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Water Ecology

The topic of aquatic ecology is fish and the habitat of flowing waters.
Flood protection and the use of hydropower have significantly changed our rivers over long stretches. With the aim of improving the ecological status of water bodies in Austria, water bodies are monitored, management concepts are developed and experts are consulted in water law procedures.

EU Water Framework Directive

The EU WFD requires that the water bodies of the member states achieve a good ecological status. In flowing waters, fish are the relevant indicator for this. The implementation in Austria includes a sampling and assessment of the water bodies, as well as the review of implemented measures. At the IGF, an assessment scheme was developed and a central Austrian fish database was established.

© BAW-IGF/Prinz
Official expert activity

According to the Federal Agency Act, it is one of the tasks of the Institute to provide the highest water law authority with official experts in water law procedures, as far as personnel is available. Expert activities are a focal point of the activities of the Department of Water Ecology.

© BAW-IGF/Prinz