Persina Nature Park Directorate has successfully completed the project “Exploring the Possibility of Improving the Water Regime of Kaikusha Wetland with Water from the Danube River”. For 12 months, the project investigated technical, environmental and administrative options for restoring the water supply to one of the valuable wetlands within Persina Nature Park, Bulgaria.
The project was supported through the Danube WILDisland Ramsar Regional Initiative, under its pilot measure Category RRI-1: “Identification, Preparation and Implementation of Restoration Actions in the Danube Region”. Funding was provided through the European Environment Initiative (EURENI), supported by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV).
Kaikusha Wetland is a remnant of the former Svishtov–Belene Marsh and forms part of the Belene Islands Complex Ramsar Site. Historically connected to the Danube's floodplain, the wetland was gradually deprived of its water supply following the construction of protective dykes and the decline of the local irrigation system. As a result, open-water areas have largely disappeared, and the wetland is now predominantly covered by reed beds.
The project began in 2025 with a stakeholder consultation meeting involving local farmers, representatives of irrigation and water management institutions, and other relevant stakeholders. This initial exchange was followed by technical investigations, including aerial surveys and field assessments of the existing irrigation infrastructure, examination of canals and pumping stations, and analysis of potential water supply routes. The team also investigated relevant legal and ownership issues.
Based on these findings, several conceptual options were developed, accompanied by preliminary cost estimates. One potential solution involves redirecting water from the existing irrigation system into the wetland during periods when agricultural irrigation is not required, particularly in spring and autumn.
At the final stakeholder meeting, the project team presented the results of the studies and discussed the environmental benefits and practical requirements of restoring the wetland's water supply. Improved water availability could help re-establish permanent or seasonal open-water habitats and create more favourable conditions for wetland biodiversity.
Although the project focused on research and preparation rather than physical restoration, its findings provide an important foundation for future restoration measures. The collected data, technical assessments and proposed solutions can support subsequent projects and guide cooperation between nature conservation authorities, water managers, landowners and agricultural stakeholders.
DANUBEPARKS and the Danube WILDisland Ramsar Regional Initiative welcome the successful completion of this preparatory project. It demonstrates how targeted pilot funding can help turn local conservation challenges into practical opportunities for future wetland restoration across the Danube Region.
Text and photo: Persina Nature Park Directorate