Project partner - Pomgrad, water management company, started with the field works on the pilot site in second half of January 2022 and finished in March 2022. On a length of 250 m, a small widening on the left bank of Mura river was carried out as a part of the Interreg Lifeline MDD project in work package T2 Cross sectoral restoration of connectivity, under O.T2.2 Pilot implementation of river restoration measures for development of the TBR.

First all permits and consents from the competent services were obtained. This was followed by selective felling of trees in the planned area. The bank protection (rocks) was relocated about 50 m into the hinterland of the river, where it was buried 4 m in depth and will serve as a new bank protection. In the area of the removed riparian protection, three smaller semi-circular areas were excavated to partially restore the river flow dynamics and ease erosion and inflow of gravel into the riverbed.

In addition, a new connection path to the existing Mura path was implemented. In the end, a rock structure from wooden pilots and stone in Mura was made, which will direct the water flow and enhance the erosion.

The effects of the riverbed widening measure will improve habitats of various animal species including river breeding birds, fishes and other habitat types.

The introduction of gravel into the Mura riverbed itself will slow down the deepening of the riverbed and the decline of groundwater, which is not only a key problem for drinking water, but also for the surrounding water bodies and forest habitat types.

The purpose of the measure is to restore the natural processes of the Mura, since the changing hydrological conditions in recent decades have greatly endangered the natural and dynamic processes.