Aggitis-Drama Basin (GREECE)

The Aggitis-Drama basin with the sub-basin of K. Nevrokopi is a closed basin which occupies an area of 2707 km². The sub-basin of K. Nevrokopi is a plateau north of Mount Menoikio and extends up to the border area with Bulgaria. The sub-basin of K. Nevrokopi drainages the water through karst sinkholes and creates an underground caved river which is visible at the Cave of Maara or Aggitis Cave and forms the homonym Aggitis River. The Aggitis River main confluences are with the local streams of Drama and Philippoi Basins (Agia Barbara, Xiropotamos and Zigaktis streams). Following its course, it drainages into the transboundary Strymona River and finally to the Strymonikos Gulf in Aegean Sea. The wider area of the Drama-Aggitis basin is geologically located in the geotectonic zone of Rodopi (mass of Rodopi). The soils of the basin are classified as Entisols or Inceptisols and in the subcategories Fluvent, Orthent. The quaternary sediments are characterized by alternating layers of clay, gravel, sand and sludge, which intertwine and sometimes show selective bands with permeable materials and sometimes not. A characteristic image for the plain of Drama is the large spread of the Holocene age marshes formations (Tenaghi-Philippon marsh).  In the whole plain area of the Aggiti-Drama basin there is an extensive surface drainage/irrigation network including the drainage ditch of the Tenaghi-Philippon marsh. As a conclusion, the entire area has a huge hydrological and hydrogeological potential but is faces shortages during summer months because of the highly increased agricultural activities in combination to the touristic domestic demand. Finally, water quality pollution due to agricultural activities, soil erosion problems and flood phenomena are present due to extreme rainfall events that arise torrential phenomena in the local streams and roads of the pilot area.

Siriu reservoir - Buzau River Basin (ROMANIA)

The pilot area is part of the Buzau river basin and includes Buzau River from the border with Covasna County to Patarlagele locality, including the Siriu reservoir. The pilot area with Siriu reservoir is located in mountain area (altitude 580 m), calcareous geology, land use (Corine Land Cover) is represented in proportion of 70% by forests and meadows, 15% water body, 10% localities and 5% agricultural land. Siriu reservoir is located at the top of the pilot area with surface=3.57 square km, depth average depth=31m and the water is used for water supply for drinking water for the localities downstream of the Siriu reservoir, hydropower, flood protection The significant pressures that act on the surface water bodies of this area are identified. One of these pressures is represented by the waste from human activities that take place near watercourses as; localities, wastewater discharges, waste of different types (plastics, wooden material, etc.). Water quality is important in Siriu reservoir both ecologically, technically and economically, because it is source of drinking water. The localities located downstream of the reservoir on the banks of the Buzau river represent sources of plastic waste, which reach through the tributaries rivers of the Danube river in the Black Sea. One of the project objectives is to identify point pollution sources of plastic waste as well as awareness and increase the involvement of the population in waste management. This will help lead to the sustainable growth and improve the welfare of the people of the region.

Debed River Basin (ARMENIA)

Debed River Basin is located in the north of Armenia, bordering with Georgia and serving as a natural boundary between the two countries. The basin area is 3,790km². The highest point in the basin is located at 3,196 m above the sea level, the Achqasar Mountain peak of the Javakhq Mountain range. The lowest point in the basin is also the lowest in Armenia and is located at 375m above the sea level in the valley of Debedavan Village. Although the area of the basin is relatively small, its complex topography includes folded mountain ranges with significant inclines of 150-200m, volcanic ranges with smaller incline, high mountains, wide inter-mountain depressions and river valleys. Landscape diversity in the basin is presented by sub-alpine and alpine meadows and grasslands, forests and dry steppes. About 24% of the basin area is forested, with the most of it situated on the altitude of 2,000-2, 200m ASL. Climatic conditions in the basin are also very diverse, varying from dry sub-tropical to high-mountainous zones. Precipitation across the basin is unequally distributed. Main sources of anthropogenic pressures in the Debed River Basin are: water abstraction, domestic and mining wastewater, agriculture, food and nonfood industry, hydropower plants, solid waste and transport.

Baltata River Basin (MOLDOVA)

The Baltata River is a right tributary of the Dniester River — one of main Moldavian rivers that flows into the Black Sea. Thus, surface pollution and litter entering the Baltata mainstream are directly transported to the Black Sea. Namely this factor has based choosing this catchment as a pilot area for the BSB963 Project. Moreover, the Baltata River as one of Moldova’ small rivers presents current situation in other analogous basins.

The pilot area has 153.9 km²; its length from northwest to southeast is 27.5 km, the width 7.74 km. It is located within three administrative units: northern rural suburbs of Chisinau municipality (in part) and two rural districts including 13 rural settlements. The total population living here is about 44,760. This steppe and forest-steppe area is mainly flat or elevated (from 16 m to 219 m) plain, with mostly from 2º to 5º slopes. The principal land-uses are agriculture, forests, pastures, perennial plantations and built-up plots. As a result of intensive farming and its low culture, the area’s soils are above 29% degraded. Also, due this factor the Baltata river natural flow has significantly changed, now practically accumulating in four artificial ponds. The flow analysis has shown its 20% decrease in 1996-2012 against 1961-1976.

Arhavi River Basin (Turkey)

Located in Artvin Province in northeastern Turkey, the Arhavi River Watershed lies between the latitude of 41o 16’59’’N and 41o 21’ 40’’ N and the longitude of 41o 19’31’’ E and 41o 28’ 39’’ E. The size of the watershed (pilot area) is 29901 ha. The terrain is mountainous and the elevation ranges between 0 m and 3343 m from MSL. Elevation differences caused by the unique typographic structure exhibit a rich floristic composition of different habitats. The major species in the forest site include Oriental beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky.), bearded alder (Alnus glutinosa subsp. barbata (C.A. Mey.) Yalt.), Oriental spruce (Picea orientalis (L.) Link.), Anatolian Chestnut (Cestanea sativa Mill.), Scots pine (Pinus Silvestris L.), hornbeam (Carpinus orientalis L.), and sycamore (Platanus orientalis). The major crop species in the agricultural areas include tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntz.), hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.), pear (Pyrus ssp.), apple (Malus ssp.), kiwi (Actinidia ssp.) and grape (Vitis ssp.). The forest covers 56.6 % of the total watershed followed by grassland and highland areas (26.5%), agriculture and residential areas (16.7 %). The dominant soil types of the area are ultisol, inseptisol and podzol soils. The area has a typical very humid black sea climate and is highly affected by seaborne air masses from the Black Sea. According to Arhavi climate station data for 33 years (1985-2018), the mean annual temperature is 13.6 0C, the hottest month is July (22.1 oC) and the coldest month is January (6.5 oC). The average annual precipitation for the site is 2265 mm, the wettest month is October (266.7 mm) and the driest month is May (84.8 mm). The area has a very good water potential; Mencuna, Kavak, Sahinkaya, Agara, Balikli, Cifteköprü and Kapisre streams are important water resources in the watershed and flow year-around. There is no water shortage within the area during the summer. However, soil erosion and related water quality problems in response to the agricultural land-use are important issues needing further investigation.