Conservation of selected habitats and species in Ostoja Sowiska PLH220023 and Pobrzee Sowiskie PLB220003 Stage I

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

BACKGROUND

Habitats in the Lupawa river and its floodplain in the Slowinski National Park are impacted by river regulation, eutrophication of oxbow lakes, and disturbance of natural fluvial processes in shallow water riverbeds. These factors put in danger areas where lamprey and other migratory fish spawn. A dam and power plant in Smoldzino also make fish migrations to upper river areas practically impossible. Furthermore, restoring nesting habitats of migratory bird species listed in Annex I and II of the Birds Directive is owing, in particular, the polders around Lake Gardno (that require annual mowing) and the elimination of predatory American mink. Low awareness among local community on quality and importance of their surrounding natural heritage is reflected in poaching, walking off designated trails, habitat destruction, and pollution. The unmanaged impact of tourists and birdwatchers is an additional threat to the Gardno polders.

OBJECTIVES

The LIFENaturaSlowinskaPL project aimed to modernise the drainage system of the Lupawa river floodplain to help regulate water levels, depending on the habitat needs of fish and birds in the Slowiński National Park. Specific project objectives included:

• clearing the Lupawa river wildlife corridor for migrating fish, including the construction of a fish ladder to circle around the dam at the hydroelectric power plant in Smoldzino;
• improving natural fluvial processes in distinctive habitats of the Lupawa river valley, along a 2.3 km long river section;
• developing appropriate habitats to ensure effective protection of wetland birds.

RESULTS

The project was fully completed, and all foreseen objectives were achieved. The most important achievements were the restoration of the Łupawa River valley (19 ha of habitats 3260-1, 3250-2 and *91E0-3), the improvement of the water condition of 400 ha of habitats of wetland birds and streamlining of 17.5 km of Łupawa River through the construction of a fish ladder.

Main results include:

• renovation of the drainage system of the Łupawa river floodplain to help regulate water levels to ensure effective protection of the birds and the area of 360 ha;
• clearing of the Łupawa river wildlife corridor through the construction of a fish ladder that allows the fish to bypass the dam at the hydroelectric power plant in Smołdzino;
  • By the end of the project 15 species (including the lampreys) were registered during upstream migration monitoring, and a total of 3 035 individuals were recorded during the period from 06/2020 to 11/2023.
• improvement of the natural fluvial processes in distinctive habitats of the Łupawa river valley along a 2.3 km long river section;
• improvements in over 50 ha of meadows that were subject to periodical floods by the Gardno Lake waters;
• renovation of 7 oxbow lakes located along 1.2 km of the Łupawa river valley;
• restoration of the lowland and sub-montane river with Batrachion vegetation communities (along a section of 2.3 km) and a natural floodplain of the Łupawa river (20 ha) with typical vegetation, including priority alder-ash riparian forest.