SMART-Water project: New Hydrometeorological Station Installed on the Krupa River Tracks Ecosystem in Real Time

Hutovo Blato Nature Park, in collaboration with the University of Zadar, has successfully deployed an advanced automatic hydrometeorological station on the Krupa River. Installed as part of the Interreg cross-border cooperation project SMART-Water implemented within Interreg VI-A IPA Croatia – Bosnia and Herzegovina – Montenegro 2021–2027, the station provides 24/7 continuous monitoring of water levels and key environmental conditions. The station uses a non-contact radar sensor to measure water levels and surface stream velocity, alongside water temperature, air temperature, relative humidity, and atmospheric pressure.

Introducing data-driven decision-making is essential for preserving one of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s most valuable wetland habitats within Hutovo Blato Nature Park. Moreover, ground-based (in situ) measurements serve as a crucial reference point for validating and improving atmospheric correction algorithms on satellite imagery, facilitating broader environmental and climate monitoring. Future activities on water monitoring will link measured water levels with riverbed cross-sections and flow measurements, enabling real-time calculation of water discharge volumes to support flood protection and climate change adaptation.