PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
The rivers Drawa, Grabowa and Radew are among the most important places in West Pomerania for water crowfoot (Ranunculus aquatilis), an aquatic plant at the eastern border of its range. It is a defining vegetation of the Natura 2000 network habitat type ‘water courses of plain to montane levels with the Ranunculion fluitantis and Callitricho-Batrachion vegetation’, which is listed in Annex I of the Habitats Directive. The lowland rivers characterised by this habitat type form one of the region’s most important wildlife corridors, but they are vulnerable to habitat degradation. In particular, barriers on rivers potentially impact fish and mollusc migration, and threaten the whole Drawa river drainage basin.
OBJECTIVES
The objective of the LIFEDrawaPL project was the active protection of lowland rivers in West Pomerania, including the Drawa, Grabowa, Radew and Korytnica. The project aimed to improve river habitats, with the construction of fish spawning-grounds. The ultimate project goal was to positively affect biodiversity in the restored Drawa river wildlife corridor and its tributaries. The project’s specific actions, planned in Natura 2000 network sites and the Drawa National Park included:
- Conservation and improvement of Habitats Directive Annex 1 listed vegetation and habitat in five Natura 2000 sites;
- Reintroduction of opposite-leaved pondweed (Groenlandia densa);
- Removal of existing barriers, and hydrotechnical structure adjustments, in order to make upper-river areas more accessible to migrating species, such as river lamprey (Lampetra fluviatilis) and Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar);
- Enhancement of natural river reproduction for river lamprey (Lampetra fluviatilis), Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), European bullhead (Cottus gabio)and spined loach (Cobitis taenia); and
- Creation of educational tourism activities in the Drawa river drainage basin area.
RESULTS
The LIFEDrawaPL project carried out conservation measures to improve the Drawa river basin in Poland, protecting crowfoot (Batrachium) habitat and restoring the wildlife corridor. Specific results include:
- Reintroduction of 6 000 opposite-leaved pondweed (Groenlandia densa) plants on an area of 400 m2;
- Creation of 180 m2 of gravel riverbed fragments for Groenlandia densa and 625 m2 of gravel for crowfoot (Batrachium sp.);
- Removal of the invasive alien species monkeyflower (Mimulus guttatus) on 3.61 ha;
- Construction of an anti-erosion dam for protection of crowfoot, as well as two fish passes on the Drawa river and two new semi-natural passes on the Korytnica river;
- Installation of a floating steering system towards the Kamienna fish pass;
- Removal of a uncontrolled old dam;
- Restoration of a near 6 km stretch of river with 57 close-to-nature stony and gravel structures as rapids and pools systems
- Preparation of 1 341 m2 of gravel bottom for fish spawning grounds;
- Organisation of 193 anti-poaching patrols and the signing of an intention letter for an anti-poaching coalition of key stakeholders;
- Creation of four camp sites to channel the movement of visitors and the construction of an observation/educational tower in front of the Kamienna fish pass; and
Monitoring of the impact of measures of the natural value, hydrology and local economy, leading to reports relevant for the project’s sustainability.
Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report and After-LIFE Conservation Plan (see "Read more" section).
