General
National Id
Poland_03
Site name
Middle basin of Biebrza Valley
Summary
The aim of the EC LIFE programme's co-financed project is to improve the conditions for the protection of water habitats in the Middle Basin of the Biebrza Valley by: controlled management and irrigation of the area in order to stop the degradation processes of hydrogenic habitats within the water system of the Rudzki Canal – the Ełk River – the Jegrznia River – the Woźnawiejski Canal; creating habitat conditions for avifauna of open marshlands. One of the project activity is to build water constructions to support water retention particularly in dry years. The phase I of the restoration activities will be accomplished by 2016. Additionally, phase II has been also already launched.
NUTS Code
Podlaskie
RBD code
PL2000
Transboundary
0
NWRM(s) implemented in the case study
Longitude
22.734504
Latitude
53.602265
Site information
Climate zone
cool temperate dry
Mean rainfall
615
Mean rainfall unit
mm/year
Average temperature
6.7
Type
Case Study Info
Light or indepth?
Light
Monitoring maintenance
Monitoring impacts effects
1
Monitoring parameters
hydromorphological, vegitation and birds
Performance
Performance impact estimation method
Edge of Field/Plot
Performance impact estimation information
the methods involves field works, setting up monitoring sites for hydrological measurements
Design & implementations
Application scale
River Basin
Performance timescale
1 - 4 years
Area (ha)
9000
Design contractual arrangement
| Arrangement type | Responsibility | Role | Comments | Name |
|---|
Design consultation activity
| Activity stage | Key issues | Name | Comments | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Other
|
yes
|
To implement the measures, the local spatial plan had to be ammended. Therefore SEA study was implemented, including public consultation.
|
Design land use change
| Land use change type |
|---|
Design authority
| Authority type | Role | Responsibility | Name | Comments | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lessons, risks, implications...
Key lessons
The project is in implementation phase, the conclusions will be made in 2016.
Success factor(s)
| Success factor type | Success factor role | Comments | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
The project is still in the implementation phase |
Financing
| Financing type | Comments | |
|---|---|---|
|
EU-funds: LIFE+
|
LIFE09 NAT/PL/000258
|
Driver
| Driver type | Driver role | Comments | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Legal obligations
|
main driver
|
to protect biodiversity in the Park area
|
|
|
Availability of subsidies
|
main driver
|
LIFE+ funding provides co-financing for such activities
|
Financing share
| Financing share type | Share | Comments | |
|---|---|---|---|
Policy, general governance and design targets
Policy description
The main environmental problem is caused by a network of draining canals built in XIXth century under Russian Tsar administration which significantly lowered ground water table of neighbouring peatlands and changed habitat conditions in the region of two rivers – Jegrznia and Ełk as well as two canals: Rudzki and Woźnawiejski.
Part of wider plan
1
Policy target
| Target purpose | |
|---|---|
|
Improved Biodiversity
|
|
|
Increase Water Storage
|
|
|
Runoff control
|
Policy pressure
| Pressure directive | Relevant pressure |
|---|
Policy area
| Policy area type | Policy area focus | Name | Comments |
|---|
Policy impact
| Impact directive | Relevant impact |
|---|
Policy wider plan
| Wider plan type | Wider plan focus | Name | Comments | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Local spatial plan of Goniądz
|
Policy requirement directive
| Requirement directive | Specification |
|---|
Socio-economic
Costs total information
The LIFE+ project budget for the phase I (2010-2016) is 3 658 824 EUR. There is also a follow-up LIFE+ project granted (Phase II, 2014-2018) - 6 641 806 €
Ecosystem improved biodiversity
1
Information on Ecosystem improved biodiversity
Although the monitoring results are not yet available, the area is very valuable for waterfowls.
Biophysical impacts
Increased groundwater level
0.4
Information on Increased groundwater level
While the groun water level in the river is estimated to be increased, the growundwater level in the vicinity of channel will decrease.
Water quality overall improvements
Neutral impact-no change in WQ status
Information on Water quality overall improvements
The area is haveing minor economic activities, therefore change in water qyality is not monitored.
