The experts and biologists went to discover the pollution sources and to survey the ecological state in the Upper Tisa region
The Upper-Tisa and its tributaries have an outstanding environmental significance at European level. Because of the geographic location of the project area, it is one of the richest areas in Central Europe in species with Community importance.
This wildlife is endangered by a number of human effects (pollutions, dams, spreads of invasive species) which require to collect detailed data about the state of nature to take measures for mitigation and minimization of risks.
Based on the exact data about chemical and biological water quality getting from the sampling and laboratory analyses program of the 43 sections of the rivers, there will be a good outline about the whole catchment area, to identify the hotspots, to create a long term monitoring plan to follow the changes in a proper way. The biota will be studied not only at the confluence of the tributaries, but also in the upper, natural, reference sections at additional 12 sites to identify the exact ecological state of the water bodies at the UTRB following the rules of WFD.
1. Water sampling and analysis
In order to be able to identify the level and the pollution sources, the expert group took water samples for chemical, chlorophyl and phytoplankton analyses.
The sites where the water sampling was made at:
Vișeu Valley (RO – Valea Vișeului), river Vișeu at the confluence with Tisza river
Petrova (RO), river Vișeu near the bridge to Petrova
Oncești (RO), river Iza in the village
Vadu Izei (RO), river Mara near road 186
Valea Hotarului (RO), river Iza near road 19
2. Chemical Sampling
Water chemistry analyses are carried out to identify and quantify the chemical components and properties of water samples.
3. Biological Sampling
Parallel to the chemical sampling, the experts started the investigations of 3 BQE (macroscopic invertebrates, phytobentos and fish) in 55 river sections.
The first investigation started in June: the collection and identifying species of living organism groups, calculating abundace and the results will be evaluated according to the valid international standards and the protocol of the Hungarian National Biodiversity Monitoring System.
