The Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve Administration is revisiting plans to develop a hydraulic model of the Danube Delta, in an effort to protect water resources and local communities, as current river levels are already close to typical summer values.

Silting is a natural phenomenon in the Delta, and in recent years the institution, subordinated to the Environment Ministry, has attracted over 60 million lei for dredging works aimed at ensuring access for local communities and maintaining minimum water depths. Most works have been completed, with some payments still pending following evaluations.

'We are in discussions with partners from the Intercommunity Development Association for the Integrated Territorial Investment (ITI) Danube Delta and the National Institute for Research and Development Danube Delta to propose to the European Commission the development of a hydraulic model that would provide data enabling us to forecast areas prone to silting. This would allow targeted and timely intervention and help avoid situations where channels become completely clogged,' ARBDD governor Florin Staneata told AGERPRES.

He acknowledged the importance of navigable, dredged channels for communities surrounded by water, noting that no dredging projects are currently under way.

Recently, a tourism operator highlighted the low water levels in the Delta.

'Water levels are already low for spring. In the past, snowmelt would now be increasing river levels, but this year the snow melted earlier in winter, and inflows are minimal. Water levels are already dropping and it is only April. Normally, from April to late May, levels should be rising. Birds are not heavily affected, but fish are impacted during spawning, as they need floodplain areas where water warms quickly, eggs hatch and fry develop,' said tourism manager Iliuta Goean.

At the end of last week, the village of Crisan hosted the conference 'The Future of the ITI Mechanism in Romania', where participants discussed funding prospects for 2028-2034. The event brought together representatives of the European Commission, central and local authorities, NGOs and ITI structures.

The ITI Danube Delta mechanism, supported by the European Union and dedicated to disadvantaged areas, was first implemented in Romania in the Delta region, covering parts of Tulcea and Constanta counties, under a development strategy approved in 2016.

According to the ITI Delta Danube Intercommunity Development Association, the region has attracted approximately EUR 1.4 billion since 2016 through this mechanism.

'The average number of employees in the ITI Delta area increased from around 40,000 in 2014 to about 47,000 in 2022, a rise of 17.5%. More than 3,800 people have benefited from vocational training and exchange programmes. The tourism sector has also seen rapid growth, with accommodation capacity increasing by over 161%, from 4,501 places in 2014 to 11,775 in 2025,' the association said.

The idea of developing a hydraulic model for the Delta has been raised by previous governors as well, but has yet to materialise into a publicly funded project. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Luisiana Bigea; EN - writing by: Simona Iacob)