PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Floodplain habitats as well as associated riverine habitats are considered to be in a deteriorated or poor condition throughout the continental zone. In Poland, the conservation status of many of the floodplain habitats has been declining in recent years. By disrupting the continuity of a watercourse (barriers to longitudinal continuity), life processes of some aquatic organisms are disrupted as well.
River pollution, fragmentation and regulation, removal of riparian vegetation, legal or illegal gravel mining within spawning grounds, as well as overfishing in both the marine and river fisheries are the main causes of the extinction of Atlantic salmon in Poland. As of today, effective natural spawning has been evidenced annually from 2009 in the Slupia river and in recent years in Drawa, Łupawa and most likely also Parsęta rivers. Therefore, it is important to support these declining populations through improving their habitat, increasing protection, dam removals, improving fish passage and restoration of river sections that could support spawning and function as nursery areas. The project will implement all these measures and contribute to restoration and strengthening of Atlantic salmon and other fish populations in Parsęta.
OBJECTIVES
The overarching objective of the LIFE FOR RIVERS project is to demonstrate the restoration of healthy river and riparian ecosystems to a "Free-Flowing River Status" by eliminating barriers to ecological continuity across various dimensions, including longitudinal, lateral, vertical, temporal, socioeconomical, and administrative aspects.
This initiative seeks to enable Member States to achieve the objectives outlined in both the Habitats Directive, which focuses on maintaining or restoring species and habitat types to a favorable conservation status within the EU, and the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, which includes a target for the southern Baltic Sea region (reaching 25K of free-flowing rivers).The project will also support implementation of other EU policies, i.e. Water Framework Directive and EU Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change, by restoring healthy freshwater ecosystems and rebuilding their climate change resilience and ecosystem services.
The foreseen outcomes :
1.Reestablishing ecological continuity in the Parsęta basin, serving as a case study for potential scaling up.
2.Rehabilitating riverbeds, wetlands, and riparian habitats to a state closely resembling their natural condition within the valleys. The target habitat types for improvement include 91D0, 91E0, 91F0, 3260, 3270, 6410, and 7140.
3.Reclaiming habitat areas for the riverine target fish community - by restoring the migration passage and character of the Parsęta river catchment (focusing on 1106 Atlantic salmon Salmo salar (U2)) and improving conditions for natural spawning of fish and lamprey species listed in the Annexes of the Habitats Directive (1099 Lampetra fluviatilis (U2), 1096 Lampetra planeri, 1149 Cobitis taenia, 1163 Cottus gobio, 1109 Thymallus thymallus).
4.Enhancing the provision of ecosystem services to address climate change adaptation by employing Nature-Based Solutions, which will increase water retention capabilities.
5.Reducing nutrient delivery and enhancing the self-purification capacity of the river valley.
6.Augmenting migratory fish populations.
7.Developing an upscaling protocol in the form of a strategic plan to practically implement the concept of free-flowing rivers in other watershed demonstration sites.
8.Disseminating project findings to river basin managers through activities such as training sessions, knowledge exchange trips, and other participatory educational events.
9.Promoting and increasing public involvement by establishing a volunteer-based "Parsęta Rangers" program.
RESULTS
The expected impact will be measured through:
- Reduction in the length of Parsęta River which is currently not achieving good ecological status (from 495 km to 361 km) and effective improvement in ecological status in 134km of riverine habitat;
- Improvement of the condition and functioning of target habitats ((approx. 13 % of total area of the habitats: *91D0, 91E0*, 91F0, 3260, 3270, 6410, 7140) in a total area of 1,073 ha;
- Restored and/or maintained population of 6 species: 1106 Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), 1099 river lamprey (Lampetra fluviatilis), 1096 brook lamprey (Lampetra planeri), 1149 spined loach (Cobitis taenia), 1163 European bullhead (Cottus gobio) and 1109 European grayling (Thymallus thymallus);
- Improving conditions for natural spawning of fish and lamprey species listed in the Annexes of the Habitats Directive (1106, 1099,1096,1149,1163, 1109) in the area of 38.7 ha;
- Restoration of spawning areas for 1106 Atlantic salmon in a total area of 8,7 ha, which will result in an increase in the
number of spawning nests by at least 10%;
- Increase the size of the existing 1106 Atlantic salmon population from the Parsęta river basin through construction of spawning areas and increased conservation measures by at least 10% (25 individuals - from 250 to 275 adult Atlantic salmon observed per year);
- Restoring the ecological continuity of the rivers in the Parsęta River Basin. The Parsęta river network has 157 barriers out of which 83 barriers will be made passable, which will reopen 440 km of the river, of which 330 km will be the direct impact of the L4R project;
- Elimination of 23 barriers located on rivers by building 9 fish passes, demolition of 14 weirs and construction of rapids with a total area of 10,5 ha.
- Stimulated restorations of habitat 91F0 on 2 ha. About 30 clumps consisting of four key tree species (Field elm Ulmus minor, Pedunculate elm Ulmus laevis, Pedunculate oak Quercus robur, Common ash Fraxinus excelsior), each with about 370 seedlings obtained from local nurseries, will be planted on an average planting area of about 650 m²;
- Restoring the natural character of the upper Parsęta, Radew and Dębnica rivers along a section of 26 km;
- Free-flowing river status will be evaluated before and after the project following guidance in Van de Bund et al 2024. It is
expected that a ~100 km gain in free-flowing river status can be achieved;
- The project rivers awarded with Blue Flag Award.