Restoration of raised bog Aklais in Latvia

General

National Id:

Latvia_03

Site name:

Located in L127 and L161 (water bodies codes according to the Lielupe river basin management plan). Located in the nature reserve, Natura 2000 (in Daudzese parish, Jaunjelgava County).

Summary:

The main goal of the implemented NWRM was to restore natural hydrological regime in drained raised bog Aklais located in nature reserve area being also the Natura 2000 site in Latvia. Building of the dam was chosen as most appropriate method. Due to natural conditions, there was no possibility to use technique thus dams were built by hand. Unfortunately the part of the dams is partly washed out by waters now and in a result raised bog is not restored as expected. The main lesson for future is to use adequate technique and materials to ensure durability of the dams.

NUTS Code:

Latvija

RBD code:

LVLUBA

Transboundary:

NWRM(s) implemented in the case study:

Wetland restoration and management

Site information

Climate zone:

cool temperate moist

Mean annual rainfall:

600 - 900 mm

Mean rainfall unit:

mm/year

Average temperature:

Type:

Actual Test Site

Light or indepth?:

Light

Average slope range:

Vegetation class:

raised bog

Monitoring maintenance

Monitoring impacts effects:

Monitoring location:

Edge of Field/Plot

Administrative annual costs:

4100

Administrative annual cost information:

EUR 4000 for hydological monitoring , EUR 100 for vegetation/habitat monitoring

Monitoring parameters:

hydrology monitoring, vegetation/habitat monitoring

Monitoring upstream station:

Monitoring downstream station:

Performance

Performance impact estimation method:

Catchment outlet

Performance impact estimation information:

Monitoring of the groundwater level was carried out in 13 groundwater monitoring well. Vegetation/habitat monitoring was carried out in 35 habitat monitoring plots.

Biophysical impacts

Information on retained water:

not measured

Information on increased water storage:

not measured

Information on runoff reduction:

not measured

Information on Peak flow rate reduction:

Increased groundwater level:

0.17

Information on Increased groundwater level:

0.15-0.2 according hydrological motioring data in 2013

Water quality overall improvements:

Not relevant for this application

Soil quality overall soil improvements:

Not relevant for this application

Information on Soil quality overall soil improvements:

no surveys

Information on Effect delaying peak:

Lessons, risks, implications...

Key lessons:

The main goal of the implemented NWRM was to restore natural hydrological regime in the drained raised bog located in nature reserve and included in Natura 2000 site. Building of a dam was chosen as most appropriate method to stop artificial drainage. Due to natural conditions, there was no possibility to use technique and heavy machinery, therefore dams were built by hand. Unfortunately a part of the dams is destroyed by waters now and in a result raised bog is not restored as expected. The main lesson for future is to use proper technology for constructing a safer dam.

Success factor(s):

Type	Role	Comments
Attitude of relevant stakeholders	main factor	common understanding about nature assets maintenece

Financing:

Type	Comments
EU-funds: LIFE+
National funds
Other	international funds

Barrier:

Driver:

Type	Role	Comments
Other	main driver	izmaiņas hidrol režīmā un biotopa/ veģetācijā

Financing share:

Share type	Share	Comments
European funds	75
National funds	25

Socio-economic

Direct benefits information:

No direct economical benefits

Ancillary benefits information:

No additional indirect economical benefits

Costs investment:

18000

Costs investment information:

EUR 6000 for technical design, EUR 12 0000 dam building

Costs operation maintenance:

There is no need for operational costs

Costs total:

18000

Costs total information:

Operational costs costs are not foreseen for this measure

Ecosystem improved biodiversity:

Information on Ecosystem improved biodiversity:

Changes in vegetation are insignificant yet as it takes more time for plants to restore. However, typical raised bog species like bog-moss Sphagnum cuspidatum and cotton-grass Eriophorum vaginatum have begun to dominate percentage cover while the cover of heather Calluna vulgaris has begun to decrease.

Information on Ecosystem provisioning services:

Not yet. Increase of wild berries (cranberries) is expected

Ecosystem impact climate regulation:

Not relevant for the specific application

Economic costs income loss unit:

€/ha

Ecosystem erosion control impact unit:

% reduction

Policy, general governance and design targets

Policy description:

Restoration of degraded area of raised bog thus providing appropriate living conditions for plant and animal species, many of them rare and protected in EU

Quantified objectives:

4.0

Policy pressure:

Policy requirement directive:

Policy impact:

Policy wider plan:

Policy area:

Policy target:

Target purpose
Increase Water Storage
Improved Biodiversity
Peak-flow reduction
Runoff control

Design & implementations

Application scale:

Plot

Installation date:

2012-09

Age:

Performance timescale:

< 1 year

Area (ha):

Area subject to Land use change or Management/Practice change (ha):

Size:

Size unit:

Design capacity unit:

Design capacity description:

It is obseved increase of groundwater level is 0.15-0.2 m and decrease of groundwater level fluctation, after the dam building on drainage ditches.

Basis of design:

not measured

Constraints:

Due to natural conditions, there was no possibility to use technique and dams were built by hand. Unfortunately the part of the dams is partly washed out by water now and in a result raised bog is not restored as expected.

Favourable preconditions:

Location in Especially Protected Nature Area and Natura 2000 site

Public consultation:

Contractural arrangements:

Design contractual arrangement:

Arrangement type	Role	Responsibility	Name	Comments
Contractual agreement	Development of nature management plan	Development of nature management plan	Latvijas Fund for nature
Contractual agreement		Development of technical design and construction of NWRM	Melioprojekts

Design consultation activity:

Activity stage	Name	Key issues	Comments
Other	Stackholder consutation	location of dam sites, changes of groundwater level, impact on habitats	In total 4 stakeholders meetings were organised during the whole elaboration process of nature management plan (elaboration of technical design of NWRM is included). Meeting were attended by local governance, inhabitants, relevant state institutions ect.

Design land use change:

Land use change type
Peat bogs

Design authority:

Authority type	Role	Responsibility	Name	Comments
Other	Initiation of the measure		University of Latvia	Project manager, iniciator of the measure, monitoring
Other	Monitoring		SJSC Latvian state forests	Manager of state-owned forest lands and Aklais Mire is located in state-owned forest land

Last updated: 12 Jan 2015 | Top

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Restoration of raised bog Aklais in Latvia

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