Nature-based Solutions for Restoring Hydrological Connectivity in Small River Basins: The Case of the Camenca River and "Pădurea Domnească" Reserve

In the context of accelerating climate change and historical land-use degradation, restoring the hydrological functions of small rivers has become a critical Nature-based Solution (NbS) for biodiversity conservation. This study focuses on the Camenca River (Republic of Moldova), a tributary of the Prut River, whose lower course and associated alluvial ecosystems, including the "Pădurea Domnească" Nature Reserve, suffer from severe water deficits and ecological fragmentation.
Our research evaluates the degradation caused by the "barbaric" anthropogenic interventions of the 1960s-1970s, which included riverbed channelization, meadow drainage, and the construction of over 140 ponds/storage lakes. These actions, coupled with shifting precipitation patterns, have disrupted the natural flood-pulse essential for wetland health.
The core of this paper proposes a strategic framework for Ecosystem Restoration based on: naturalizing the runoff - reassessing the hydrological potential to ensure ecological flows that sustain riparian forests and meadows; hydrological re-connectivity - evaluating the decommissioning or sustainable management of obsolete hydraulic structures to restore the river-floodplain continuum; NbS implementation - utilizing natural flood management and reforestation of riparian buffers to mitigate hydrological extremes (drought and flash floods).
By integrating climate change scenarios with historical hydrological modeling, we provide a technical roadmap for the revitalization of the Camenca's lower course. This approach demonstrates how Nature-based Solutions can shift the management paradigm from "water control" to "ecosystem-based resilience," ensuring the long-term survival of the Prut River's unique biocultural landscapes.