Reconnect backwaters and wetlands

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Reconnect backwaters and wetlands

Reconnect backwaters and wetlands08. Floodplains/off-channel/lateral connectivity habitats improvement

General description

Reconnect backwaters (oxbows, side channels) and wetlands refers to measure aiming to restore lateral connectivity between the main river channel and its floodplain. [1]

Applicability

-The measure is applicable for medium sized rivers and large rivers, in tropical and temperate waters as well (Tockner et al. 2000);

Expected effect of measure on (including literature citations):

  • HYMO (general and specified per HYMO element)
  • physico � chemical parameters
  • Biota (general and specified per Biological quality elements)

The measure aims to restore the lateral (riverine-riparian-floodplain) dimension of a river system, affected by human activities (Ward and Stanford, 1989) and to re-vitalize natural processes induces by the river ,,flood pulse” (Junk et al., 1989). Therefore most restoration schemes of river corridor are based on a re-establishment of the river pulse (Molles et al., 1998; Tochner et al., 1998; Toth et al., 1998; Schiemer et al., 1999). The evaluation of some implemented projects for reconnecting former floodplain to river showed positive effects on the ecosystem services as support for biodiversity (Tremolieres et al, 2008) and nutrient retention (Oosterberg et al., 1998 ; Bachmann et al., 2000; Zockler et al., 2000, Staras, 2000; Schiemer & Reckendorfer, 2004; De Groot el al., 2006; Tudor, 2008). The studies on nutrient condition of the river water, have proved a significant reduction of nitrogen and less for phosphorous. Some published works are relevant for the responses of biota as fitoplancton, vegetation, fish to floodplain embankment or to restoration of lateral connectivity. (Bacalbasa-Dobrovici, 1989; Schmutz et al., 1999; Buijse et al, 2002; Navodaru et al., 2005; Torok et al. 2008; Schneider et al., 2008; Navodaru et al., 2008).

Temporal and spatial response

The post-project assessment of the implemented pilot project Babina in the Danube Delta has showed the re-establishment of a near natural hydro-morphological features as well as the wetland specific aquatic biota: fitoplancton, aquatic vegetation, fish (Cioaca E., 2008; Torok et al. 2008; Schneider et al., 2008; Navodaru et al., 2008;)

Pressures that can be addressed by this measure

Cost-efficiency

Case studies where this measure has been applied

Useful references

Bacalbasa-Dobrovici N. (1989) The Danube River and its Fisheriesa. In: Proceedings of the International Large River Symposium D.P. Dodge (ed.). Can.Spec.Publ. Fish.Aquat.Sci., 106,455-468. Backmann J. and Wurzer A. (2000) The Danube: River of life. In: River Restoration in Europe (Eds. H.J. Nijland &M.J.R. Cals), 85-90. RIZA Report 2001.023. Lelystad, The Netherlands. Buijse, A.D., Coops, H., Staras, M., Jans, L.H., Van Geest, G.J., Grift, R.E., Ibelings, B.W.,Oosterberg, W., Roozen, F.C.J.M. (2002) Restoration strategies for river floodplains along large lowland rivers in Europe. Freshwater Biology 47, 889-907. De Groot R., Stuip M.A.M., Finlayson C.M., Davidson N. (2006) Valuing wetlands: guidance for valuing the benefits derived from wetland ecosystem services. Ramsar technical Report No 3/CBD Technical series, No.27. Ramsar Convention Secreariat, Gland, Switzerland&Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, Montreal, Canada, 46 p. Istvanovics V, Honti M, Vörös L, Kozma Z (2010) Phytoplankton dynamics in relation to connectivity, flow dynamics and resource availability—the case of a large, lowland river, the Hungarian Tisza. Hydrobiologia, 637:121–141 Junk W.J., Bayley P.B. & Sparks R.E. (1989) The flood pulse concept in River-Floodplain Systems. Can. Spec. Publ. Fish. Aquat.,106, 110-127. Molles M.C., Crawford C.S., Ellis L.M., Valett H.M., Dahm C.N. (1998) Managed flooding for riparian ecosystem restoration. BioScience, 48:749-756. Navodaru I., Staras M., A.D. Buijse, Joep J.de Leew (2005) Changes in fish populations in Danube Delta lakes: effects of hydrology and water quality change. Review of results and potential for rehabilitation. Ecohydrology & Hydrobiology, vol. 5, No.3, 245-256. Navodaru I., Staras M., Cernisencu I. (2008) evolution of the ihtiofauna-Results of sampling and monitoring. In: Evolution of Babina polder after restoration works (Eds. E. Schneider, M. Tudor and M. Staras). WWF Auen Institute, Germany / Danube Delta National Institute, Romania, 42-46. Oosterberg W., Hanganu J., Menting G., Gridin M. and Tudor M. (1998) Filtering capacity of the Mustaca Reedbed Danube Delta Romania. RIZA workdocument 98.165x, 46p. Schiemer F, Baumgartner C, Tockner K. (1999) Restoration of floodplain rivers: the ,,Danube restoration project”. Regulated Rivers, 15:231-244. Schiemer, F., Reckendorfer, W. (2004) Das Donau Restaurierungsprojekt - Ökologische Auswirkungen. The Danube Restoration Programme - ecologic consequences. Abhandlungen der Zoologisch-Botanischen Gesellschaft, Vienna, 34p. (in German) Schmutz S. and Jungwirth M. (1999) Fish as indicators of large river connectivity: the Danube and its tributaries. Large Rivers Vol.11, No.3, Arch.Hydrobiol.Suppl.115/3, 329-348. Schneider E., Tudor M. and Covaliov S. (2008). Water macrophytes and their communities. In: Evolution of Babina polder after restoration works (Eds. E. Schneider, M. Tudor and M. Staras). WWF Auen Institute, Germany / Danube Delta National Institute, Romania, 47-50. Staras M. (2000) Restoration programme in the Danube Delta: Achievements, benefits and constraints. In: River Restoration in Europe (Eds. H.J. Nijland &M.J.R. Cals), 95-102. RIZA Report 2001.023. Lelystad, The Netherlands. Tockner K, Schiemer F, Ward JV. 1998. Conservation by restoration: the management concept for a river floodplain system on the Danube River in Austria. Aquatic Conservation 8: 71-86. Tockner K., Malard F.&Ward J.V. (2000) An extension of the flood pulse concept. Hydrological Processes,14, 2861-2883. Torok L. (2008). Evolution of fitoplancton diversity. In: Evolution of Babina polder after restoration works (Eds. E. Schneider, M. Tudor and M. Staras). WWF Auen Institute, Germany / Danube Delta National Institute, Romania, 29-30. Toth LA, Melvin SL, Arrington DA, Chamberlain J. (1998) Hydrologic manipulations of the channelized Kissimmee River. BioScience, 48: 757-764. Trémolières, M., Schmitt, L., Defraeye, S., Coli, C., Denny, E., Dillinger, M., Dor, J.C., Gombert, P.,Gueidan, A., Lebeau, M., Manné, S., Party, J.P., Perrotey, P., Piquette, M., Roeck, U., Schnitzler, A.,Sonnet, O., Vacher, J.P., Vauclin, V., Weiss, M., Zacher, N., Wilms, P. (2008) Does restoration of flooding and reconnection of anastomosing channels in the Upper Rhine floodplain improve alluvial ecosystem functions and biodiversity?. Conference on River Restoration, Italy, Venice S. Servolo Island, 10p. Tudor M. (2008) Nutrient retention. In: Evolution of Babina polder after restoration works (Eds. E. Schneider, M. Tudor and M. Staras). WWF Auen Institute, Germany / Danube Delta National Institute, Roamania, p 28. Ward J.V., and J.A. Stanford (1989) Riverine ecosystems: the influence of man on catchment dynamics and fish ecology. In: Proceedings of the International Large River Symposium (LARS) (Ed. D.P. Dodge). Can. Spec. Publ. Fish.Aquat.106, 56-64.

Other relevant information

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