 3- 1-2 aquaculture: Data quality related to pressure on surface and groundwater catchments from 423322 industry: Data quality related to pressure on surface and groundwater catchments from public 422322 water supply: Data quality related to pressure on surface and groundwater catchments from diffuse 4222-31-21 pressures: Data quality related to pressure on surface and groundwater catchments from 411311 tourism:

- : not relevant

3 Table 2. Selected morphological data of rivers from Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Slovakia and Turkey assessed for the Water and Wetland Index (WWI). Assigned scores on data quality and ecological state of the rivers are based on a “best available data” approach.

Note River Altitude Length Catchment Geology Size typology based area on catchment area # WWI data score (m) (km) (km2) Data Quality Ecological State Bulgaria 1 Strouma 900 290 10 797 S + C very large 2-3 1-2 Maritza 2925-54 322 21 314 S + C very large 2-3 1-2 Danube 220-120 471 47 000 C very large 2-3 2 Mesta 1318 126 2 767 S + C large 2-3 3

Estonia 2 Comments and Scores Appendix: – Countries Accession Five for Results – Index Wetland and Water Narva 30–00 77 17 145 S very large 3 3-4 Emajõgi 34–30 101 9 700 S + C large 3 2-3 Pärnu 70–00 144 6 900 karstic + C large 3 2-3 Hungary 3 Rába 300-100 189 5 564 S + C large 3 3-4 Duna (Danube) 200-100 417 46 081 C very large 3-4 2-3 Tisza 117-79 586 46 950 S very large 3 2-3 Slovakia 4 Váh 670-107 367 11 600 S + C very large 3 2 Hornád 1000-160 171 4 403 S +C large 3 3 Hron 1100-106 284 5 464 S + C large 2-3 3 Turkey 5 Kizilirmak 1330 1182 75 000 karstic very large 1 3 Göksu 785 250 20 000 karstic very large 1 3 Buyuk Menderes 762 529 25 000 C very large 1 2 1525 560 20 000 C very large 1 2 Geology: S siliceous; C calcareous

# Size typology: small 10 – 100 km2; medium > 100 to 1 000 km2; large > 1 000 to 10 000 km2; very large > 10 000 km2 4 Water and Wetland Index – Results for Five Accession Countries – Appendix: Scores and Comments

Notes for Table 2:

1. Bulgaria Rivers

Danube River (Bulgarian section on the Lower Danube) The largest Bulgarian river. Forms the border between Bulgaria and Romania. Subject to the Convention on Co- operation for the Protection and Sustainable Use of the Danube River and a number of bilateral agreements. There is a Strategic Action Plan for the Protection and Restoration of the Danube River Basin, Danube River Pollution Reduction Programme, and international monitoring arrangements. Representative riverine wetlands of international importance such as waterfowl habitat, protected areas, selected and potential EMERALD sites. Most of the floodplains and wetlands were drained before 1970 for land reclamation and malaria control, and the banks have been endyked to prevent flooding. Nowadays, the area is part of the Lower Danube Green Corridor established in June 2000, between Bulgaria, Moldavia, Romania and Ukraine for the protection and restoration of Lower Danube wetland habitats. A major problem is organic pollution of the Danube waters.

Maritza River Very large sized river with sources in Bulgaria, flowing southeast into Greece and Turkey. Well studied river basin in the framework of a Japan International Co-operation Strategy Project (large dataset). Main problems include: morphological changes (dikes, reservoirs), extraction of inert materials and logging of riparian forests, as well as organic pollution from big towns in the catchment.

Strouma River Large river (according to catchment area but not water quantities), highland sources and tributaries. Transboundary river flowing into Greece, a number of physical alterations and water quality issues. Small data set. CORINE sites and potential EMERALD sites.

Mesta River Medium sized river originating in Bulgaria and flowing southwards into Greece. Very small dataset. Good water quality due to lack of big industries and towns in the catchment. Morphological changes – construction of reservoirs, dikes, extraction of inert materials.

2. Estonian Rivers

Narva River R. Narva, a 77 km long watercourse, connects the Lake Peipsi with the Gulf of Finland of the Baltic Sea. The Narva River annual runoff is 12.5 km3 (approximately 50% of the average volume of the L. Peipsi), what is not more than 3% of the total inflow into Baltic Sea. It serves as the water supply of the industrialised town of Narva and two large thermal power plants. The eastern border of the Republic of Estonia runs along the Narva River bed. The physico- chemical composition of the water in the river is practically identical to that of the northern part (outflow) of L. Peipsi.

Emajõgi River The second large river in Estonia is Emajõgi River (101km long, mean slope only 4 cm per km). The river is the connection between L. Võrtsjärv and L. Peipsi. The average run-off at the mouth of the river is calculated 71 m3/s. It should be mentioned that the flood problems also in Tartu, the second largest city in Estonia on the banks of Emajõgi River. Therefore, flood control should be taken quite seriously, but it is not on the list of priorities of Estonia. The water quality of Emajõgi River has been studied systematically since 1974, by main ions and mineralisation since 1946. The river is subdivided into six stretches according to variation of pollution load and sampling sites. The quality of the water in Emajõgi R. depends on the water quality in L. Võrtsjärv and the pollution load of Tartu town which is seen as the main factor. From the Estonian side the pollution load transported by the Emajõgi R. constitutes a main factor controlling the ecological state of the Lake Peipsi.

Pärnu River The Pärnu River (144 km long) catchment (6920 km2) representing mean landscape, climatic and hydrological conditions in Estonia. The northern part of the catchment lies within the central Estonian moraine plain, the southern part is located in a forested and bog area, and the eastern part – on the western slope of the Sakala upland, characterised by moraine hills and plateaux with a variety of glacial deposits. The water level may fluctuate between 1.5–5.5 m. In the Pärnu River basin is the largest known flooded area which covered 175 km2 in 1931 (http://www.soomaa.ee). The flooded area has a quite low population density, so it has not caused very serious problems. The flooding is taken as „the fifth season” among the people living in that area and is already a part of their

5 Water and Wetland Index – Results for Five Accession Countries – Appendix: Scores and Comments lifestyle. Regular floods have caused some anthropological peculiarities such as adaptation of local architecture to the floods.

3. Hungary Rivers

Duna (Danube) River 70% of Budapest´s municipal sewage water flows into Duna (Danube) without any cleaning. Most of the side arms are closed and many meanders have been cut in the past two centuries. The banks are enforced almost everywhere, and artificial deflectors direct the water in a regulated way. However, the most artificial concrete bank covers follow the section of Budapest. The whole Danube section in Hungary is regulated. The most severe degradation is in the Upper section, between Rajka and Gönyü, as only 20% of the previous water quantity gets into the Hungarian arm, while in Slovakia a new artificial channel for utilisation the energy was created which takes away most of the water. Generally, the water level sank by 140-160 cm in the upper section and the dry area became 40 km² larger after 1992 due to the water diversion. The upper Austrian water plants withdraw the large sediments and most of the small ones are deposited at the mouth of the Slovakian channel. Therefore, the bottom erosion is larger because of a general sink of the water-table level and reduced flow. As a result, the side-arms get fresh water only 1-2 days instead of the previous 200 days. The most extensive floodplain forest area along Danube (Gemenc) is protected as a national park on 28, 323 ha where the rehabilitation of oxbows started. Despite the shortage on water in the upper section (Szigetköz), the opening of side-arms for better water supply also started.

Tisza River The Tisza is the largest tributary of the Danube and it delivers water into the Danube from the Carpathian. In Hungary it displays mainly downstream features, primarily with acidic, siliceous sediments. The river has been heavily regulated (channels, shortcuts, dikes and dams) since the middle 19th century, however, natural processes are still dominant. The river, its backwaters, tributaries and flood areas are among the most valuable freshwater and wetland habitats of the country. The major reservoir at Kisköre holds some valuable features of the pre-regulated habitats, flora and fauna. The main factors of influencing ecological state are water regulation and pollution. Since the river was/is regulated heavily, natural changes in riverbed do not occur, the origins of sediment deposition and morphological changes result from human influence (approximately 60% of the river is regulated to protect 30% of the Hungarian Plain, Alföld). However, in the Upper-Tisza water natural processes dominate within the water body and in the – rather small – flood areas. Also, most of the dead arms and backwaters are linked to the river through locks and their ecological value is undoubtedly high. Pollution plays an important role in shaping the water quality of the river. Although heavy and other metal pollution occurred quite regularly, the cyanide and heavy metal spills of January and February 2000 caused major problems. The hazardous substance concentration/overall water quality of the Tisza is primarily influenced by activities in the upstream countries, Romania, the Ukraine and to a smaller extent Slovakia, through the major tributaries Szamos (Somes), Körös (Cris) Maros (Mures). The Hungarian “contribution” pollutes the river through the rivers Sajó and Bodrog, in the last decade the water quality of these rivers improved considerably due to the decline of heavy industry and cleaner production. The Tisza-tó is an artificial reservoir used for water management. However, at the same time and together with backwaters and dead arms, valuable and diverse wetland and aquatic habitats are present which are refuges for the endangered flora and fauna of the former large flood areas and is among the most popular holiday resorts in the country.

Rába River The upper part of Rába is not regulated, while from Sárvár (beginning of the lower part) the meanders were cut and now represent dead arms. The upper part at the state border near Szentgotthárd remained a nature reserve core without disturbance where the fish can reproduce. This section is dominated by dead arms, though the watercourse remains meandering. After Sárvár, most of the surrounding riparian vegetation was replaced by plough-lands. Accordingly, the abundance and naturalness of the upper part is much greater. The dam at Nick, below Sárvár is a barrier for migratory fish. The most rich dead arm vegetation stretches along the upper part. The river is rich in benthos fauna and abundant in fish, 45 fish species are found. Several rare and protected species are present.

4. Slovakia Rivers

Váh River The largest Slovak river, 403 km long left bank tributary of Danube. It rises from the confluence of the Biely Vah and Cierny Vah. Its upper section flows through narrow valleys with some rapids near the town Ruzomberok, Strecno and Povazska Bystrica. Its basin covers an area of 15,755 sq. km. The river drains 33% of the territory of Slovakia. Many reservoirs have been build along its course.

6 Water and Wetland Index – Results for Five Accession Countries – Appendix: Scores and Comments

Hornád River 286 km long left bank tributary of the Slana river. It springs from the eastern part of the Nizke Tatry Mts. It cuts through Slovensky raj National Park. The area of basin in Slovakia is 4,300 sq. km. Its length in Slovakia is 193 km and for 19 km of its length it marks border with Hungary. The dam Ruzin was built on confluence with the Hnilec river.

Hron River 298 km long left bank tributary of the Danube river. It springs from Kralova hola Mt. Its important tributary are the Cierny Hron. The area of the river basin is 5,454 sq. km. The water of Hron was used in the past to transport wood. A dam has been built at Tlmace to supply water to the nuclear power plant in Mochovce.

5. Turkey Rivers

Kizilirmak River Kizilirmak is Turkey's longest river. It starts in the central and meets with the in the middle part of the coast. The river has no conservation status on any of its segments except for its delta. Although there is not enough monitoring data available to validate the ecological state of the river, the river is scored as good quality (3 points) because of a lack of industrial discharge. Additionally, there are no intensive agricultural activities in the catchment area. The main problems on the river system are the five dams on its main channel.

Göksu river Goksu river runs in the Mediterranean region of the country. It is one of the intact river ecosystems in Turkey. No dams, industry or intensive agriculture practices disturb the main tributary due to its unsuitable topography for these activities. Human use of the river is very restricted, even impossible in some parts. Consequently, the river is in better condition than most other rivers in Turkey. Although not much data is available on the ecological state of the river, it scores good quality by virtue of comparison to other rivers systems. The river has no conservation status other than for its delta.

Buyuk Menderes River Large river. Highly disrupted by human activity, particularly by agricultural pollution. No conservation status other than its delta on coast.

Seyhan river Medium sized river, meets with the sea in the southeast of Turkey.

7 Table 3. Selected morphological data of lakes and reservoirs from Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Slovakia and Turkey assessed for the Water and Wetland Index (WWI). Assigned scores on data quality and ecological state of the lakes are based on a “best available data” approach.

Note Lake Altitude Area Mean Catchment Mixing Lake classification depth area characteristics WWI score (m) (ha) (m) (km2) Data Quality Ecological State Bulgaria 1 Ovcharitza reservoir 15 630 12 - dimictic Natural eutrophic (man-made 1-2 2 reservoir) Atanassovsko 1,5 900 0,3 23,7 polymictic Eutrophic, hypersaline 2-3 2 Dourankulak 0,9 – 1,50 446 2,7 476 polymictic Eutrophic / hypertrophic 3 2 Srebarna 11-13 500 2,5-3 1 070 polymictic Eutrophic 3-4 3 Water and Wetland Index – Results for Five Accession Countries – Appendix: Scores and Comments and Scores Appendix: – Countries Accession Five for Results – Index Wetland and Water Rila lakes ~2300 0.7-9.1 4.6-37.5 18-300 dimictic- Oligotrophic (glacial) 1 4 (7 lakes) polimictic Estonia 2 Peipsi 30 155 000 8 16 187 dimictic Natural eutrophic 3 3 Võrtsjärv 34 27 000 3.1 3 374 dimictic Hypertrophic (antropogenic) 3-4 1-2 Nohipalu Valgejärv 54 5.3 6 2.5 dimictic oligotrophic 3-4 3 Viitna Pikkjärv 74 16.3 6.2 1.3 dimictic oligotrophic 3-4 3

Hungary 3 Velencei 100-200 2 400 1.9 603 Natural eutrophic 3-4 3 Balaton 103 59 400 3.5 5 775 Mesotrophic 4 3 Virágoskúti- 91 1 350 0.5 - Mesotrophic 1 2 halastavak Kelemen-szék 93 140 0,5 10 polymictic mesotrophic 2-3 4

Slovakia 4 Strbské pleso 1346 19.8 Max 20 0.651 Oligotrophic 3 4 Orava reservoir 602 35 27 1 182 Oligotrophic 2-3 3 Morské Oko 619 13.7 Max 26 4.635 Oligotrophic 2-3 3 Vel`ké Hincovo 1946 20.1 Max 53 - Oligotrophic 3 4 pleso Turkey 5 Burdur 857 23 700 40 1 740 Oligotrophic - mesotrophic 2 3 Beysehir 1150 73 000 5-6 4 052 oligotrophic 2 2 Manyas 18 16 000 3 3 352 eutrophic 2-3 2 Uluabat (Apolyont) 8 13 400 2,5 1 740 eutrophic 3 1 Bafa 5 6 700 1-2 100 eutrophic 1-2 2 8 Water and Wetland Index – Results for Five Accession Countries – Appendix: Scores and Comments

Notes for Table 3:

1. Bulgaria Lakes

Ovcharitza Reservoir South Bulgaria, in Maritza river basin. IBA, proposed for a protected area and a Ramsar site. Introduction of alien invasive species, thermal pollution from power craft and industrial pollution.

Atanassovsko Lake Black Sea coastal hypersaline lake by the city of Bourgas. Project site of the Bulgarian-Swiss Biodiversity Conservation Programme – large data set. A number of uses and anthropogenic impacts, including salt production, water abstraction and eutrophication from household wastewater. One of the richest biodiversity centres, Ramsar site, IBA, EMERALD. Management Plan in preparation.

Dourankulak Lake Black Sea coastal lake, formerly brackish, now freshwater (after disruption of the connection with the sea). Over- abstraction and eutrophication problems. Protected site, IBA, Ramsar site. Management Plan in preparation. Project site of the Bulgarian Swiss Biodiversity Conservation Programme. Large data set.

Srebarna Lake Riparian Danubian lake near the town of Silistra. Managed Reserve according to Bulgarian legislation, Class A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Ramsar site, EMERALD site, IBA. Large data set, scientific studies, workshops and documentation. Management Plan in preparation.

Rila Lakes A complex of seven glacial lakes in the Rila mountain in South Bulgaria, generally unaffected. Small dataset.

2. Estonia Lakes

Peipsi Lake Peipsi with the surface area 3550 km2 belongs to the largest European lakes. It is situated on the border of Estonia and Russia. The watershed (including the lake itself) covers 47800 km2 of the territories of Estonia, Russia and Latvia. The lake consists of three unequal parts: the biggest northern L. Peipsi s.s. (2,613 km2, maximum depth 12.9 m, water capacity 21.79 km3), the southern L. Pihkva (709 km2, 2.68 km3), and the narrow strait-like L. Lämmijärv connecting them (236 km2, 0.60 km3). The mean lake level is 30.0 m above the Baltic Sea level.

Võrtsjärv Lake Lake Võrtsjärv with a total surface area of 270 km2 (at mean water level) is the second largest lake in Estonia. It is situated in South-Estonia in the Võrtsjärv depression of pre-glacial origin. The watershed (including the lake itself) covers 3374 km2, from which in the Estonian territory is 3289 km2 and in Latvia 85 km2. The catchment area of L. Võrtsjärv is within the L. Paipsi . L. Võrtsjärv is typologically usual among the Estonian lakes, possessing a substantial expanse of open water, very few islands and a relatively straight shoreline. The water level in the lake was not lowered artificially. The mean lake level is 33.6 m above the Baltic Sea level. The mean depth is 2.8 m, maximum depth 6 m and the volume 772 million m3. The axial length of the lake is 34 km and the maximum width is 13 km. Nohipalu Valgejärv Lake In the catchment area the bedrock consists of the sandstones of the Devonian Gauja Stage, which are overlain by glaciofluvial sediments with a total thickness of 10-20 m. The water in Nohipalu Valgejärv is slightly acid. By the data of the Estonian National Monitoring Programme the high SD (Secchi disk transparency), low CODCr (dichromate oxidizability) and CODMn: - below 25 mgO/l and below 10 mgO/l, respectively, and the clearest water was found in L. Nohipalu Valgjärv.

Viitna Pikkjärv Lake Lake Viitna Pikkjärv is situated in north Estonia and its catchment area is a typical kame field with fluvial and lacustrine kame with various basic shape, up to 25 m high. Vegetation type is dominantly spruce forest with good or medium yield pine stands. High SD transparency in Estonian conditions, over 3 m was observed. In L. Viitna Pikkjärv as in a waterbody of average depth the entire water column was rich in oxygen in summer due to the mixing of water caused by the wind. At the end of the 1990s no significant changes occurred in the pH compared to previously studied years.

9 Water and Wetland Index – Results for Five Accession Countries – Appendix: Scores and Comments

3. Hungary Lakes

Velencei Lake The lake is a recreational area except the western part which is a nature conservation area with large (10 km ) floating reed mire. The water quality of the lake is influenced from catchment areas without sewage treatment systems and nutrient run-off from agricultural land. In the past, before 19th century regulation, the lake had three times as many connecting mire habitats. In addition, due to regulations, a lot of reed was removed in the remaining water to work against succession and 65% of the shore was covered with concrete. The problem emerged in the 1980’s when the water level sank so deep that part of the peat mineralised, giving extra nutrients to the water body and blooms of toxic blue algae occurred. The fish fauna is abundant, though non-native species were introduced in the past, as it is utilised as a angling lake as well. Recently, only native species have been introduced.

Balaton Lake The lake is the largest lake in Central Europe and one of the largest in Europe. The lake is shallow and mixed and was formed in a tectonic basin. Water entered the lake from various streams and the River Zala. The lake is eutrophic- oligotrophic and dystrophic from the West (River Zala as the main discharge) to the East. The lake has an outflow at a southwest, at the town Sió. Water level regulation is carried out through the lock of the Sió channel. The lake is regulated and also a major tourist resort but still a valuable area in biological and landscape terms. The biggest problem considering ecological state was the organic and phosphorous deposit of the River Zala in the western Keszthelyi Bay, but due to the re-establishment of the Kis-Balaton mire system and efforts to minimise agricultural and household pressures, the situation considerably improved. The building of the South-Balaton railways required a stable water level compared to the natural deviation of 1-2(-3) metres. Thus from 1860-70, the Sió was regulated in order to achieve a stable water level. By now the deviation of the water level is 1m according to discharge, evaporation and regulation. In addition the surrounding swamps and wetlands (Kis-Balaton) were drained in order to gain cropland or holiday resorts.

Virágoskút fishponds Two lakes were formed artificially for the purpose of water retention and fishing. The water supply is artificial from a channel which originates from the Tisza river. These are regularly fished lakes. Of the 1350 ha area, 280 ha became protected 2 years ago due to its valuable bird population. The regular monitoring concerns birds and otter. Surveys on other taxa are not available, however its reed and pondweed vegetation is known.

Kelemen-szék lakes These naturally formed alkalic lakes are part of Kiskunság plain. The highly salty water evaporates in summer, although the best water-sealing clay isolation can be found in the area. The lakes are rich in bird population. The lakes were formed by wind-erosion and by running water. Precise data on geological formation does not exist. A biological survey was carried out three times: one, two and twenty year ago. However, the National Biomonitoring Program targets the alkalic lakes in the near future.

4. Slovakia Lakes

Strbské pleso Lake The most typical moraine lake on the southern side of the Vysoké Tatry. It is covered with ice on an average of 155 days annually. In the past it was surrounded by forest but, during the 18th and 19th centuries, the main part of the forest was cut down for the construction of tourist facilities. The western part of the mountain lake terrace is the main divide between the Baltic and Mediterranean watersheds. The whole territory is in Tatra National Park.

Orava Reservoir The water reservoir behind a 41 m high concrete dam at the confluence of the Biela and Čierna Orava in the northern part of Slovakia. It completely submerged 4 larger villages and 4 others were partially inundated. The reservoir serves several purposes: flood control, electricity production, and stabilising the flow of the Orava and Váh rivers. It also increases the water available for industrial and agricultural needs and has created an important tourist centre in Orava.

Morské Oko Lake Landslide lake in the Vihorlatské vrchy below Sninsky kameň in the eastern part of Slovakia. It appeared after a large landslide took place in the late Holocene era. The discharge of the lake, which is of interest to tourists, flows into the Okna River. The whole catchment area is part of the protected landscape area Vihorlat.

10 Water and Wetland Index – Results for Five Accession Countries – Appendix: Scores and Comments

Vel`ké Hincovo pleso Lake The lake is the largest and the deepest lake in the Slovak part of the Vysoké Tatry, It is covered with ice for an average of 270 days during the year. Hincov potok, one of head waters of Poprad River (Baltic watershed), flows out it. The whole territory is in Tatra National Park.

5. Turkey Lakes

Burdur Lake Burdur is a brackish lake. Some detailed research has been done on the lake but it is very sparse and not regular. The lake host only one species of fish (endemic: Aphanius burdirucus) which does not have any commercial value. 50% of the lake is one of the nine RAMSAR sites in Turkey. Burdur is an important wintering site for birds, especially for the white-headed duck (Oxyura leucocephala). Some recent studies of the lake have indicated that it is in a relative good ecological conditions. There has been a great decrease in water level starting from the 1970’s, which resulted in the loss of many wetlands surrounding the Lake.

Beysehir Lake The water in the lake has been intensely used for irrigation and drinking purposes. Consequently, there is good information about the lake’s hydrology and physico-chemical parameters. Yet, biological and ecological parameters are not considered in monitoring programmes. Some biological studies made by institutions and universities exist but they are very sparse and random. Most of the native fish species in Beysehir Lake have become extinct because of an introduction of pike-perch (Stizostedion lucioperca). The lake is designated as a National Park.

Manyas Lake Manyas (Kus) Lake is a shallow eutrophic freshwater lake which is fed by four streams, as well as groundwater. The lake is one of the most protected sites on paper and it was granted a class "A" Diploma by the Council of Europe in 1976, a status subsequently renewed four times (most recently in 1996). However, in recent years, Manyas Lake is suffering from over-use of its water for irrigational and industrial uses. In addition, industrial and urban pollution are factors threatening the Lake’s ecological state. In order to store irrigation water, DSI (State Water Works) has gradually turned the lake into a reservoir. After the completion of embankments in 1992, water levels have been extremely high, especially in summer when they are over a meter above previous normal levels (eg. in July 1996 it was 122 cm above the agreed maximum level). The high water levels have resulted in the loss of feeding marshes for birds, which were inundated during the breeding season. In 1999 there was an agreement between the Ministry of Environment and DSI to decrease water level to previous normal levels. Another major threat is the severe pollution from over 50 industries and numerous farms in Bandirma City, which is carried into the lake by the Sigirci stream. The Kocasu stream also carries industrial and household pollution into the lake. The sources and types of pollution are well known, as many studies have been carried out and solutions to the problem suggested. To date the Ministry of Environment has built (in 1993) only one physical treatment installation near the Sigirci stream. This installation has insufficient capacity. In addition, the Ministry was not able to fully implement the regulations, which dictate that all polluters must be connected to the treatment plant: Thus far no factories are connected. Due to overfishing, crayfish plague, pollution and possibly the effects of the changing water regime, fish catches have declined drastically. In 1975, 900 tons were caught, but the present day catch largely involves commercially less valuable species. Fish migration into the lake through the Karadere stream is now impossible due to the construction of a regulator.

Uluabat (Apolyont) lake With its 13.400 ha. area and eight isles Uluabat lake is home to over 440.000 waterbirds of 85 species. The number of fish species is between 16 and 21. Part of its shores are covered with water lilies, reeds and willows. 17 villages around the lake are either directly or indirectly dependent on it through fishing or industry. Extensive fishing practise resulted in the collapse of crayfish population. Other fish species are also faced with high fishing pressure. In 1998, the lake was designated as a Ramsar site. There are ongoing studies on the socio-economic and ecological state of the lake with the aim of preparing an integrated participatory wetland management plan.

Bafa Lake No complete monitoring program is carried out in Bafa. The Lake is becoming salty due to the divergence of its main freshwater source ( Büyük Menderes river). Consequently, the water is now unusable. Some stress tolerant fish species dominate the lake. The lake was designated as a Nature Park in 1994.

11 Table 4. Selected morphological data of wetlands from Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Slovakia and Turkey assessed for the Water and Wetland Index (WWI). Assigned scores on data quality and ecological state of the wetlands are based on a “best available data” approach.

Note Wetland Altitude Area Catchment area Site classification WWI score (m) (ha) (km2) (RAMSAR) Data Quality Ecological State Bulgaria 1 Torfeno Branishte 1430-2282 748 peat bog 2-3 3 Smolyan 2-17 peat bogs 2 3

Dragoman 650-700 100 2 500 fen 2 1

Choklyovo Blato 850 400 2 2

Kalimok 13 900 22 2-3 2

Estonia 2 Water and Wetland Index – Results for Five Accession Countries – Appendix: Scores and Comments and Scores Appendix: – Countries Accession Five for Results – Index Wetland and Water Endla 65–50 25 100 650 Mires/bogs 3 3 Nigula 36–29 2 300 40 Mire/bog 3-4 3-4 Laeva 43–33 32 300 280 Mires/bogs/flood 2-3 3 plains Soomaa 68–32 21 300 2800 Bogs/floodplains 3 3-4 Puhatu 45–28 51 700 90 Mire/bog 2-3 2 Matsalu 5–0 48 600 3200 Wetland 4 2 Käina 2–0 1 300 50 Wetland 3 3 Hungary 3 Kis-Balaton 150 5 600 2 662 Artificial mire system 3-4 3 Hanság 115 7 100 Xp (U) 3 2 Famos 99-106 1 800 300-350 “man made” 2 3 2-3 Ócsa 101 3 500 U (Xp) 3 2-3 Fekete-rét 90 600 24-30 Sp 2-3 4 Slovakia 4 Morava river 134-156 5 830 M, O, P, Tp, Ts, Xf 3 3 floodplain Rudava aluvium 134-156 560 M, W, Ts, Xf 2 3 floodplain Sosnina 720 161 U 1-2 4 Belianske Lúke 680 89 U 1-2 3 Abrod 152 92 U 3-4 3-4 Turkey 5 Goksu 0 15 000 1 000 L, O, Tp 3 3 Kizilirmak 0-15 13 000 7 500 L, O, Tp 2 3 Gediz 0 20 400 1 750 K 2 3 Eregli 998 2 000 Tp, Ts 1-2 2 Hotamis 999 400 470 Tp, Ts 1 1 12 Water and Wetland Index – Results for Five Accession Countries – Appendix: Scores and Comments

Notes for Table 4:

1. Bulgaria Wetlands

Torfeno Branishte High mountain peat bog in Vitosha mountain near the city of Sofia. Strict reserve on the territory of Vitosha Nature Park. Management Plan for the whole park under preparation. Relatively unaffected, xerophytisation, reasons not clearly identified.

Smolyan Lakes Rhodope Mountain, 10 km north of the town of Smolyan. A complex of small lakes in a state of natural succession and peat bog formation. No protection status. Little anthropogenic impact. Very scarce information.

Dragoman Fen Northwest part of the Sofia Valley. Former fen with rich biodiversity, almost completely drained for agricultural land. Only small remnants. No monitoring, very scarce information, no management measures.

Choklyovo Blato Deep peat bog, CORINE site, protected site. Water abstraction and water level lowering for peat extraction. Little studied, small data set.

Kalimok Wetlands Part of a former floodplain near the town of Tutrakan on the Danube River. Drained for agricultural production, the lowest parts turned into fish ponds. Currently flooded due to inefficient drainage, ponds purchased for conservation purposes. One of the most valuable, representative wetlands along the Danube in Bulgaria, Ramsar site. Plans for restoration. Large dataset (conservation NGOs, international projects, studies currently in preparation).

2. Estonia Wetlands

Mire Endla A wetland of international importance (Ramsar area) includes seven bog complexes of different appearance. The mire complex is one of the most thoroughly investigated natural mire complexes in Europe. Mire research was started in 1910 and since 1950, the only hydrological bog observation station in the Baltic states has been operating.

Bog Nigula The Nigula bog (nature conservation area since 1958) is a typical West Estonian bog with comparatively steep edges and a flat plateau on the top. The incline on the edges is the most spectacular along the western edge of the bog, where the bog surface may rise up to three metres within twenty metres. In the eastern part, a good place to observe the rise is near the observation tower, where the slope is 1.5 m per ten metres. The influence of climate, clayey ground and outflow of surface water cause the steep slopes.

Mire Soomaa Soomaa in Estonian means “Land of Wetlands”, and this vast area is especially unique due to its interesting hydrological features. Four impressive bogs cover the majority of the national park, with the peat layer in some places reaching up to over seven meters. The approximately 40,000 hectare large mire complex of Soomaa consists of the four large bogs of Kuresoo, Kikepera, Öördi and Valgeraba. They are the tributaries dividing the bogs run into the Pärnu River, and are a cause for annual spring flooding that characterises the area.

13 Water and Wetland Index – Results for Five Accession Countries – Appendix: Scores and Comments

Mire Puhatu Puhatu mire system situated in northeast Estonia (on the Alutaguse lowland) is the largest one in the Estonia (570 km2). From this protected area is 107 km2. During last decades (in 1980s and 1990s) the water regime of Puhatu mire were influenced by oil-shale mining.

Wetland Matsalu Matsalu Bay wetland as a core part of Matsalu Nature Reserve, which to be of international importance (Ramsar area), is comprised of the Matsalu Bay and the surrounding islets, reed beds, coastal, floodplain and wooded meadows, as well as by managed agricultural plots and protected forests. The open alluvial and coastal meadows and fields provide a special habitat at migration time that hosts tens of thousands, and in spring, even over a million migrating ducks and geese. When looking out from one of the constructed bird observatory towers, it may appear as if the fields themselves are taking off when the resting and feeding birds take flight. 270 bird species have been recorded here.

Wetland Käina Käina Bay is an especially interesting spot for bird lovers. The bay lies between the islands of Hiumaa and Kassari. Its shallow water, small islets and extensive coastal reed beds provide an ideal habitat for large numbers of breeding and migrating birds, among them significant populations of, for example, Mute Swans, Greylag Geese and Cranes. The bay has been classified as a wetland of international importance, and is a special ornithological reserve. The bay is also notable because of its very special mud bottom – recognised and proven to be useful for healing.

3. Hungary Wetlands

Mire Kis-Balaton Kis-Balaton is an artificial mire system. The system was implemented on the site of a former mire system, th which was drained out at the end of the 19 century. The drainage crucially changed the habitat and the entire catchment area of the Lake Balaton and resulted in severe water quality problems in Lake Balaton in the 1960s, since the Kis-Balaton was the natural system “cleaning” the only major tributary, River Zala, of the Lake Balaton. The major goal of the reestablishment of the mire system was to improve the water quality (primarily reducing phosphorous and organic material discharge) of the Lake Balaton in 1985 but it also meant the re-establishment of valuable habitats. In the project, natural processes are greatly utilised. The mire systems consists of a lake and wetland system fed by River Zala, the water of which is diverted and driven through smaller ponds by mainly artificial diverting dams through a system of channels. Kis- Balaton is the largest mire system in Central Europe, and its restoration is not only a large scale re- naturalisation project but also an in situ experiment which draws the attention of many scientists and public bodies.

Peatland Hanság At the beginning of the 1700’s, Hanság region had an extended floating mire system with lakes interspersed. In the 18th century, the construction of dense channel system promoted the drainage of the area. There is litle arable land, the majority beeing grassland. Mostly, close to natural and degraded habitats appear. The unmanaged grasslands are encroached by weeds. The area is rich in protected plants and animals especially in birds. It is a peatland area with exploitation of peat for flower-soil. In the protected areas, lowland forests can be found as well as Hungary’s largest alder forest.Researches has revealed the value of the area but nature conservation monitoring is sparse.

Mire Farmos (Hajta-menti mocsarak) The pre-boreal riverbed of Zagyva became the area of the marshland. Later it became the streambed of Hajta creek. It was regulated and as a result the drainage of the marsh started. Nowadays, due to the water- supply constructions the revitalisation of the mire-system is functioning when the creek has adequate water table level. The seven adjacent marshes are alkaline grasslands. Fortunately, only a few invasive, non-native species occupy small areas and valuable, rare plants spread. When the water is abundant, many birds stay here. However, the random water-level on the fields reduce the number of aquatic plants. The area is managed either by pasturing or mowing depending on the water level. Before the establishment of the

14 Water and Wetland Index – Results for Five Accession Countries – Appendix: Scores and Comments landscape protection area, ornitological and botanical surveys presented the area while nowadays lepidopterological and on one model area (5x5 km2) general habitat mapping represent the monitoring.

Peatland Ócsa Wind-eroded valleys from the terrain where the difference between the deep pits and higher hills is 4 m. The wildlife changes with the groundwater level. Only 20 cm reduction in water level results in the change of flora. This lowland mire vegetation is supplied by groundwater not by the river. The drainage of the area started in 1925 but it was not finished. As a result, clumps of the marshes and the alder forests (Fraxino pannonicae – Alnetum) with valuable relictum species remained. It is a well researched area with the first publication from 1863.

Marsh Fekete-rét Fekete-rét is only a remaining part of the former extended marsh situated in the Large Plain of Hungary. The area has been shrunk due to the river regulations (Tisza). In the past, large floods overwhelmed the land and it set back towards river Körös. The entrapped water in the pits supported rich marsh vegetation. One of the most important valuable parts of marsh system is the Fekete rét which is a permanent alkalic marsh. Ornitological surveys are thorough, other taxa surveys are sparse.

4 Slovakia Wetlands

Floodplain Morava River The Morava River floodplain is part of the geomorphological units Záhorská nížina lowland and Juhomoravská panva that belongs to the Vienna Basin in the most western part of Slovakia. The lower section of the Morava River floodplain is located and is situated along the former "iron curtain", which was established in 1951 and stood as a barricade until 1989. The whole floodplain area was under strong military protection and local farmers had only limited access for mowing of the meadows. Since the political transformation in 1989, the Morava River floodplain is now open to the public and it has experienced massive changes. It now constitutes both a popular recreation and important economic resource. In 1993, 51 km2 of the floodplain area on the Slovak side of the river was designated as a Ramsar Site. This section of the Morava River floodplain occurs between its confluence with the Danube River and the highway bridge close to the Slovakia's village Brodské. The Ramsar site covers the whole the diked area (43.6 km2) of this part of Morava River and near the diked area is 7.9 km2 of woodlands and grasslands (Fig. 1). Ten to 72 kilometres of the Morava River is Protected Landscape Area Záhorie and contains two important small-scale protected areas - National Nature Reserves Dolný Les and Horný Les, which were established for protection of floodplain forests. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Reserve at Marchegg, Austria, houses one of Europe's biggest white stork colony and Slovakia's extensive floodplain grasslands are a rich food resource for them. In addition, the Morava River floodplain contains many species of migrating birds, including ones that are threatened on a European and global scale, and is designated as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International.

Floodplain Rudava aluvium Rudava alluvium especially in the middle section is a very rare example of almost preserved lowland rivers. High diversity of habitats from peatland to sand dunes occurs within a relatively small territory. More than 500 species were recorded and 100 of them are listed on the Red List. Due to restitution some areas were drained (peat lands) and ploughed (mesophytic meadows). Water quality of the Rudava river is decreased by municipal waste waters and by agriculture.

Peatland Sosnina National Nature Reserve Sosnina located in Oravska hollow is a rare example of preserved peatland. Forested peat bog is developed on water saturated plateau. Dominant pine and spruce habitats of alliance Pino-Ledion and Piceion excelsae keep several rare plant species eg. Ledum palustre, Andromeda polifolia, Vaccinium uliginosum, Drosera rotundifolia, Oxycocus palustris, Eriophorum vaginatum. Presence of moos (Alces alces) was recorded in 1995. This peat bog is part of extensive complex of Slovak-Polish peatland.

15 Water and Wetland Index – Results for Five Accession Countries – Appendix: Scores and Comments

Peatland Belianske Lúke Belianske Lúke is the largest spring fed fen system in Slovakia. The protected area is 94 ha and lies abandoned underneath the High Tatra Mountains. Despite the lack of proper management for several decades already Belianske Lúke is no doubt a jewel in the crown of European fen systems. The system is partly affected by drainage activities, which have had a negative effect on most of the peat forming communities, but it increased the biodiversity of the meadows. Large parts of the fen meadow are rapidly becoming overgrown with shrubs, but in other parts trees and shrubs cannot invade due to a continuous supply of very cold calcareous and anaerobic groundwater, which stabilises the peat. The vegetation of the complex is very diverse and represents all stages of succession after slight to severe drainage of the original peat forming communities. Peat forming vegetation types are still present in the least affected areas and consist of the Caricetum diandrae, Caricetum davallianae and aspects of the Caricetum nigrae and the Caricetum limosae. Here species are present which are critically endangered in Slovakia and also in most if not all European countries. The central and peripheral parts of the mire are severely desiccated, but still contain valuable fen meadow vegetation (Molinion) with many endangered species such as Dactylorhiza incarnata, Epipactis palustris and Dianthus superbus. The drainage is partly caused by old local drainage ditches, but the largest impact appears to be caused by an amelioration scheme situated above the reserve. The soil surface has dropped considerably as a result of the drainage and irreversible changes in the soil structure have occurred. As a result of this groundwater flows have shifted to lower parts of the mire and have even created small springs. We may, therefore, expect the best regeneration at the lower parts and at the periphery where the fen and fen meadows are still present. Apart from hydrological measures the fen meadows are in urgent need of restoration to traditional management, which is mowing.

Peatland Abrod The Nature Reserve Abrod, designated in 1964 with area an of 92 hectares is located in the former Morava River floodplain. The main purpose for its designation was the protection of rare peat and relict plant species. The most threatened are low sedge species and wet meadows communities. The latter provide habitat for 89 Slovakian Red List (rare to endangered) Species. The Abrod is also very important from a zoological viewpoint. Several unpublished studies on invertebrates have been done.

5. Turkey Wetlands

Delta Göksu This delta on the southern coast is one of Turkey's most important remaining wetlands. Largely intact dune systems, lagoons, fresh and brackish wetlands, reedbeds and saltmarshes form the nucleus of the natural area. Over 5,800 ha of land is gravity-irrigated and farmed. The Göksu Delta is a key site for biological diversity holding important populations of 12 globally threatened bird species such as Marbled Teal, Imperial Eagle, Spotted Eagle, and White-tailed Eagle. Although there is no complete monitoring, there have been some good recent studies. It is a Ramsar site, SPA, Permanent Wildlife Reserve, and a national heritage site.

Delta Kizilirmak The Kizilirmak Delta is the largest and most intact wetland complex on the Black Sea coast. It regularly hosts more than 20,000 waterbirds and at least 5 globally endangered bird species including the Dalmatian Pelican (Pelicanus crispus), White-headed Duck (Oxyura leucocephala), Red-breasted Goose (Branta ruficollis), Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca) and Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca). So far, 65% of all known bird species in Turkey have been recorded in the delta. Of these 150 use the delta for breeding. There is no regular or complete monitoring. Some recent studies have been done about the delta. It is largely intact, and is a Permanent Wildlife Reserve, a Ramsar Site and a National Heritage Site. Outside of the protected areas, the delta is intensively used for agricultural production. Small pockets of forest exist throughout the agricultural area.

Delta Gediz Gediz Delta is an extensive coastal wetland on the Aegean, consisting of saltmarshes, freshwater marshes, large saltpans and four lagoons which formed at the former mouth of the , 25 km north-west of Izmir. The river was diverted in the late 19th century in order to prevent the entrance to Izmir bay from

16 Water and Wetland Index – Results for Five Accession Countries – Appendix: Scores and Comments silting up. It now flows to the north of its original course. The delta is very prone to human pressure such as industrial and agricultural pollution due to its proximity to a large city, Izmir. It is a Permanent Wildlife Reserve, a Ramsar site and a National Heritage Site.

Marshes Eregli A complex of shallow marshes, reedbeds, freshwater lakes and salt steppe in the Central Anatolian region. The marshes are badly affected from polluted water discharge. There is no monitoring, no management, other than some recent studies. It is an important bird area and has a Nature Park status which is the strictest conservation status in Turkey.

Marshes Hotamis A large freshwater marsh in the Central Anatolian region. Reed cutting and small scale fishery are the main economic activities in the marshes. It is also an important bird area. High pressure from animal breeding and land acquisition for agriculture seriously affects the wetland. There is no monitoring in the marshes.

17 Water and Wetland Index – Results for Five Accession Countries – Appendix: Scores and Comments

Table 5. Estimate of “undisturbed” river stretches in different size categories based on best available data from Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Slovakia and Turkey assessed for the Water and Wetland Index (WWI). The results shown here are strongly affected by sampling bias, resulting from availability, quality and quantity of national river data and how “undisturbed” river stretches are defined (see country comments in notes).

Note Total length Size % undisturbed river (km) length of total length

Bulgaria 1 1092 Very large 21 4677 Large 58 1968 Medium 70 nd Small nd

Estonia 2 - Large - 175 Medium 50 3500 Small 55

Hungary nd

Slovakia 4 - Very large - 6643 Large 20 2360 Medium 26 42150 Small 30

Turkey 5 7163 Very large 49 994 Large 63.5 222 Medium 59.8 nd Small nd: no data reported

Notes for Table 5:

1. Bulgaria Rivers

For the purposes of this assessment, “undisturbed” were considered river sections with entirely natural river beds and banks (without any physical anthropogenic constructions). The assessment study is based on physical disturbances of rivers, such as dams, reservoirs, artificial ponds, dikes, etc. Water quality criteria (degree of pollution, etc.) are generally not included due to insufficient data for the whole country. Only river stretches with very high pollution were also considered. There is a relationship between the highest polluted areas, which are generally (although not always) concentrated in the lower parts of the rivers, and the location of physical disturbances, in particular dikes. All transboundary rivers were separated into classes only according to the Bulgarian part of their catchments. All large and very large rivers were assessed. Only 35 medium class rivers were assessed (out of total 216 for BG) because of lack of enough information on their length and condition. Some of the rivers in this class have modifications of the river beds, including straightening, for which there is no up-dated information. With regard to small rivers there is very scarce information which is insufficient for the assessment.

2. Estonian Rivers

Many Estonian rivers are still unregulated or moderately modified. Consequently, a remarkable numbers of floodplains have been preserved in their semi-natural state. Extremely large flooded areas exist in the river systems of Kasari, Pärnu, Suur Emajõgi, Võhandu and Jägala.

18 Water and Wetland Index – Results for Five Accession Countries – Appendix: Scores and Comments

3. Hungary Rivers

No data reported

4. Slovakia Rivers

Table 22 is result of a GIS analysis (intersection) of layer of rivers of Slovakia from map sheet in scale 1:50000 form 1990-1996 (only one sheet is from 1986) with areas selected like “undisturbed”. “Undisturbed” areas were selected from layer of National Ecological network and represent: 1) core areas of European significance, 2) core areas of the national significance and 3) nature development areas with the main function to protect core areas. Layer of the rivers of Slovakia contains database of width of flows: < 6 m (small rivers), 6 – 10 m (medium rivers) and >20 m (large rivers). This classification was used for calculation of total length of river categories.

5. Turkey Rivers

Very large river Large river Medium river Small river (>10.000 km2) (1000-10.000 km2) (100-1000 km2) (<100 km2) catchment area (km2) catchment area (km2) catchment area (km2) Seyhan…….20.000(50%) Goksu……..10.000(80%) Alakir……500(60%) Ceyhan…….20.000 (50%) Dalaman…..4.500(90%) ..800(40%) Fırat………..120.000(30%) K.Menderes.3.000(10%) Alara……..1000(80%) Dicle……….52.300(95%) Esen………1.200(50%) total area…2.300 Kizilirmak…75.000(60%) Aksu………7.125(80%) total length….222 Sakarya…….57.000 (30%) Koprusuyu...3.500(50%) %undisturbed length..59.8% B. Menderes.25.000(20%) total area………..32.325 Yesilirmak…36.000(60%) total length…994 km Gediz………17.500(20%) % undisturbed Murat………31.000(60%) length...63.5% Coruh………19.900(90%) total area………...473.700 total length…7.163 km %undisturbed length…49% Parenthesis shows percent undisturbed segment of the main channels

There isn’t any reliable data about the quality of the rivers found. As for quantity, until now 197 dams or water construction bodies have been constructed on the rivers, the Turkish government is planning to construct 400 more in the next 30 years. In this respect, most of the undisturbed (even intact such as e.g. Göksu, Dicle, Coruh river systems will be seriously segmented).

19 Water and Wetland Index – Results for Five Accession Countries – Appendix: Scores and Comments

Table 6. Estimate of “undisturbed” lakes based on best available data from Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Slovakia and Turkey assessed for the Water and Wetland Index (WWI). Note percent undisturbed lakes are presented in different ways for the countries: % undisturbed lakes of total number of specific lake types; % undisturbed lakes of total number of lakes in different depth categories; % undisturbed lakes of total surface area. The results shown here are strongly affected by sampling bias, resulting from availability, quality and quantity of national lake data and how “undisturbed” lakes are defined (see country comments in notes).

Note Total number Total surface area Lake category % undisturbed lakes of km2 Depth total numbers / surface Surface area area

Bulgaria 1 18 Coastal lakes 50 259 Mountain lakes 98 11 Others 64

Estonia 2 46 1600 > 15 m 70 270 300 3 to 15 m 65 840 170 < 3 m 45

Hungary 3 nd

Slovakia 4 - - > 100 km2 - 5 106 10-100 km2 30 13 37 1-10 km2 57 221 54 0.1-1 km2 28 743 24 0.01-0.1 km2 25 Turkey 5 10 5917 > 100 km2 72 29 945 10-100 km2 51 52 172 1-10 km2 33 9 6.7 0.1-1 km2 37 nd 0.01-0.1 km2 - nd: no data reported

Notes for Table 6:

1. Bulgaria Lakes

The lake assessment takes into account all anthropogenic impacts (physical disturbance, dams, constructions, pollution, changes of salinity status, etc.). The main impact is the transformation of lakes into reservoirs, as well as changes in the salinity regime of coastal lakes by means of disruption of the connection with the sea and construction of artificial channels. The largest lakes in Bulgaria (surface area 10 – 100 km2) are also the most damaged by human impacts. All of them are dammed except for Bourgas (Vaya) and Varna lakes which are extremely polluted. Varna lake is reconstructed for navigation purposes. Most affected are coastal lakes (9 out of 18). Most unaffected are high-mountain glacial lakes (6 affected out of 259), with very small alterations and no changes of water quality.

2. Estonian Lakes

Only a few lakes were hypertrophic in the 1970s but, during 1988–91, 28% proved to be on this level. The state of Estonian lakes appeared to be the most oligotrophic in the 1960s and the most eutrophic in the 1980s. A decrease in the tropic level started in the last years, probably due to abundant precipitation (which ended in 1991) and due to a fall in agricultural pollution. Most affected lakes are situated in the southern part of Estonia in moraine landscape. The present state of Estonian small lakes is not good, but a tendency

20 Water and Wetland Index – Results for Five Accession Countries – Appendix: Scores and Comments toward improvement is obvious. An average Estonian lake is eutrophicated by now, but many of them are valuable from the point of view of nature protection.

3. Hungary Lakes

No data reported

4. Slovakia Lakes

The estimates are based on GIS analysis (intersection) of layer of water-bodies of Slovakia from map sheet in scale 1:50000 from 1990-1996 (only one sheet is from 1986) with areas selected like “undisturbed”. “Undisturbed” areas were selected from layer of National Ecological network and represent: 1) core areas of European significance, 2) core areas of national significance and 3) nature development areas with the main function to protect core areas.

5. Turkey Lakes

There is not enough data about the current situations of the lakes. The calculations were done by result of estimations from some resources and short-term old researches about the current situations of the lakes.

21 Water and Wetland Index – Results for Five Accession Countries – Appendix: Scores and Comments

Table 7. Assessment of fragmentation by dams in the main river channel and in its tributaries for Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Slovakia and Turkey assessed for the Water and Wetland Index (WWI). The longest segment of the main river channel that is without dams are ranged into five scoring classes: (4 = 100%; 3 = 75 to 99%; 2= 50 to 74%; 1 = 25 to 49%; and 0 = 0 to 24%). Fragmentation of tributaries is described with respect to the size of the affected tributaries using three scoring classes (4 = no dams; 2 = dams only in the catchment of minor tributaries; and 1 = dams also in the catchment of the largest tributary) according to Dynesius and Nilsson (1994), Science 266: 753-762.

Fragmentation Main channel Tributary River Score River Score Bulgaria Danube 4 1 Maritza 1 1 Strouma 3 2 Mesta 4 Dospat 1

Estonia Narva 3 * Emajõgi 4 Põltsamaa 2 Pärnu 2 Navesti 4

Hungary Danube 3 Mosoni-Duna 4 Ipoly 1 Sió 2

Rába 2 Marcal 4 Gyöngyös 4 Pinka 2 Répce 4 Tisza 1 Hernád 2 Takta 2 Tarján 2 Berettyó 2 Hortobágy- 2 Berettyó Fehér-Körös 2 Hármas-Körös 1

Slovakia Vah 1 2 Hornad 2 4 Hron 2 4

Turkey Göksu 4 Ermenek 1 Kizilirmak 2 Delice 1 Gökirmak 1 Seyhan 2 Zamanti 1 Büyük 3 Akcay 1 Menderes

* Main tributaries of Narva River are situating on the territory of Russia.

22 Water and Wetland Index – Results for Five Accession Countries – Appendix: Scores and Comments

Comments for Table 7:

Bulgaria:

Danube: No reservoirs or dams. 97% are endiked (465 km), only several sections with naturally high banks are not: in the region of Nikopol and before Kozloduy. The two biggest islands along the Bulgarian stretch of the Danube – Belene and Vardim, are also endiked. Maritza: 206 km (61%) are endiked. More than 50 barrages exist but their exact number is difficult to say because a large number of them are old, partly destroyed, and sometimes during high waters are flooded. A specific feature is that the dikes are generally far from the river banks, and allow for the partly flooding and meandering of the river. No reservoirs on Maritza, except for Momina kula before the town of Belovo apart from the main river stream. Strouma: 66.5% are endiked. Two reservoirs on the river: Stoudena, located close to the source and Lobosh – a tailing pond for pollution coming from the town of Pernik. Small weirs for the raising of water levels were built in the past but are almost completely destroyed and do not present an ecological barrier. There are plans to construct a hydropower dam on the mid stream of the river. From the view point of preserved natural river bed, there are several unique sections of the river – the Zemlen Gorge, Kresna Gorge, and the Boboshevsko Gorge. Mesta: Total length 125.9 km, 35% are damaged through endikement, almost entirely in the lower stream (up- and downstream from the town of Gotze Delchev). There are no reservoirs on the main river. Most of the length of the river is through natural gorges, which has been an obstacle to human alterations.

Estonia Narva River is fragmentated by dam in the main channel by town Narva, which constructed in 1956 to supply Narva hydropower plant. Connection (also for migration of fish) between downstream and upstream is cutted. The Emajõgi river is the only river in Estonia which is not dammed and navigable over its whole length (101 km)

Hungary: Rába is cut almost in the middle of its Hungarian watercourse with a power plant. That is one reason why several invasive species have not migrated into the upper section (therefore its is more natural ecosystem). On the other hand, it is a barrier for other natural species as well. Its tributaries are mostly without dams. Danube has two main dams- one is in western Hungary, the other cuts a side arm completely changing its character into slow flowing water, therefore the effect is considerable. From the tributaries, Ipoly is the most fragmented, while Mosoni-Duna is the most intact. Sió is an artifitial “channel” that leads the water of Balaton into Danube. It is regulated by dams both at the beginning and the end sections. The tributaries of Tisza river are influenced by several (18) dams but mainly the small ones. Tisza river itself has two main reservoirs at Kisköre and Tiszalök for power generation and mainly to store water for supply. Besides Kisköre reservoir has a large recreational utilisation. Other dams or sluices divert the river waters into artificial irrigation channels such as Keleti and Nyugati Channels in order to supply the dry plain region.

Slovakia

Vah river – along its course have been built one big and seven smaller reservoirs and these dams comprise the hydroelectric energy system of the Vah cascade.

Hornád river – two small dams were built on the river.

Hron river – dam has been built in order to secure sufficient amount of water for purposes of nuclear power plant Mochovce.

23 Water and Wetland Index – Results for Five Accession Countries – Appendix: Scores and Comments

Turkey

Main channel tributarries Göksu River no dam one dam on main tributary Kızılırmak five dams dams on tributaries two dams dams on tributaries Büyük Menderes River one dam dams on tributaries

Number of dams on main channels and tributaries calculated from the “Dams and Hydroelectric Power Plants in Turkey’1999” book. After that percent undisturbed parts were calculated by using the lengths of dam reservoirs and map projections. The dams are all build for hydroelectric and irrigation purposes.

24 Table 8. Examples of stressed groundwater and surface areas in Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Slovakia and Turkey assessed for the Water and Wetland Index (WWI). Assigned scores on data quality and ecological state of the associated wetlands are based on a “best available data” approach.

Note Water stressed Area Catchment area Site classification & Pressure WWI score area (ha) (km2) conservation status

Data Quality Ecological State Bulgaria 1 Shabla 10 200 200 lake, Ramsar site, IBA Irrigation + water supply 2 2 Aldomirovsko blato 250 marsh and lake, no conservation status Irrigation + water supply 1-2 1 Kamchia River delta 4-500 Delta, Biosphere reserve, Nature site Drainage, irrigation, exploration 22 drills Vitosha mountain 26 600 Nature park Water supply, tourism 2-3 2-3 Iskar Reservoir 1 046 No conservation status Hydropower, irrigation, water 2-3 2 Comments and Scores Appendix: – Countries Accession Five for Results – Index Wetland and Water supply (public and industry) Estonia 2 Pandivere 350 900 350 900 Groundwater formation area, Agriculture, drainage 3 2-3 programme area of specific purpose Ülemiste and Pirita 1 000 182 500 Lake, river Water supply town Tallinn 3 3

Hungary 3 Tapolca Cave Mining 4 3-4 Tatabánya Springs Mining 2-3 3 Hévíz Termal Lake Mining 4 3 Danube, Szietköz River Channalisation 3-4 1-2

Slovakia 4

Turkey 5 Hotamis 400 Marshes Irrigation from groundwater 21 reserves Sultansazligi 17 200 Wetland Irrigation from groundwater and 21 surface water reserves Kizilirmak 16 100 Delta Irrigation from groundwater and 2-3 2 surface water reserves, draining of water to prevent flooding, Hydroelectric power plant Beysehir 6 500 Lake Irrigation and public water supply 2 1 Kus (Manyas) 16 000 Lake Irrigation 2-3 1 25 Notes for Table 8:

1. Bulgaria stressed ground- and surface water areas

The following criteria were used for the selection of sites for the study: the area is subject to direct water abstraction and is under water stress; overabstraction and water stress have occurred after 1960; there are signs of ecosystem changes due to overabstraction; and at least minimum data exists.

Shabla Fracturate carst aquifers by the Black Sea coast in North East Bulgaria, with a complex of coastal brackish lakes. Intensive, largely uncontrolled abstraction of surface (irrigation) and groundwater (drinking water supply) leading to water stress and intrusion of salty sea water into the aquifer. The lake complex is a protected area, a Ramsar site and IBA.

Aldomirovsko blato A karstic region with a fen in the Sofia Valley. The area has been subject to intensive abstraction of ground and surface water exceeding its carrying capacity for many years, and recently it has completely dried up.

Kamchia River delta A regularly flooded river delta with mangrove vegetation on the Black Sea, 25 km south of the city of Varna. Drainage, regulation through dikes and reservoirs upstream, overabstraction for irrigation.

Vitosha mountain A mountain in West Bulgaria, Nature Park, with the city of Sofia at its foot. Most surface running water is captured at a relatively high altitude for water supply for surrounding settlements, including the capital Sofia and the town of Pernik, as well as for the very developed and growing tourist infrastructure in the northern part of the mountain.

Iskar Reservoir A very large reservoir on Iskar river near Sofia, serves as water supply for the city and for hydropower generation. The reservoir retains all river water and the river downstream is dry for long periods during the year. Growing water consumption led to transfers from Struma, Mesta and Maritza rivers to the reservoir increasing the area of water stress.

2. Estonia stressed ground- and surface water areas

Pandivere groundwater area In the Pandivere Upland the state of water and its consumption have been investigated as well as impacts prognosticated for decades. In the second half of the 1980´s the situation became critical and in 1988 the Pandivere State Water Protection Area (WPA) was established. According to the classification aproved by IUCN the Pandivere WPA can be classified as the protected area “of specific purpose”. The main aim being to maintain and safeguard the groundwater resources. The Pandivere Upland is the region in Estonia where the occurrence of karst phenomena is most common. A spring belt is rimming the roof of the upland. Many rivers have their origins there. The third spring belt lies in the mires embracing the upland. There are many tiny springs contributing to the water supplies of the mires. Larger or smaller areas, rich in springs, and wetland patches border the upland, about 60 at least.

Ülemiste Lake and Pirita River The surface water is used in Estonia only in two towns, Tallinn and Narva, where more than one third of Estonian population lives. Lake Ülemiste has supplied Tallinn with water since the 14th century. At the present time surface water supply system begins in Central Estonia (from upstream of the Pärnu River) and includes the catchment area approximately 2,000 km2. Damages of the ecological state of wetlands by over- exploitation of surface water in Estonia has not been observed during the last decades.

26 Water and Wetland Index – Results for Five Accession Countries – Appendix: Scores and Comments

3. Hungary stressed ground and surface water

Tapolca Cave This cave is located in a karstic area in dolomite and lime stones. It was discovered in 1912 and became protected in 1942. The water temperature was 19.5 °C and the cave has been used for bathing. Its water system is connected to the other 2 over-exploited places (Hévíz lake and Tapolca lakes) as all of them belong to the same groundwater-system. Due to the bauxite mining from the 1957 till 1990, a 60-70 m deep depression cone evolved in the area causing the sink of the cave’s water level with 3 meters. The pumping of the mine water/karstic water was 500m /min, which was 2.5 times larger than the natural flow of the springs. Since 1990, during the regeneration phase the water-table level has been rising though it is not clear whether changes in the tunnel system of the cave have occurred. At that time, the economic value of the mining proved to be higher than the ecological value of the water ecosystems. Today the pressure on the associated wetlands is harmless due to the ten year long regeneration, but during the overexploitation period it was harmful.

Tatabánya Springs In the region of Tatabánya, the level of karstic water reached originally 132 m (Baltic). Due to the coal mining at Tatabánya and Oroszlány which removed much more water than the natural regeneration allowed, the springs in the region dried out in 1970. The karstic water level sank by 30-40 m on average. When the water removal stopped by the closing of Nagyegyháza mine in 1990, slow regeneration of water level started. The lift of water-level was 17,2 m from 1990 until 1996 on average. The detection of water level in the well of Fényes spring have been measured since 1984. Due to the over-exploitation, the water level sank to 93 m (Baltic) by 1990. But with the ceasing of mining, the water level is rising 2 m/year on an average. The over-exploitation effected the whole Trans-Danubian Mountain-range.

Hévíz Lake Hévíz is the largest natural surface thermal water lake. It is utilised as a thermal bath. Its water system is connected with the groundwater-system of Tapolca, therefore the same mining process of Nyírád affected this lake during the same period. Its water level sank, mainly the flow of warm springs decreased between 1965-1983. Therefore, reservoirs were built to retain extra cold water supply to compensate the loss. The Water Authority forecasted the bad effect in advance, but the economic interest of bauxite mining prevailed. The mining was reviewed (according to ecological point) in 1990 and the mining ceased. By now, 50 % of the original flow regenerated and it is predicted that it will totally regenerate in the next 10-20 years.

Danube River (Szigetköz) Due to the diversion of Danube to another artificial channel into Slovakia between Rajka and Szap, the state of surface- and ground-waters has changed in the region. The quantity of flow in the natural Danube bed is reduced by 80-90 %. The water level is constantly below the former small water-level with 2-2,5 m. After the diversion, in the floodplain and outside of the dikes, monitoring of water state started. After the diversion additional water supply was necessary to mitigate the problems. In 1995, in the river-km of 1843 a weir was constructed. With the aid of Dunakiliti weir, a dynamic water supply exists in a regulative way. With the aid of this new weir, the small and the middle water-flow levels can be established in the side-arms at a level that existed in the 1950’s. With the recent technology flooding conditions cannot be ensured.

4 Slovakia stressed ground and surface water areas

There is no overexploitation of groundwater or surface water in Slovakia (reported by DAPHNE - Institute of Applied Ecology).

5. Turkey stressed ground and surface water areas

Hotamis marshes Groundwater is illegally exploited by local farmers for irrigation resulting in overexploitation of the groundwater reserves. The groundwater table has decreased 20 m in the last 10 years.

27 Water and Wetland Index – Results for Five Accession Countries – Appendix: Scores and Comments

Lake Beysehir The water from the lake is used in the one of the oldest and the biggest irrigation systems of the country. On average 223-hm3 of water is used for irrigation. The lake also serves as a drinking water source for surrounding cities and villages. Overexploitation was first detected in 1976.

Kizilirmak delta Overexploitation was first detected in 1994. There is pressure from irrigation and a general lack of management plans. Moderate impact on associated wetlands.

Lake Manyas Uncontrolled pumping of groundwater for irrigation, lack of management plans results in harmful impact on associated wetlands. During the 1990 and 1991 the wetland was dried out as a result of overexploitation.

Sultansazligi In 1990-91 the wetland was completely dried out because of overexploitation.

Kus (Manyas) Over-exploitation was first detected in 1994. After 1994 3800 ha of marshes disappeared.

28 Water and Wetland Index – Results for Five Accession Countries – Appendix: Scores and Comments

Water and Wetland Index collaborators in the five accession countries.

Country Collaboration Estonia Estonian Fund for Nature, Robert Oetjen Riia 185A / 50104 Tartu / Estonia Tel:(372)(0)7 428 443 (mob.(372)(0)50 89 483) Fax:(372)(0)7 428 443 [email protected]

Consultant: Arvo Järvet

Bulgaria Rayka Hauser Coordinator of WWF activities in Bulgaria 67 Tzanko Tzerkovski Street c/o Balkani Wildlife Society Tel/Fax: + 359 2 653 052 mobile: + 359 88 75 96 10 e-mail: [email protected]

Hungary WWF Hungarian Programme Office, H-1124 Budapest, Tel/Fax (36) –1-2145554/2129353 Contact: Markus Ferenc, Head of conservation, Eszter Lanyi, Freshwater officer

Slovakia DAPHNE - Institute of Applied Ecology Jan Seffer Hanulova 5/D 844 40 Bratislava Slovak Republic Tel./Fax: +421 7 654 121 33 Tel: +421 654 121 62 Email: [email protected] HTTP://WWW.DAPHNE.SK

Turkey WWF Turkey (former: Dogal Hayati Koruma Dernegi (DHKD) Ankara Office Tel: +90 (312) 310 33 03-04 Fax: +90 (312) 310 66 42 www.dhkd.org Contact: Hüma Ülgen Söylemez Sunay Demircan (former freshwater officer) Cagri Bulent Muluk

29 The WWF European Freshwater Programme’s overall goal is to WWF European Freshwater conserve and restore the functions and integrity of freshwater Programme ecosystems for the benefit of all life. Ryesgade 3F WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the planet’s natural DK-2200 Copenhagen N environment and to build a future in which humans live in Denmark harmony with nature, by: ! conserving the world’s biological diversity Tel: + 45 3536 3635 ! ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is Fax: + 45 3524 7869 sustainable ! promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful [email protected] consumption. www.panda.org/europe/freshwater

5 December 2000