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My most beautiful memories are tied to the part of the Mura that stretches from the railway bridge to Barbarčev mill. At that time, the bank was bare and without trees. We spent every day there. I remember the mill on the Mura and its dead backwaters, which we called Old Mura. The river, namely, migrated. If a part of the flow hadn’t been protected at a certain moment, the Mura would probably flow through inhabited streets today.
#FreshwaterEcosystemManagement #RiverConnectivity #FloodplainRestoration #CulturalLandscapes #HumanNatureCoexistence
Telling the story of the ever-changing Mura River, the narrator describes its shifting backwaters and the historical mills that once sat on its banks. It highlights the tension between river connectivity and the need for flood protection, noting how the river moved over time. The mill serves as a symbol of traditional craftsmanship and industrial heritage, showing the strong connection between the local community and the river’s powerful flow.
The Mura is part of the transboundary biosphere reserve and a Natura 2000 site. The backwaters are priority habitats for restoration under the WFD and Habitats Directive. The migration of the river refers to lateral erosion, a process promoted in restoration projects like LifelineMDD. The floating mills are a specific cultural heritage protected as monuments.
Restoration of side-arms and backwaters is a standard practice in LIFE projects to boost biodiversity. Floating mills are being restored as tourist attractions and educational centres. River widening allows the river to migrate within a controlled corridor, reducing flood risk and improving ecology. Cross-border cooperation is essential for managing such a mobile river.
Sources:
https://www.wwfadria.org/what_we_do/all_initiatives/lifelinemdd
https://croatia.hr/en-gb/nature/mura-drava-danube-biosphere-reserve
The story you have just read is an authentic record of an elder’s experiences who participated in the HER[AI]TAGE project. While the content is original, the text may have been lightly edited for optimal clarity, flow, and readability. The accompanying visuals and audio recording were created responsibly with AI technology to enrich the storytelling experience while preserving the foundational authenticity of the presented story.
AI tools used: Google Gemini via Google AI Studio.