Project Description

The main objective of the project is to build and validate a common hydrogeological framework for sustainable nourishment and long-term preservation of karst wetlands. The Srebarna wetland system is the only one preserved near the Danube River, in a partially unchanged state. The main and most valuable site is Lake Srebarna, which is essentially the largest riparian lake in the country, a protected natural site of national and international importance. Karst wetlands are critical buffers for the water balance, being highly vulnerable to changes in the water regime. The Srebarna system is an emblematic example of complex problems related to the water regime and the impact on ecosystems. There is a complex interaction between groundwater and surface waters, the dynamics of bottom sediments and climatic events.
For the Srebarna Nature Reserve, the project will clarify: 1) the quantitative water balance; 2) visualize the active exchange zones between surface and groundwater; 3) formulate an integrated monitoring concept. The results obtained will be open access (data, code, models) and will be established as a reproducible approach applicable to other karst wetlands.
Expected results include scientific publications, spatial models, databases and practical recommendations for management and conservation.