In this project, citizen scientists are researching material on historical floods along the Danube tributaries in Lower Austria prior to 1960. This information is intended to help expand existing water level data and improve our understanding of flooding.
What are the aims of the project?
One of the project’s objectives is to collect and analyse information on historical floods on the Danube’s tributaries in Lower Austria from before the start of instrumental hydrological records. In terms of time, the project focuses on all floods prior to 1960. After that date, the network of gauging stations in Lower Austria becomes denser. A further aim is to involve citizen scientists in the data collection. Residents of Lower Austrian communities are asked to gather and document information locally. Any materials that can provide information about past floods are welcome (flood marks, photographs, paintings, chronicles, etc.). The project is funded by the Gruppe Wasser and the Forschungsabteilung of the Amt der Niederösterreichischen Landesregierung.
How can you participate in the project?
We are seeking information on flood marks on buildings, bridges, or even those found indoors. We are also interested in photographs, views or paintings of historical floods, and finally in relevant references in written documents, such as town, parish, school or fire brigade chronicles. The material is being collected centrally by BOKU University, the Institute of Hydrobiology and Aquatic Ecosystem Management, and published on a specially created Topothek on the respective platform (the website is currently under construction, available from 1st Sep. 2026). The research will run until November 2026. In terms of content, two aspects are important to us: firstly, the timing of the flood should be reconstructed as accurately as possible; secondly, an estimate of the maximum water level is important.
