PART 8

8.1. Conclusion statements

The Nominated Monitoring Agents based on the evaluation of the environmental monitoring results concludes:

  1. Based on the measurements performed at the Doborgaz and Helena profiles, it can be stated that the amount of water discharged to the Danube riverbed in the hydrological year 1999 was 443.64 m3.s-1 . This means that according to the water management agreed in the intergovernmental Agreement, signed in 1995, the obligation of the Slovak party to discharge 400 m3.s-1 to the Danube was fulfilled. The discharge to the Mosoni branch of the Danube and to the right side seepage canal was 41.98 m3.s-1 (40.20  m3.s-1 + 1.78  m3.s-1 ). The amount of water have to be discharged to the Mosoni branch of the Danube was fulfilled as well.
  2. The measures realised according to the intergovernmental Agreement, signed in 1995, did not cause significant water quality changes in the Danube, comparing to the previous year. The water quality in the right side river arm main branches follows the water quality in the Danube. Its tributaries and pollution from the settlements on the Hungarian side primarily affect the water quality in the Mosoni Danube, observed at the Vének profile.
  3. Based on the ground water regime evaluation of the hydrological situations before and after realising the water supply, enabled by the technical measures and discharges according to the intergovernmental Agreement, signed in 1995, it can be concluded that the water supply has caused significant rise of ground water levels on the Hungarian territory – effected by the water supply - for low and average discharge conditions in the Danube, except in the narrow strip along the Danube riverbed. Comparing the hydrological situation at high discharge conditions it can be stated that the water supply did not caused a significant change in the ground water levels.
  4. According to the ground water quality monitoring it can be stated that some parameters have changed due to the water supply realised on the Hungarian side. These changes are not significant and do not cause changes in the classification for drinking water supply. In general, it can be concluded that the water quality parameters in the drinking water wells are stabile on both sides.
  5. The soil moisture conditions on most of the monitoring areas in comparison with the previous year were better. The ground water level fluctuated in the soil layers and in most cases supported the soil moisture content. The position of ground water does not allow moisturising of the shallow soil profiles in the upper and middle Szigetköz.   
    Due to the favourable hydrologic and climatic conditions the development of forest stands correspond to the usual growth standards. Some changes were observed on monitoring sites along the Danube river bank or on monitoring sites with older stands where the growth on forest stands on shallow soils lag behind the expected growth rate. The health state of poplar stands was very good. Trees had rich and wide crowns. On the other hand, the willow stands, especially on the upper and middle part of the Szigetköz, were characteristic by middle health condition only. However, there were a lot of young shoots observed on the drying trees due to the favourable conditions. But the moisture conditions on these stands due to the missing floods became unfavourable for willows. According to the evaluation of aerial photographs taken on August 22, 1999 the health state of the forest on Slovak territory is very good. Based on the results it can be stated that the average defoliation of trees was 13.2 %.      
    During the observation period the same species remain dominant on the phytocoenological monitoring areas. Only the values of dominance are changing. On the monitoring sites in the area influenced by the drainage effect the hygrophilous species are replaced by species tolerant to drier conditions. The drying was stopped on several sites where the introduced water supply is sufficient. However on several monitoring site there were observed higher number of species characteristic for drier biotopes. In the tree and shrub layer there were no significant changes observed in the last years. Signs of rearrangement were detected on sites affected by the drainage effect near the main river bed. Considering the terrestrial molluscs it can be stated that on most of the monitoring sites original hygrophilous species are returning. Changes in aquatic fauna reflect the changes in the river arm system. Generally it can be stated that along the water supply path the number of species rose; the number of rheophile species increased. The species composition became stabile.

8.2. Proposals 

  1. The Hungarian Party will complete the long term ground water quality evaluation for the remaining observation objects.
  2. The Hungarian Party will prepare a proposal for replacing the excluded forest monitoring sites with new ones. The evaluation of the hydrological year 2000 will consist of evaluation of the dendrometric measures for the relevant year too. The evaluation of the aerial photographs taken in 1999 on the Hungarian side will be started.
  3. The Nominated Monitoring Agents agreed that a long term evaluation of selected the groups of biological monitoring will be prepared. The evaluation period will include the data from 1992 to 2000. The experts of both Parties will agree the method of long term evaluation.