Bratislava, Slovakia
City population: 410016
Duration: 2016 – 2017
Implementation status: Completed
Scale: Micro-scale: District/neighbourhood level
Project area: unknown
Type of area: Natural Heritage Area/Untouched nature, Public Greenspace Area
Last updated: October 2021

This NBS involved the reconstruction of two of the total of four lakes/ponds at the Iron Fountain (Železná studnička) and was one of the project sites undertaken by the Bratislava Zelenaj project. (7, 8, 10) The location served as a recreational and relaxing spot for locals and tourists. To undertake the reconstruction, the two lakes/ponds no. 3 and no. 4 had to be discharged. Upon doing so many species of fish were found, including carp, caras, catfish, rabbitfish, toothpick, lure or amur, and also bivalve molluscs and troughs. Reconstruction of water reservoirs (ponds) no. 3 and no. 4 were implemented by the City of Bratislava within the framework of the project in cooperation with the Monumental Office of the Slovak Republic and the Municipal Forests company. (9, 11, 20)

Ponds Restoration
Bratislava Zalenaj Sa
http://bratislavazelenajsa.sk/?page_id=26&lang=en

Overview

Nature-based solution

  • Blue infrastructure
  • Lakes/ponds

Key challenges

  • Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
  • Climate change adaptation
  • Water management (SDG 6)
  • Flood protection
  • Stormwater and rainfall management and storage
  • Improvements to water quality
  • Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
  • Habitat and biodiversity restoration

Focus

Management and improved protection of rivers and other blue areas

Project objectives

The main goal of the project was the reconstruction of two of the four ponds at Iron studienke. The objectives included enhancement of the passage for new outlets so that water can flow into a pond of Vydrica as it did in the past. (8, 14, 19) Also, the maintenance of ponds at the Iron studničke are part of the pilot project titled "Bratislava is preparing for climate change" focusing on the negative externalities of global warming on urban environments and residents. (9)

Implementation activities

The staff of Urban Forests in Bratislava began in late July 2016 year with the first water reservoir. They discharged water from it, which was done to prepare for reconstruction work on the tank and its overall revitalization. In connection with the discharge of water from the dam, they had to provide for safeguard measures concerning the protection of the areas protected animals while the constructions took place before they could be returned to their environment. This included carp, crucian carp, catfish, pike, perch, tench and grass carp and also shellfish - mussel ponds and river trough. (9, 11, 20) Work on the ponds was originally planned to end at the end of March 2017. (12) The contract was extended however due to the January frosts, for which abstained the implementation of this NBS. (13)

Climate-focused activities

Climate change adaptation:

  • Restore wetlands and/or coastal ecosystems to dissipate the effects of flooding and/or storms
  • Renaturalization of rivers and other water bodies

Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities

Biodiversity restoration:

  • Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems
  • Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified)
  • Restore native species

Main beneficiaries

  • Citizens or community groups

Governance

Management set-up

  • Co-governance with government and non-government actors

Type of initiating organisation

  • Local government/municipality

Participatory approaches/ community involvement

  • Unknown

Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project

Bratislava City Office coordinates the pan-project named "Bratislava is preparing for climate change - pilot application of the measures in the field of sustainable rainwater". The relevant Petržalka district office was also involved in the coordination of the project. Apart from the city districts, cooperation on the project was sought with the Bratislava Regional Conservation Association, Bratislava Water Company, City Committee of Slovak Nature and Landscape Conservation Union, City Forest in Bratislava, Comenius University in Bratislava, Nature Sciences Faculty to involve them in the plans. The Norwegian partner COWI was involved because of its experience in the field and to underline the spirit of the EEA Grants and Norway Grants regarding international cooperation. (1)

Project implemented in response to ...

... an EU policy or strategy? Unknown
... a national policy or strategy? Unknown
... a local policy or strategy? Yes (The NBS is as part of the project ‘Bratislava is preparing for climate change’ a practical contribution to the implementation of the City of Bratislava's prepared and approved Adaptation Action Plan. (1, 3, 5, 6, 10))

Financing

Total cost

€100,000 - €500,000

Source(s) of funding

  • EU funds
  • Public local authority budget

Type of funding

  • Earmarked public budget
  • Other

Non-financial contribution

Type of non-financial contribution
  • Provision of labour
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
  • Public authorities (e.g. land, utility services)

Impacts and Monitoring

Environmental impacts

  • Climate change
  • Strengthened capacity to address climate hazards/natural disasters
  • Water management and blue areas
  • Improved water quality
  • Increased protection against flooding
  • Enhanced protection and restoration of freshwater ecosystems
  • Green space and habitat
  • Reduced biodiversity loss

Economic impacts

  • Unknown

Socio-cultural impacts

  • Health and wellbeing
  • Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
  • Cultural heritage and sense of place
  • Protection of natural heritage
  • Protection of historic and cultural landscape / infrastructure

Type of reported impacts

Achieved impacts

Presence of formal monitoring system

Unknown

Presence of indicators used in reporting

No evidence in public records

Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports

No evidence in public records

Availability of a web-based monitoring tool

No evidence in public records

References

(1) Rehackova,Tamara. (2016). EEA grants supporting the city of Bratislava to implement climate adaptation measures. Retrieved from Source link on 29th October, 2020.
(2) Zelena Architektura. (2015). Bratislava sa pripravuje na zmenu klímy. Retrieved from Source link on 29th October, 2020.
(3) EEA Grants and Norway Grants. [no date]. Who we are. Retrieved from Source link on 29th October, 2020.
(4) EEA Grants and Norway Grants. [no date]. City Of Bratislava Is Preparing To The Climate Change – The Pilot Application Of The Measures In The Field Of The Sustainable Rainwater Management In Urban Area. Retrieved from Source link on 29th October, 2020.
(5) EEA Grants and Norway Grants. (2012). Adapation to Climate Change - Flood and Drought Prevention. Retrieved from Source link on 29th October, 2020.
(6) Záhorová, Ľubomíra. (2017). Bratislava, zelenaj sa! Retrieved from Source link on 29th October, 2020.
(7) SME Bratislava. (2017). Rybníky na Železnej studničke do konca marca neobnovia. Retrieved from Source link on 29th October, 2020.
(8) Majerský, Ivan. (2016). Obnovu rybníkov na Železnej studničke ukončia v novom roku. Retrieved from Source link on 29th October, 2020.
(9) Kmecová, Tatiana and Puschmannová, Natalia. (2017). Vďaka fondom EHP a Nórska sa niektoré lokality v Bratislave zazelenali. Retrieved from Source link on 29th October, 2020.
(10) Source link. (2016). Mestské lesy v Bratislave začali s rekonštrukciou vodných nádrží na Železnej studienke. Retrieved from Source link on 29th October, 2020.
(11) BratislavaDen. (2017). Obnovené rybníky na Železnej studničke by mali skolaudovať do konca apríla. Retrieved from Source link on 29th October, 2020.
(12) BratislavaDen. (2017). Obnovené rybníky na Železnej studničke zatiaľ neskolaudovali. Retrieved from Source link on 29th October, 2020.
(13) BratislavaDen. (2017). VIDEO: Do rybníkov na Železnej studničke sa vracia život, začali ich napúšťať. Retrieved from Source link on 29th October, 2020.
(14) Kozova, Maria, Pauditsova, Eva and Hudekova, Zuzana. (2016). RESIN: City Assessment Report Bratislava. Bratislava.
Continued in the comments.