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The impact of climate change and human activity on the water bodies of the Republic of Moldova is intensifying. Despite the fact that the southern region of the country remains the most vulnerable to the mentioned impact, internal rivers flow is not monitored. Among others, EU Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) requires monitoring of hydromorphological characteristics, however, the country's legislative framework was populated with methodologies for assessing the anthropogenic impact and hydromorphological status of water bodies only in 2024 (G.D. 709/2024, 657/2024). In this regard, present research is dedicated to evaluation of hydromorphological conditions and reconstruction of hydrological time series of the Cahul river situated in the southern part of the Republic of Moldova. The river was divided in three water bodies with length varying from 19 km to 24 km (G.D. 444/2022). Hydromorphological field research allowed assessment of flow, river continuity, river shape and structure, connectivity with floodplain and riparian zones. All water bodies were evaluated as heavily modified due to agricultural activities, river training, dams and reservoirs, flood protections dykes’ impact. Measured flow by field survey (2025) was about 0.035-0.4 m3/s, however, larges parts of water bodies form upper and lower course were dry. Continuous time series, identified in the archive of the State Hydrometeorological Service of the Republic of Moldova, are present only for 1952-1968. Basing on these data, methodology from national normative document (CP D.01.05-2012) and hydrological information from surrounding rivers, the reconstruction of the Cahul river flow was performed till current period. The reconstructed average runoff 28 mm, flow is 0.16 m3/s, water volume - about 5.1 mil.m3. Main water resources are formed in spring and summer (about 30-37% each season), followed by winter - 22% and autumn - 11%. Urgent restoration measures are needed to improve the river health.
JELEAPOV et al. (Fri,) studied this question.