In the 50's and 60’s, the alluvial plain of the Alzette river was deeply modified in order to develop intensive agriculture. As a result, the water retention was reduced and ecological value declined. The project aimed at restoring the ecological state of the Alzette in Drumontshaff (Luxembourg). The two mains tasks of the project were to restore the natural functioning of the Alzette river (frequent overflowing and flooding of aside...
A series of experiments, created by University of Helsinki, Fifth Dimension – Green Roofs in Urban Areas -research program. The green roofs are constructed in nine towns of Finland. The aim is to study green roofs from the perspectives of biodiversity and ecological, social and economical sustainability. The special case study to analyse the costs and benefits related to green roofs were carried out for Helsinki in 2013.
River restoration and flood management measures were implemented on the River Quaggy in London. The measures were necessary due to increasing urban development in the river valley and natural flood plain, with an associated increase in fluvial flooding. A suite of measures was implemented between 1990 and 2005, including de-culverting a reach of river and creating associated floodplain; building a detention basin; set-back flood defences;...
The Polish governmental agreement on water retention in small scale infrastructures was signed in 1995 to improve the structure of the water balance of small catchments by 2015. The regional authorities (voivodships) had to elaborate the programme of small retention development which was accomplished in 1996 for most of the regions. The planned increase in the volume of retention waters was based mainly on small water bodies (ponds), which...
The coastal part of the Ezousa riverbed aquifer, stretches up to 8 km from the coasts of Pafos district. The measure implementation concern the utilization of the local aquifer as a natural reservoir for natural filtration, storage and reuse of water, by creating and feeding infiltration ponds located in the riverbed. The water consists of tertiary treated sewage originating from the Paphos sewage treatment plant.
The objective is the improvement of the navigation conditions on the Danube between Calarasi and Braila, in Romania, by ensuring the minimum depths of 2.5 m of the fairway recommended by the Danube Commission during the entire year, including the dry season.
The Kylmäojankorpi case study represents research work where water quality (dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity, turbidity, and temperature) and stream-stage measured continuously. The existing forest wetland (c.a. 11ha), Kylmäojankorpi, is located in Vantaa city which is neighboring the capital city Helsinki. The study results show that forested wetland improves and regulates stream water quality and flow regime. The obtained knowledge...
This case study focuses on the restoration of the Aurino stream. River restoration measures were implemented along the Aurino stream as part of the Aurino management plan. Interventions were implemented in different moments within the years 2003-2011. The objectives were flood protection and, secondarily, the improvement of the natural environment. Different interventions were implemented to widen the river bed, such as for example: (i)...
The Landscape Revitalization Program is a main tool for solving ecosystem problems but also flood and drought risks included improvements in rainwater retention, primarily, in the territory where rainwater falls or in damaged parts on the landscape. The program restore landscape retention ability by different water retention elements.
Germasogeia river (also known as Amathos river) crosses the premises of Germasogeia municipality, close to the city of Limassol on the south end of Cyprus. The aim of the measure implementation is to enable natural purification of water and recharge of Germasogeia aquifer, processes that were disrupted by the construction of an upstream dam. This is succeeded by gradually releasing water from the upstream dam and maintaining the high...
Fluvial and ecosystem restoration of the Arga-Aragón Rivers systems by combining measures.
This initiative (partially carried out within the framework of the Mink Territory LIFE+ Project), implemented at the lower reaches of the Arga River and lower and medium reaches of the Aragón River (two of the main tributaries of the Ebro River, Comunidad Foral de Navarra, NE Spain), included a combination of measures involving meanders, wetlands...
The Odelouca River: Natural bank stabilization and riparian buffer galleries as part of mitigation and compensatory measures and through the use of bio-engineering techniques.
This project carried out in the Odelouca River (sub-catchment of the Arade River Basin, Algarve Region, South of Portugal) entailed the implementation of measures focused on the use of bio-engineering or natural techniques for rehabilitation of riparian buffer...
The main actions of the project, which formed part of a larger programme aimed at reducing the levels of pollution, was directed at restoring habitats important for
the survival of bird species. Such restoration was done by improving the lagoon's water circulation, through the removal of sediments, the creation of a
new marsh, flooding an area previously used for agriculture and the installation of equipment to control and...
The annual cycle of flows in the Morava River, south of Bratislava, and its tributaries were modified in three sites leading to restoration of the wetland biotic complexes and movements between fragments of habitat isolated by land use. Thanks to Biodiversity Protection project, funded by the Global environmental Trust Fund and national funds, 4 oxbows and over 19km of floodplain were restored.
Restoration of the length of the Borova stream, increased by 6.3 km a shallow meandering stream bed, where sections of speedily running water alternated with sections of a slow stream were created, financed by the Ministry of Environment of Czech Republic.
The Wimbe basin is about 112 km2 in size and is classified as a continental bioregion. The basin consists of the water bodies LE8-10. The municipalities within the basin are Daverdisse, Wellin, Beauraing, Gedinne and Rochefort. The basin’s land use is 2% urban, 21% arable, 11% pasture and 66% forest. The region where the stream flows is representative of the Famenne schisteuse and the landscape is open. The region is vulnerable to both floods...
This scheme is currently under development as part of a large residential scheme at Leidsche Rijn, near Utrecht in the Netherlands. The scheme is ambitious in terms of its water management and extensive use of SuDS. It aims to prevent discharges from the site as far as possible (through storage and infiltration) as well as to reduce inputs of poor-quality water from elsewhere. Management of existing and new water bodies on the site will be...
Measures to attenuate runoff were installed in the small Belford catchment, in northeast England, in order to reduce the risk of flooding to the village downstream. The installations involved a network of small measures to capture and delay runoff from the rural catchment, including detention basins and overland flow features, as well as sediment capture measures to improve water quality.
The Pesnica river catchment is characterized by intensive agricultural production, mainly cattle/pig breeding and arable farming. In spring and summer, the catchment is exposed to drought, while in autumn and winter to severe precipitation events. Soils with a high proportion of clay, which are subject to rapid surface runoff, erosion and nutrient leaching, are further contributing to unfavourable conditions. Market requirements regarding...
The LIVEDRAVA project, funded by LIFE programe, involved the transformation of 61 ha of former wastewater basins into a semi-natural wetland within others. It was carried out in the Drava River, in the east of Slovenia.
The Central Sava Basin (CSB), located in Croatia, is an area that combines natural values with the function of storage of floodwaters of the Sava River. One of the most important areas is the Lonjsko Polje area. About 23 706 ha of this Nature Park is used as the largest detention area in the Central Sava Basin. The purpose of the Life project "Central Posavina – Wading toward Integrated Basin Management" (2006 -2008) was to develop...
The Lèze is a river located in the South of France, near the Pyrenees, on the French departments Ariège and Haute-Garonne. The case study concerns the implementation of floodbreaking hedges, which are located across the flood plain of the Lèze and are regularly spaced (every 300 to 500 metres). Partially obstructing the flow, such hedges can slow down running water and dissipate its energy. The project has been financed by the SMIVAL (20%),...
This measure is located near the village of Gravenvoeren in eastern Belgium. It was a low-cost project to retain mudstreams/erosion consequences by the building of a horizontal dyke/dams at the bottom in the valley, which will retain the water longer in the valley, so reducing runoff and sediment transport to the villages downstream. Additionally they changed crop growing from corn to grasslands to help reduce erosion.