Meadows and pastures
Meadows are areas or fields whose main vegetation is grass, or other non-woody plants, used for mowing and haying. Pastures are grassed or wooded areas, moorland or heathland, generally used for grazing. Due to their rooted soils and their permanent cover, meadows and pastures provide good conditions for the uptake and storage of water during temporary floods. They also protect water quality by trapping sediments and assimilating nutrients.
The measure offers the potential for temporary flood storage, increased water retention in the landscape and runoff attenuation. Soil cover is maintained at all times with rooted vegetation, this reduces the surface flow of water and allows greater infiltration to the soil. Rates of soil erosion are considerably lower than arable land with potential benefits for water quality.
Flooded meadow, Scotland (UK)
Source: Chris Spray’s presentation, NWRM Workshop 1 (Scotland)
Benefits |
Level![]() |
---|---|
BP2 - Slow runoff | High |
BP10 - Reduce erosion and/or sediment delivery | High |
ES7 - Flood risk reduction | High |
ES8 - Erosion/sediment control | High |
PO9 - Take adequate and co-ordinated measures to reduce flood risks | High |
PO11 - Better protection for ecosystems and more use of Green Infrastructure | High |
BP6 - Increase infiltration and/or groundwater recharge | Low |
BP11 - Improve soils | Low |
PO5 - Improving quantitative status | Low |
PO8 - Prevent groundwater status deterioration | Low |
BP5 - Increase evapotranspiration | Medium |
BP7 - Increase soil water retention | Medium |
BP17 - Absorb and/or retain CO2 | Medium |
ES5 - Climate change adaptation and mitigation | Medium |
ES6 - Groundwater/aquifer recharge | Medium |
ES9 - Filtration of pollutants | Medium |
PO3 - Improving status of hydromorphology quality elements | Medium |
PO7 - Prevent surface water status deterioration | Medium |
PO12 - More sustainable agriculture and forestry | Medium |
PO14 - Prevention of biodiversity loss | Medium |
- Alzette river restoration in Dumonshaff, Luxembourg
- Dyke relocation on the river Elbe near Lenzen, Germany
- Flood meadows in the Marais Poitevin, France
- Holter-Hammrich Area - Flood Protection and Nature Conservation, Germany
- Restoration of Wetlands in the Western Lowland Area of the Dümmer Lake, Germany
- Horstergrub sediment management, Belgium
- River basin management of the Ill, France
- Log in to post comments