Difference between revisions of "Spree - Restoration and remeandering of the Müggelspree - downstream Mönchwinkel"

From REFORM wiki
Jump to: navigation, search
(Drivers and pressures)
(Global objective)
Line 15: Line 15:
 
=Global objective=
 
=Global objective=
 
In 2004, the Federal State of Brandenburg started implementing an intense restoration program in one section of the River Spree, the so called Müggelspree. The main objective of this program was to reconnect the previously cut meanders to the main channel. Since then, several old oxbows have been dredged and reconnected on both sides of the main channel. The reconnection of oxbows was accompanied by the removal of rip-raps and groynes and the replacement of the introduced hybrid poplars by native willows, oaks, or alders.
 
In 2004, the Federal State of Brandenburg started implementing an intense restoration program in one section of the River Spree, the so called Müggelspree. The main objective of this program was to reconnect the previously cut meanders to the main channel. Since then, several old oxbows have been dredged and reconnected on both sides of the main channel. The reconnection of oxbows was accompanied by the removal of rip-raps and groynes and the replacement of the introduced hybrid poplars by native willows, oaks, or alders.
 +
 
=Specific goals=
 
=Specific goals=
 
The restoration and re-meandering of the Müggelspree aimed to:
 
The restoration and re-meandering of the Müggelspree aimed to:

Revision as of 14:07, 16 December 2015

Spree - Restoration and remeandering of the Müggelspree - downstream Mönchwinkel


Factsheet: Spree - Restoration and remeandering of the Müggelspree - downstream Mönchwinkel

General
Country DE
River Name Spree
Site Name Spree - Restoration and remeandering of the Müggelspree - downstream Mönchwinkel
River Characterisation
    River typology
    Location (Lat Lon) 52.377747, 13.878897
    Altitude lowland: < 200 m
    Catchment area large: > 1000 - 10000 km2
    Geology Siliceous
    National code/
    River type name
    Mid-sized lowland river
    Hydromorphological quality elements

    Biological quality elements
    Ecosystem Services
    EU Directives
    Pressures
    Measures
    Other
    Project size 0.95 km
    Approximate costs
    Synergy
    Status Realised
    Period of realization 2005
    Evaluation Hydromorphological and ecological changes


    Key features of the case study

    In the following section, background and motives of the restoration project which led to the initiation of the project are introduced.

    Drivers and pressures

    Various hydro-engineering measures led to an extreme degradation of the River Spree until the 60s of the 20th century. In order to facilitate flood protection, generation of energy by water mills, agricultural use of the wetlands, and shipping, the river was channelized by (I) shore fortification by rip-rap or hybrid poplar plantings, (II) meander cutting, and (III) constructing a symmetrical trapezoidal cross-section. The mean discharge was artificially increased by the removal of ground water during upstream open-cast lignite mining activities. As a consequence, the river lost most of its natural variability of the flow regime, sediments, and morphology leading to subsequent degradation of the riverine biota.

    Global objective

    In 2004, the Federal State of Brandenburg started implementing an intense restoration program in one section of the River Spree, the so called Müggelspree. The main objective of this program was to reconnect the previously cut meanders to the main channel. Since then, several old oxbows have been dredged and reconnected on both sides of the main channel. The reconnection of oxbows was accompanied by the removal of rip-raps and groynes and the replacement of the introduced hybrid poplars by native willows, oaks, or alders.

    Specific goals

    The restoration and re-meandering of the Müggelspree aimed to:

    • Restore the natural hydrology, morphology, and oxygen balance of the river
    • Improve water retention in the landscape
    • Develop habitats to improve benthic and rheophil species

    Site description

    The Müggelspree is a sixth-order section of the Lower River Spree that extends from Große Tränke to the village of Neu Zittau, east of Berlin. As a result of the river straightening described above, the Müggelspree has a trapezoid channel profile with a mean slope of 0.015%, a mean water depth of 1.25m at medium discharge, and a mean channel width of 25 m (Schulz et al. 2003). Between 1998 and 2002, discharge has ranged between 2.5m3 s−1 in summer and 30m3 s−1 in early spring (Schulz et al. 2003). In the early 1990s, the Lower River Spree changed from a turbid to a macrophyte-dominated state (Köhler and Hoeg, 2000). Shifting sand covers the midstream riverbed, whereas stable sand prevails in the lateral parts of the riverbed. The latter is often colonized by macrophytes or mussels. Total nitrogen and total phosphorus concentrations range between 0.7 and 3.4mg N l−1, and 70 and 180g P l−1, respectively. (Schulz et al. 2003). Therefore, the Lower River Spree is classified as a eutrophic section. About 53% of its banks are lined by trees such as willow trees (Salix spp.), poplar trees (Populus spp.), and alder trees (Alnus glutinosa) (Schulz et al. 2003).


    Spree 1.jpg

    Figure 1: Reconnected meander Mönchwinkel II: The former main channel was blocked by a gravel dam (left side at the picture) to redirect all flow through the new meander; the remaining old main stem stretch serves as new flow protected habitat.

    Spree 2.jpg

    Figure 2: Reconnected meander Mönchwinkel I (left meander) and Mönchwinkel II (right meander).

    Measures selection

    A large broad of measures were implemented along the Müggelspree through different projects improving 15.3 km of the river. These measures were:

    • Connection of 4 historically cut meander from 2005 to 2008 (Mönchwinkel I, Mönchwinkel II, Sieverslake, Freienbrink III). At each site, the former main channel was blocked by a gravel dam to redirect all flow through the new meander; the remaining old main stem stretches serve as new flow protected habitats (new oxbows) and their depth and width variability slightly improved by alternating sand bars.
    • Replacement of hybrid poplars: In areas of high ecological value, introduced trees have been replaced by native willow, oak, and alder at a length of 11.3 km along the river stretch from 2004-2007 and in 2009/2010. Initial plantings of native trees were conducted in 2005/2006 and from 2009-2012.
    • Selective removal of shore fortification: For the development of natural habitat structures and to improve riverbed structure, groynes have been removed in 2009. A natural undercut, eroding bank that enables natural erosion processes was constructed in 2011.
    • Restoration of oxbow lakes: 1 historically cut meander (Kirchhofen II) was restored by dredging sediment and connected at one side to the main channel in 2010/2011.

    Within the next 10 years, the project “Restoration of the hydraulic capacity of the Müggelspree” will be implemented. During this project, lateral restrictions of the river bed by reed or sediment deposition will be removed; further shore fortification and groynes will be removed; and dredging of the river bed in the lower course of the river stretch will be performed. Furthermore, a detailed river development plan will be established by the beginning of 2014.

    Success criteria

    No information found.

    Ecological response

    Following the restoration and the re-meandering, the ecological response was monitored for macrophytes, benthic invertebrates, and fish.

    Macrophytes The full connection of the monitored meanders led to a shift towards a type-specific macrophyte community including rheophil species within one year after implementation of the project (Grünert et al. 2007). The macrophyte community was afterwards dominated by European bur-reed (Sparganium emersum) and arrowhead (Sagittaria sagittifolia), with co-occuring various-leaved water starwort (Callitriche platycarpa) which are characteristic species representing the natural riverine plant assemblage (Hilt et al. 2007). Species representing the former oxbow macrophyte community (Potamogeton pectinatus, Myriophyllum spicatum, Ranunculus circinatus) still persist and refer to the increased hydromorphological heterogeneity following the re-meandering process. Nevertheless, establishment of Ranunculus fluitans (river water crowfoot) communities could not be observed during the monitoring. This species is also described to represent natural riverine plant assemblages (Hilt et al. 2007), however, the flow heterogeneity that emerged after restoration enables possible establishment of such communities present in the lower stretches of the river.

    Invertebrates Immediately after reconnection of the old meanders to the main channel, benthic invertebrate communities were highly distinct from reference conditions in the main channel (Gelbrecht et al. 2008). This was rather an effect of the absence of rheophil species than of the presence of limnophil species. However, one year after the reconnection of the meander, no significant differences in the invertebrate community could be detected between the newly connected meander and the main channel. The high biocenotic similarity of both communities was most likely a direct result of the increased sediment heterogeneity following the re-meandering. The relative proportion of rheophil species and EPT taxa (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera) increased following the re-meandering, while the relative proportion of invasive species declined. The increase in habitat/sediment heterogeneity also promoted an increase in the heavily endangered species Unio crassus (thick shelled river mussel) and Ophiogomphus cecilia (green gomphid).

    Fish Although the re-meandering was beneficial for aquatic vegetation and benthic invertebrates (Grünert et al. 2007, Gelbrecht et al. 2008), it failed for type-specific fish because some major bottlenecks were not addressed (Wolter 2010). Beside longitudinal and lateral connectivity, increasing flow velocities and maintaining river bed dynamics, suitable spawning sites are a major prerequisite for the recovery of type-specific river fish assemblages. Migration facilities and gravel spawning areas have been identified as major limiting factors for riverine fish in the River Spree (Wolter et al. 2002) and should be reinstated to improve the habitat conditions for type-specific river fish assemblages. Contrastingly, the re-meandering of the main channel resulted in a lowered river slope and reduced flow velocity, which is the opposite to that desired to reinstate the rheophilic or lithophilic fish fauna. To overcome this problem, the re-meandered sites could be substantially improved in the future by reconstructing shallow overtopped gravel bars in the narrowed stream channel instead of the dam. Narrowing the stream channel, instead of complete blocking it, should increase the flow velocity, which should keep the gravel clean from siltation and provide suitable spawning substrata for lithophilic fishes.

    River ecosystems are highly dynamic and subject to continuous succession processes, hence, the overall ecological responses of re-meandering might only appear at the long-term scale. However, the restoration measures applied in this project proved also successful at a short-term for macrophytes and invertebrates.

    Hydromorphological response

    The monitoring of the connection of two oxbows to the main channel showed significant improvement of the hydromorphological conditions. Only one year after connection to the main channel, sediment composition shifted from almost 100% particulate organic matter (POM) to stable mineral (sand) sediments. Within the next year, also sediment patches dominated by gravel established. Therefore, all types of substrates according to the main channel references emerged within only two years. Overall, the connection of the meanders to the main channel resulted in substantial increase in habitat diversity and substrate heterogeneity.

    Water quality response

    The preparatory measures for the re-meandering (sediment dredging in the oxbows) and the connection to the main channel itself did not result in any negative response of water quality downstream of the project sites. Only short-term increases (up to 10 hours after reconnection) of seston and subsequent elevated levels of total phosphorous have been observed due to the final dredging when opening the meander. However, these measured values did not exceed the highest values measured throughout the year upstream and downstream of the project sites.

    Monitoring before and after implementation of the project

    Prior to the first connection of a meander in 2005, the Federal State of Brandenburg agreed to carry out a detailed monitoring program for two meanders (Mönchwinkel I & II). This program aimed to evaluate the ecological consequences of the re-meandering project. The time frame of the monitoring program was 2005 to 2007, including a sampling period before implementation of the project.

    • Substrate composition was studied yearly at five cross sections of the new meander
    • Dissolved oxygen, soluble reactive phosphorous, total phosphorous and seston were measured biweekly at the beginning and end of each meander
    • Macrophyte abundance and compositions was mapped yearly between June and July at two sections in each meander
    • Benthic invertebrates were sampled twice a year in April and August at two sections in each meander using a habitat specific approach
    • Fish sampling was performed in in June and August 2005, March, May and October 2006, and January, March, May and August 2007 and comprised single run electric fishing without stop nets from a boat

    Socio-economic aspects

    In the following section, ways of cooperation, interaction and information with partners, stakeholders and wider audience of the project are introduced as well as their related success in reaching their participation objective

    Cooperation

    The Müggelspree restoration and re-meandering project was led by the Ministry of Environment, Health and Consumer Protection of the Federal State of Brandenburg. Monitoring of the restoration success was conducted by the Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries Berlin. Further local authorities were involved in the project that also carried out the practical implementation of the measures:

    • Wasser- und Landschaftspflegeverband “Untere Spree”
    • Wasser- und Schifffahrtsamt Berlin
    • Untere Naturschutzbehörde, Untere Wasserbehörde, Untere Fischereibehörde

    Interaction

    A citizens' initiative (Bürgerinitiative Müggelspree) and a working committee (Arbeitsgemeinschaft Müggelspree) established due to concerns about the environmental impacts of the re-meandering of private stakeholders and farmers. The working committee developed a comprehensive set of measures that will be implemented from 2013 onwards.

    Communication

    No information found.

    Funding

    The following section gives an overview of cost and funding of the project Funding of the project was provided by a compensation payment after building of a logistic center near the Müggelspree in 2004. In total, 1.68 million € were provided to the Nature Conservation Fond Brandenburg for financing mitigation and compensation measures that are implemented by the Wasser- und Landschaftspflegeverband “Untere Spree”.

    Contact person within the organization

    Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries Berlin

    Stefan Lorenz

    Telephone: +49 30 64181 678

    E-mail: stefan.lorenz@igb-berlin.de

    Extra background information

    References

    Gelbrecht J, Fredrich F, Grünert U, Leszinski M (2008) Pilotprojekt Altarmanschluss und Renaturierung der Müggelspree. Bericht an das Landesumweltamt Brandenburg, 65 Seiten.

    Grünert U, Hilt S, Pusch M, Gelbrecht J (2007) Entwicklungspotential der Makrophytenvegetation in der Unteren Spree nach Renaturierungsmaßnahmen. Naturschutz- und Landschaftspflege in Brandenburg 16:41-47.

    Hilt S, Schönfelder I, Rudnicka A, Carls R, Nikolaevich N, Sukhudolov A, Engelhardt C (2008) Reconstruction of pristine morphology, flow, nutrient conditions and submerged vegetation of lowland river Spree (Germany) from palaeomeanders. River Research and Application 24:310-329.

    Köhler J, Hoeg S (2000) Phytoplankton selection in a river-lake system during two decades of changing nutrient supply. Hydrobiologia 424:13-24.

    Schulz M, Rinke K, Köhler J (2003) A combined approach of photogrammetrical methods and field studies to determine nutrient retention by submerged macrophytes in running waters. Aquatic Botany 76:17-29.

    Wolter C (2010) Functional vs scenic restoration – challenges to improve fish and fisheries in urban waters. Fisheries Management and Ecology 17:176-185.

    Wolter C, Doetinchem N, Dollinger H, Füllner G, Labatzki P, Schuhr H, Sieg S, Fredrich F (2002) Fischzönotische Gliederung der Spree. In: Köhler J, Gelbrecht J, Pusch M (eds) Die Spree. Zustand, Probleme, Entwicklungsmöglichkeiten. Stuttgart: Schweizerbart, Limnologie aktuell 10, pp:197–209.



    Related Measures

    Related Pressures