E
cosystem
servicesdelivered
Provisioning
Regulation & maintenance
Cultural
Abiotic
C
ontribution
topolicyobjectives
Water Framework Directive
Floods Directive
Birds & Habitats Directive
2020 Biodiversity Strategy
P
otential
biophysicaleffects
Runoff
Reducing pollution
Soil conservation
Habitat
Climate Change
High
Low
Medium
None
Reconnected oxbows and side arms fill in and retain water from the main river, which can play an important role in case of high waters and floods. Although the retention
capacity of the single application is usually not large,
cumulative effects
on flood risk reduction can be high.
The re-connection of oxbows and side arms may significantly impact
sediment erosion/deposition patterns
through re-distribution of flow and altered velocities. As long
as appropriately designed, this may improve the status of hydromorphology quality elements and help to prevent surface water status deterioration.
Oxbow lakes and re-connected side arms may play an important role in
creating habitats
but care should be paid not to destroy pre-existing oxbow lake habitats. Often these
habitats are used for spawning places by fish and other aquatic groups, so fish stocks can increase. That in turn contributes to improving the status of biology quality elements.
Bank
vegetation
often expands after re-connection because of improved water regime, and populations of water birds, amphibian, reptilian and mammal species can increase.
Restoration of natural green areas significantly contributes to 2020 Biodiversity Strategy and provides aesthetic and cultural value.
