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Austria

Source: Poppe et al. 2008

Up to 80% of the large rivers in Austria (n=53) are moderate to heavily impacted. The main pressure types are channelisation, continuum disruption, impoundment, water abstraction, hydro peaking and land use. Data of near natural as well as anthropogenically altered catchments in Austria were compiled. The main pressures were identified through pressure-specific indices.

Up to 80% of the large rivers in Austria are moderately to heavily impacted (Muhar et al., 2000). As water pollution is not the main problem anymore, the main impacts on Austrian running waters concern hydromorphological alterations.

In Austria only about one third of the total length of the main rivers remains free flowing. The remainder has been impounded or otherwise modified for hydroelectricity generation or flood protection and erosion control (Lebensministerium, 2010).