{"id":36732,"date":"2025-10-08T15:11:02","date_gmt":"2025-10-08T14:11:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/2025\/10\/odbor-hydrauliky-hydrologie-a-hydrogeologie-mezinarodni-projekty-zahajene-v-roce-2025-2\/"},"modified":"2025-10-08T20:07:02","modified_gmt":"2025-10-08T19:07:02","slug":"odbor-hydrauliky-hydrologie-a-hydrogeologie-mezinarodni-projekty-zahajene-v-roce-2025-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/en\/2025\/10\/odbor-hydrauliky-hydrologie-a-hydrogeologie-mezinarodni-projekty-zahajene-v-roce-2025-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Department of Hydraulics, Hydrology and Hydrogeology: international projects starting in 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"00TEXTbezodsazenienglish\"><span lang=\"EN-GB\">At the\u00a0T. G. Masaryk Water Research Institute (TGM WRI), two international projects were launched in\u00a02025. These include the\u00a0<em><span class=\"01ITALIC\">SWIM <\/span><\/em>project, funded under the\u00a0Horizon Europe programme, and the\u00a0<em><span class=\"01ITALIC\">FrauNyLu<\/span><\/em> project, supported by the\u00a0Interreg cross-border cooperation programme. Both projects also address hydrological topics, which will be managed by the\u00a0Department of\u00a0Hydraulics, Hydrology and Hydrogeology.<\/span><\/p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Beran-obr-1.jpg\" rel=\"shadowbox[sbpost-36732];player=img;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-36404 size-full lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Beran-obr-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"154\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Beran-obr-1.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Beran-obr-1-300x58.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Beran-obr-1-768x148.jpg 768w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 800px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 800\/154;\" \/><\/a>\n<h2>THE <em>SWIM<\/em> PROJECT (HORIZON)<\/h2>\n<p>The\u00a0SWIM project (Sustainable Water and Integrated Management of\u00a0Fish Migration and their Habitats in\u00a0the\u00a0Danube River Basin\u00a0and NW Black Sea) focuses on the\u00a0restoration, protection, and improvement of\u00a0habitats for migratory fish species in\u00a0the\u00a0Danube River Basin\u00a0and the\u00a0north-western Black Sea region. The\u00a0project is implemented within\u00a0the\u00a0framework of\u00a0the\u00a0European Restore our Ocean and Waters Mission; it builds on long-term activities in\u00a0the\u00a0field of\u00a0international cooperation for the\u00a0protection of\u00a0aquatic ecosystems. More than 20\u00a0partners from Central and Southeast Europe are involved in\u00a0the\u00a0project, including key scientific research institutions, river basin\u00a0authorities, environmental organisations, and regional governments.<\/p>\n<h3>Objectives and main\u00a0activities<\/h3>\n<p>The\u00a0main\u00a0objective of\u00a0the\u00a0SWIM project is to restore river network connectivity, improve habitat quality, and strengthen the\u00a0protection of\u00a0key migratory routes of\u00a0fish populations. The\u00a0project is structured into thirteen activities implemented at seven pilot sites along the\u00a0upper, middle, and lower Danube, including the\u00a0Danube Delta and the\u00a0Black Sea coast.<\/p>\n<p>The\u00a0key outputs of\u00a0the\u00a0project include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>identification and mapping of\u00a0key habitats for fish migration,<\/li>\n<li>design and implementation of\u00a0measures to restore river connectivity (e.g.\u00a0lateral reconnections, fish passes),<\/li>\n<li>establishment of\u00a0ex-situ conservation facilities for breeding selected endangered fish species (e.g. sturgeons, Black Sea salmon, gudgeon),<\/li>\n<li>creation of\u00a0a network of\u00a0protected areas (fish refuges) and preparation of\u00a0plans for their long-term management,<\/li>\n<li>use of\u00a0digital technologies for monitoring and data sharing (including\u00a0the\u00a0extension of\u00a0the\u00a0MEASURES Info system and integration with the\u00a0European Digital Twin\u00a0Ocean),<\/li>\n<li>involvement of\u00a0local communities and support for sustainable local models (e.g. eco-tourism, environmentally friendly aquaculture).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>The\u00a0role of\u00a0TGM WRI in\u00a0the\u00a0<em>SWIM<\/em> project<\/h3>\n<p>TGM WRI focuses primarily on providing hydrological support to the\u00a0project, assessing the\u00a0impacts of\u00a0climate change, and designing restoration and adaptation strategies. This also includes modelling the\u00a0water regime at pilot sites and evaluating the\u00a0effectiveness of\u00a0nature-based solutions for ensuring connectivity and improving conditions for fish migration.<\/p>\n<p>The\u00a0Institute is also involved in\u00a0methodological harmonisation of\u00a0monitoring procedures and in\u00a0sharing experience among research partners from different countries. An important component is the\u00a0engagement of\u00a0local stakeholders, including the\u00a0general public, which contributes to raising awareness of\u00a0the\u00a0importance of\u00a0fish migration for the\u00a0conservation of\u00a0biodiversity and ecological stability of\u00a0aquatic ecosystems.<\/p>\n<h3>Significance of\u00a0the\u00a0project for the\u00a0Czech Republic and international cooperation<\/h3>\n<p>The <em>SWIM<\/em> project represents a significant advancement in the protection of migratory fish species within the Czech Republic, particularly through research on the upper Danube and its tributaries. The restoration of migratory routes and the improvement of the ecological status of river stretches contribute to the achievement of the objectives of the Water Framework Directive\u00a0(2000\/60\/EC), the\u00a0EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, and the\u00a0new Nature Restoration Regulation.<\/p>\n<p>Thanks to its transnational approach and collaboration across scientific disciplines and administrative levels, the\u00a0project has the\u00a0potential to become a\u00a0model example for the\u00a0restoration of\u00a0river ecosystems throughout Europe. Through its involvement in\u00a0the\u00a0SWIM project, TGM WRI is actively contributing to shaping future approaches to the\u00a0protection of\u00a0freshwater biodiversity and the\u00a0adaptation of\u00a0water management to climate change.<\/p>\n<p>The\u00a0<em>SWIM<\/em> project represents a unique opportunity to link ecological restoration, research, innovation, and regional development. Its success will depend not only on a professional scientific approach but also on the\u00a0ability to engage the\u00a0wider public, relevant institutions, and communities along the\u00a0watercourses. In\u00a0the\u00a0coming years, TGM WRI will play a key role in\u00a0achieving the\u00a0objectives of\u00a0this ambitious international project.<\/p>\n<h2><a style=\"font-size: 16px;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Beran-obr-2.jpg\" rel=\"shadowbox[sbpost-36732];player=img;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-36406 size-full lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Beran-obr-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"252\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Beran-obr-2.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Beran-obr-2-300x95.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Beran-obr-2-768x242.jpg 768w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 800px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 800\/252;\" \/><\/a><\/h2>\n<h2>THE <em>FRAUNYLU<\/em> PROJECT: JOINT SOLUTIONS FOR SAFE DRINKING WATER SUPPLY IN THE CZECH-BAVARIAN BORDER REGION (INTERREG PROGRAMME)<\/h2>\n<p>TGM WRI has also become involved in the new cross-border <em>FrauNyLu<\/em> project, which will assess the interconnection of the N\u00fdrsko, Lu\u010dina, and Frauenau water reservoirs. The aim of the project is to develop joint measures that will enhance\u00a0the\u00a0resilience and safety of\u00a0drinking water supply in\u00a0the\u00a0Czech\u2013Bavarian border region, particularly in\u00a0view of\u00a0the\u00a0expected impacts of\u00a0climate change.<\/p>\n<p>The\u00a0<em>FrauNyLu<\/em> project was initiated in\u00a0response to a shared challenge faced by both regions: to establish long-term sustainable and efficient water resource management in\u00a0an environment characterised by low rock retention capacity and limited groundwater availability. The\u00a0crystalline regions of\u00a0the\u00a0\u0160umava, \u010cesk\u00fd les, and Bavarian Forest are highly sensitive to droughts and precipitation fluctuations, which are becoming increasingly frequent and intense due to climate change. The\u00a0project therefore aims to strengthen cooperation and create a comprehensive system for information sharing, water balance assessment, and the\u00a0design of\u00a0joint technical and organisational measures.<\/p>\n<h3>Joint approach<\/h3>\n<p>A completely new approach applied in\u00a0the\u00a0<em>FrauNyLu<\/em> project is cross-border assessment of\u00a0the\u00a0current and future state of\u00a0water supply based on mutually harmonised methods and jointly shared data. Whereas similar analyses were previously carried out separately at the\u00a0national level, the\u00a0FrauNyLu project provides an integrated perspective on the\u00a0entire area supplied by the\u00a0key water sources \u2013 the\u00a0N\u00fdrsko, Lu\u010dina, and Frauenau reservoirs.<\/p>\n<p>Based on the\u00a0established database, it will be possible to determine the\u00a0water resource balance, assess potential deficits, and propose specific adaptation measures. These may include technical solutions (e.g. system interconnections, resource sharing during periods of\u00a0drought) as well as organisational measures (intelligent management of\u00a0water abstractions, contingency scenarios, and coordination platforms).<\/p>\n<p>The\u00a0<em>FrauNyLu<\/em> project will deliver tangible benefits to both the\u00a0Czech and Bavarian parts of\u00a0the\u00a0region, particularly in\u00a0the\u00a0following areas:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>increased resilience of\u00a0drinking water supply during periods of\u00a0drought or in\u00a0the\u00a0event of\u00a0emergencies,<\/li>\n<li>improved planning of\u00a0investments in\u00a0water management infrastructure through shared analyses and models,<\/li>\n<li>utilisation of\u00a0synergies in\u00a0water resource management \u2013 reducing duplication and making efficient use of\u00a0existing capacities,<\/li>\n<li>strengthening Czech\u2013Bavarian cooperation at both local and institutional levels,<\/li>\n<li>enhanced safety and self-sufficiency of\u00a0residents in\u00a0areas with potential water scarcity.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>The\u00a0role of\u00a0TGM WRI in\u00a0the\u00a0<em>FrauNyLu<\/em> project<\/h3>\n<p>TGM WRI contributes to the project primarily in a professional capacity, providing hydrological analysis and designing adaptation measures. In doing so, it draws on\u00a0long-term experience in\u00a0water balance modelling and the\u00a0development of\u00a0methodologies for assessing the\u00a0impacts of\u00a0climate change on the\u00a0water regime.<\/p>\n<p>TGM WRI contributes expertise gained from previous international projects, such as <em>Thaya<\/em> (Interreg), <em>Dyje<\/em> (Czech Science Foundation), <em>RAINMAN<\/em> (Interreg), and the\u00a0<em>DALIA<\/em> project (Horizon Europe). The\u00a0Institute also actively contributes to the\u00a0transfer of\u00a0research results into practice, both within\u00a0public administration and in\u00a0collaboration with water users, such as farmers and reservoir managers.<\/p>\n<h3>Cross-border cooperation<\/h3>\n<p>The\u00a0aim of\u00a0the\u00a0<em>FrauNyLu<\/em> project is to demonstrate that joint management of\u00a0water resources across national borders is crucial not only for ensuring an adequate supply of\u00a0drinking water but also for maintaining ecological balance<br \/>\nin\u00a0the\u00a0Czech\u2013Bavarian border region. Given the\u00a0similar natural conditions and shared challenges, a coordinated approach is more effective than isolated national solutions.<\/p>\n<p>The\u00a0use of\u00a0large reservoirs as strategic multi-year water storage facilities in\u00a0areas with low groundwater retention potential is crucial in\u00a0the\u00a0context of\u00a0climate change. The\u00a0project therefore represents not only a technical and institutional innovation but also a symbol of\u00a0cooperation and solidarity between neighbouring countries.<\/p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Beran-obr-3.jpg\" rel=\"shadowbox[sbpost-36732];player=img;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-36408 size-medium lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Beran-obr-3-300x50.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"50\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Beran-obr-3-300x50.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Beran-obr-3-768x129.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Beran-obr-3.jpg 800w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 300px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 300\/50;\" \/><\/a>\n<p class=\"00TEXTbezodsazenienglish\"><span lang=\"EN-GB\">Informative article that is not subject to peer review. <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>At the T. G. Masaryk Water Research Institute (TGM WRI), two international projects were launched in 2025. These include the SWIM project, funded under the Horizon Europe programme, and the FrauNyLu project, supported by the Interreg cross-border cooperation programme. Both projects also address hydrological topics, which will be managed by the Department of Hydraulics, Hydrology and Hydrogeology.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":36443,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,86],"tags":[3904,3938,3905,1484],"coauthors":[124,1377,2889,27],"class_list":["post-36732","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-from-the-world-of-water-management","category-hydraulics-hydrology-and-hydrogeology","tag-fraunylu","tag-international-projects","tag-swim","tag-tgm-wri"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36732","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=36732"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36732\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":36748,"href":"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36732\/revisions\/36748"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/36443"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=36732"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=36732"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=36732"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vtei.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=36732"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}