PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Salaca River is divided into three river water bodies with different pressures and hydro-morphological features. Although physico-chemical quality elements show that the river is at good and high status, total biological quality is not good.
Salaca River and its tributaries host populations of several fish species listed in Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC. The status of the majority of these fish species greatly depends on the quantity, quality and availability of spawning and rearing habitats located in fast flowing parts of the rivers. The status of the salmon population and most of the other protected fish species in Salaca and its tributaries has deteriorated. Since 2016, the production of salmon young has not reached 75% of the potential, and monitoring of fish fauna shows that the abundance of specimens of other protected fish species has decreased.
To improve the status of the habitats of protected species, several small-scale river restoration projects have been carried out in both Salaca River and its tributaries. In Salaca River, most of these projects were aimed at reducing vegetation by different methods (cutting, ploughing, using high pressure water pumps to loosen the riverbed, etc.). In the tributaries, most restoration projects were related to the removal of large wood blockages and beaver dams that were lowering the current speed and silt carrying capacity. So far, no noteworthy activities have been carried out in riparian area.
Very limited data are available on the success of these projects and actual changes in fish fauna and water quality is very limited. The lack of reliable information limits the planning and implementation of catchment-scale solutions for the improvement of the quality, quantity and availability of habitats for protected fish species as well as activities for improvement of water quality of Salaca River and its tributaries.
OBJECTIVES
The LIFE IS SALACA project focuses on improving the quality of the rivers in Salaca River sub-catchment (Gauja River Basin). Salaca River valley is in the Natura 2000 site ‘’Salaca river valley’’.
The main objective of the project is to achieve good water status or potential of Salaca River and its tributaries as required by the Water Framework Directive (WFD) and to attain the objectives of the Habitats Directive (HD) and the EU Biodiversity Strategy, through complex management activities in the Salaca River sub-catchment.
The aim of the project is also to show and demonstrate a new way of managing riparian forests, sequestering nutrients and nitrogen, as well as reducing eutrophication. This will be done by optimal selection of tree species composition which will positively affect and increase the diversity of vegetation in the forest stand.
The project’s specific objectives are to:
- Develop a new approach for ecological quality assessment (common view of Habitat Directive and Water Framework directive) for Salaca river sub-catchment.
- Restore habitat 3260 (Water courses of plain to montane levels with the Ranunculion fluitantis and Callitricho Batrachion vegetation) with new methods.
- Carry out an evaluation of ecosystem services in the Salaca river valley.
- Prepare a new and integrated Natura 2000 site management plan, that will contain management activities necessary to implement WFD measures, regulate tourism pressures, ensure ecosystem services, etc.
RESULTS
The project’s expected results are:
Improvement of water quality over 76 km of the Salaca River sub catchment by restoration of habitat 3260.
Transformation of 65 hectares of riparian forests, providing more diverse vegetation that will prevent soil erosion.
Replacement of single-species grey alder stands with species-rich forests over 25 hectares (220m3/ha of biomass to be used in other activities).
Restoration of rapids with a new method over 20 hectares, which will improve the habitat for four important species: Salmon, European river and brook lamprey, and thick pear mussel.
Development of a new integrated Natura 2000 site management plan, covering 12-15 years, which will also contain management activities necessary to implement WFD measures.
Guidelines for a harmonised Habitat Directive and WFD monitoring network based on the Salaca sub-catchment example.
