Győr, Hungary
City population: 130308
Duration: 2012 – 2021
Implementation status: Ongoing
Scale: Meso-scale: Regional, metropolitan and urban level
Project area: unknown
Type of area: Other
Last updated: October 2021

Persistently low water levels on the Moson-Danube since 2002, caused by the sinking of and loss of supportive effect from the Danube, caused severe ecological, agricultural and water flow problems (Reference 12). The project, funded by the EU through the Széchenyi Development Plan, was aimed at improving water management and rehabilitating the degraded ecosystem of the area (Reference 1). The project consists of two phases: the reconstruction and regeneration of the river in the entire Moson-Danube area, and the creation flood gate at the delta. The first phase was completed in 2015, the second phase started in 2017 and is planned to finish in 2021 (Reference 12 and 13).

Overview

Nature-based solution

  • Grey infrastructure featuring greens
  • Blue infrastructure
  • Riverbank/Lakeside greens
  • Rivers/streams/canals/estuaries
  • Deltas

Key challenges

  • Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
  • Climate change adaptation
  • Water management (SDG 6)
  • Flood protection
  • Improvements to water quality
  • Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
  • Habitat and biodiversity restoration
  • Habitat and biodiversity conservation
  • Health and well-being (SDG 3)
  • Creation of opportunities for recreation

Focus

Maintenance and management of urban nature

Project objectives

General goals: (Reference 1) - the quantitative and qualitative improvement of the water system of Győr and it's surroundings; - reconstruction of water habitats; - flood protection. Social goals: - the improvement of the cityscape; - making recreation in the area possible; - clearing the blue areas from plants and fallen trunks that are a barrier to tourism and recreation. Ecological goals: - improving the quality of water in the rivers and backwaters; - raising water levels; - Ensuring the free migration of aquatic species, even in small and medium water periods. (Reference 1)

Implementation activities

- regeneration of 125 km of Moson Danube; - reconstruction of the riverside in 16 settlements including Győr; - reconstruction of backwaters, water habitats and anabranches by excavating the river beds; - demolishing the dam of the Ipar Canal so that people get access to the river (Reference 2 and 12); - a new flood-gate will be constructed ensuring the freshwater supply of the backwater in Püspökerdő; - In places where the shore has eroded due to stability or other problems, a slope protection with stones has been implemented, in other areas, grass was planted. (Reference 2)

Climate-focused activities

Climate change adaptation:

  • Implement sustainable urban drainage infrastructure (e.g. to make space for water)

Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities

Biodiversity conservation:

  • Protect and enhance urban habitats
  • Preserve and strengthen existing habitats and ecosystems

Biodiversity restoration:

  • Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems
  • Restore ecological connectivity

Main beneficiaries

  • Local government/Municipality
  • Citizens or community groups

Governance

Management set-up

  • Co-governance with government and non-government actors

Type of initiating organisation

  • Public sector institution
  • Other

Participatory approaches/ community involvement

  • Dissemination of information and education
  • Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)
  • Citizen oversight (e.g. boards, advisory)

Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project

The project was led by the North-Transdanubian Regional Water Management Body (Ref 1) and with the involvement of the National Environmental Protection and Energy Center (Ref 1).

Project implemented in response to ...

... an EU policy or strategy? Yes (The project was implemented as part of the Environment and Energy Operative Programme funded by the EU (Reference 1). The description of the project refers to the 4th article of Water Framework Directive of the EU (Víz Kereteirányelv - VKI), which is about the protection of waters and supporting their ecological potential (Reference 3). )
... a national policy or strategy? Yes (The description of the project refers to the government edict (221/2004. (VII. 21.) Kormányrendelet 5. § (1)), which is about the protection of waters and supporting their ecological potential (Reference 3).)
... a local policy or strategy? Yes (The city's Local Agenda 21 of 2010 mentions the project (Reference 6).)

Financing

Total cost

More than €4,000,000

Source(s) of funding

  • EU funds
  • Public regional budget

Type of funding

  • Earmarked public budget
  • Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)

Non-financial contribution

Unknown

Impacts and Monitoring

Environmental impacts

  • Water management and blue areas
  • Improved water quality
  • Increased protection against flooding
  • Green space and habitat
  • Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
  • Increased conversion of degraded land or soil

Economic impacts

  • More sustainable tourism

Socio-cultural impacts

  • Social justice and cohesion
  • Improved access to urban green space
  • Health and wellbeing
  • Gain in activities for recreation and exercise

Type of reported impacts

Expected impacts, Achieved impacts

Presence of formal monitoring system

Yes

Presence of indicators used in reporting

Yes

Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports

Yes

Availability of a web-based monitoring tool

No evidence in public records

References

1. Source link. (2017). A projekt leírása [online] Available at: Source link 19 Jul. 2020].
2. Déri L., Horváth G., Tóth J. (2015). Mosoni-Duna és Lajta folyó térségi vízgazdálkodási rehabilitációja. [online] Magyar Hidrológiai Társaság XXXIII. Országos Vándorgyűlés. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 19 Jul. 2020].
3. Source link. (2017) Az előkészítési szakasz. [online] Available at: Source link 19 Jul. 2020].
4. Győr Megyei Jogú Város Önkormányzata. (2005). Településfejlesztési koncepció: Győr Megyei Jogú Város településrendezési eszközeinek felülvizsgálata, 2003-2005. Győr: Győr MJV Közgyűlése. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 19 Jul. 2020]
5. HHP Contact Tanácsadó Kft. (2008) Győr Megyei Jogú Város Középtávú Integrált Városfejlesztési Stratégiája. Győr: Győr MJV Közgyűlése.
6. Szokolay, Ö. (2009). Győr fenntarthatósági programja: Local Agenda 21. Győr: Ceurina
7. Source link. (2017). Rólunk írták [online] Available at: Source link 19 Jul. 2020].
8. Cséfalvi, A. (2015). Dőlnek a fák a folyópartokon. Kisalföld, pp. 2-3.
9. Gőgös, B. (2015). Facsemetéket ültettek. Kisalföld. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 19 Jul. 2020]
10. Cséfalvy, A. (2015). Milliárdok a folyóba: Húsz évet kellett várni a szigetközi vízpótlás befelyezésére.
11. Vízügyi és Környezetvédelmi Központi Igazgatóság és Észak-dunántúli Környezetvédelmi és Vízügyi Igazgatóság. (2010). A Víz Keretirányelv hazai megvalósítása Vízgyűjtőgazdálkodási terv: 1-1 Szigetköz. Győr: Vízügyi és Környezetvédelmi Központi Igazgatóság és Észak-dunántúli Környezetvédelmi és Vízügyi Igazgatóság. Available at: Source link [Accesseed: 19 Jul. 2020]
12. Katona, A. (2017). Case Study Working Paper Győr. Available at:Source link [Accessed: 19 Jul. 2020]
13. Source link (2018). 28,5 milliárd forintból állítják helyre a Mosoni-Duna torkolati szakaszát. [online] Available at: Source link [Accessed: 19 Jul. 2020]