Property:Monitoring surveys and results
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This is a property of type Text.
B
Scientific banding for Acrocephalus paludicola, enviromental education campaigns, monitoring of passerines during winter. As a result, populations of many passerines have increased. +
M
See the latest monitoring results on the projects webpage http://www.life-march.at/monitoring.html +
See: http://www.misbourneriveraction.org/node/18 , http://www.misbourneriveraction.org/node/20 , etc +
L
Several monitoring technqiues will be employed as part of this project including:
Fixed point photography
SEdiment sampling
Electro Fishing
Aerial Photography +
R
Significant water quality monitoring of the River Nent and the point source discharges from the abandoned metal mines has been carried out by the Environment Agency in recent years.
The water quality results from 3 of the main discharges are summarised below. As the concentrations of metals and rate of flow is variable in discharges like these, the figures below are presented as minimum to maximum ranges taken from the EA catchment characterisation report.
Caplecleugh
• Zinc:2700 - 8810 kg/yr
• Lead: 0 – 10 kg/yr
• Cadmium: 0 - 10 kg/yr
Rampgill
• Zinc: 170 - 400 kg/yr
• Lead: 0 – 2kg/yr
• Cadmium: 0.24 - 0.76 kg/yr
Haggs
• Zinc: 2000 – 5100 kg/yr
• Lead: 0 – 1 kg/yr
• Cadmium: 2 – 3.3 kg/yr
River Nent at Alston
• Zinc: 2300 - 35000 kg/yr
• Lead: 20 – 600 kg/yr
• Cadmium: 10 - 90 kg /yr +
Since 1997, the restoration works have allowed the recovery of 7 km of meanders and about 300 ha of wetlands and dry grasslands.
The monitoring showed an improvement in habitats quality, although variable depending on the restoration techniques used and on the specific stretches. Anomalies in relation to species distribution suggested impacts due to diffuse chemical pollution (wood processing, rail network ballast, etc.) for which specific measures have been defined. Soon after the works the groundwater table raised by several tens of cm, and later as much as 70 to 80 cm in the upstream and middle Drugeon .
The diversity of the techniques used and the extended monitoring allowed to draw some conclusions about the experience, e.g.: the deepening of meanders must be very limited, it is better to undersize the bed and choose an almost rectangular section, allowing self-adjustments of the bed by the river dynamics ; filling of the straight channel should take into account the compaction of the filling material, in order to avoid that the old channel is reactivated during floods.
The local population is globally satisfied with the results of the project. The budget showed that the cost of restoration was of the same order of magnitude of the expenses for the straightening of the river system.
Since 2003, the site is part of the Ramsar network. In 2004, a prefectural decree issued a protected biotope status on 3,000 hectares of wetlands.
The future restoration measures will be more directed towards the improvement of water quality by treating urban wastewater , renewing networks and controlling agricultural pollution. +
G
Since the introduction of this large quantity of dead wood, water levels have risen between 0.27 and 0.65 m. The stream bed has risen by 0.17 m due to sediment deposition. +
R
Site visits with Fisheries, Biodiversity and Geomorphology team and fixed point photography will be used pre- and post-restoration to monitor the evolution of the works over time. Still to be completed. +
So far, there have been no flooding problems because of the change in vegetation. However, the observed years were quite dry and had no large peak in discharge. Further monitoring will have to show the effects of this measure in years with a high discharge peak. +
N
Some monitoring of the pass will enable the Board and Trust to ascertain if the remedial works have proved to be effective. If feasible the River Don Trust hope to use an underwater camera to ascertain if fish are passing though the pass under a wide range of flows. +
D
Spot sampling for phosphate at 8 points through the Foston Brook catchment on 3 occasions
Metaldehyde testing in the lower, arable part of the catchment.
With support from the Rivers Trust we also used 'Farmscoper' to find out which actions would have the greatest impact on phosphate levels and used this to make a bespoke leaflet for farmers.
We had hoped to be able to impact on localised flooding issues in the village of Scropton and although our work should have generally a positive influence the effects will be too diffuse to demonstrate in terms of flooding, and a more local capital solution is being considered by the Lead Flood Authority. +
B
Stablish crops of ecologic rice, regenerate habitats of wetlands enviroments, recover local vegetation and conserve aquatic birds. As a result, new natural spaces have been created and local vegetation and wildlife has recovered. +
T
Students at the University of Southampton are monitoring the Bossington Estate project, and are working with the Environment Agency on other sites too. +
S
Students of the HAS Hogeschool have found that the measures have had a positive effect on the ecology. There is now more diversity in macroinvertebrates, including the common clubtail and certain heteroptera species. Hydromorphological effects were positive as well. The wood packages have created more variation in flow velocity and substrate. The backwater effects of the wood created a more favourable hydraulic gradient in the stream. It also requires much less maintenance now. The large improvement in ecological status may also be related to the increased shading, but it is still too soon to conclude that. +
Strengthening associated biodiversity of habitat 92A0 and control of Invasive Alien Species in the Segura River (LIFE + Ripisilvanatura) +
Surveys have been carried out to study biodiversity indicators focused on five components:
- indigenous riparian habitats and their ecological quality (vegetation
- Physicochemical water quality
- Aquatic macroinvertebrates and quality index
- Riparian birds
- Semi-aquatic vertebrates: Otter (Lutra lutra) and water rat (Arvicola sapidus)
In addition, other faunistic taxa(amphibians and reptiles, bats and molluscs) have been incorporated as a goal of monitoring. +
Surveys have shown that park visits have increased significantly. And people who used the park before, are now staying longer. One in four only started visiting the park after the improvements.
*The number of park visits increased by 73%
*People stay longer, on average 47 minutes per visit compared to 34 minutes
*Total time spent in the park per person per month increased by more than 3.5 hours
*28% of people surveyed started visiting only recently, due to the improvements
*More people visited more often, stayed longer and were more likely to visit to exercise and for health
*Analysis showed that visitors’ self esteem increased the longer they had spent exercising in the natural environment.
*Local green spaces are an important health resource for surrounding communities.
'''83% of visitors feel differently in the park now the River Quaggy runs though it, because of increased biodiversity, better opportunities for recreation, and the peacefulness and relaxation of being near water.
Before restoration, Sutcliffe Park was a flat green area, lacking biodiversity, with the Quaggy River running in an underground culvert. Interesting bird species have now been seen in the new wetlands including heron, little ringed plover, common sandpiper, wagtails including yellow and grey, with linnets and goldfinches feeding on the groundsel. Equally as exciting are the numbers of dragonflies and damselflies that can be seen around the lake, in the wetland pools and along the Quaggy River. Emperor dragonflies (Europe's largest species) have colonised the park and have been seen ovipositing (egg laying) in the water bodies and the river channel soon after completion of the scheme. Large numbers of the attractive red common darter, black tailed skimmer, common blue and blue tailed damselflies can also be seen using the marginal plants in summer time. Water figwort, celery leaved buttercup and gypsywort are all valuable species which have self seeded along the river channel. Bats have also been detected along the river corridor.
The re-naturalisation of the river for flood management and re-landscaping work has lead to the site being recently designated as a local nature reserve.
T
Surveys of macroinvertebrates, macrophytes, fish communities and juvenile salmonids are conducted by the Environment Agency before and after restoration work on some reaches. In some cases River Habitat Survey, HabScore, and MORPH surveys have also been carried out.
Extensive before and after surveys have also been carried out by external parties. For example, Southampton University PhD students have been monitoring some restored sites for several years (yet to be published) and Sparsholt College students have carried before and after fish surveys on the River Test.
One technique used to record change has been before and after photography. Images have the power to show dramatic change between before and after completion.
At one reach the Environment Agency asked anglers to complete a questionnaire which will be repeated to determine perceptions of the river before and after restoration. This is more than just a satisfaction survey, as it seeks to capture emotions and values.
Feedback from land and river-owners and river keepers is crucially important to evaluating the works and shaping future schemes.
To date all the flora and fauna survey work has shown the benefits of each restoration and that the goals and objectives of the strategy are being achieved. +
B
Technical studies were completed, authorisations obtained and management plans were prepared for the three sites.
A total of 25 Cantabrian chamois (''Rupicapra pyrenaica parva'') were reintroduced and seven young were born, bringing the total to 32 animals present at the end of the project.
Some 62 ha of land was bought (34 plots) and reforested with beech (''Fagus silvatica'') forest, and agreements were signed for the reforestation on an additional 23 ha. An agreement to lease 30 ha of holm oak forest was obtained. Agreements with hunting associations to lease hunting rights and create no-hunting zones were signed for 4 226 ha within the SCIs. Forestry management included planting of trees, protecting trees with photodegradable guards, creating fire breaks, and scrub clearance. As a result of this project work, monitoring showed that numbers of the following species had increased: wolf, European hare (''Lepus europaeus''), Roe deer (''Capreolus capreolus''), common wood pigeon (''Columba palumbus'') and Golden eagle (''Aguila chrysaetos''). Fencing was erected at the entrance to a cave, which was being used for sheltering livestock, to reduce disturbance to several colonies of two Habitats Directive Annex II bat species (''Rinolophus ferrumequinum'' and ''R. hipposideros''). Since its installation, the colonies have increase from 12 to 22. Three dams were to be removed on the Asón river – but this was revised to the building of fish passes instead. These were not established in the project duration although the necessary permissions were obtained. After an environmental impact assessment and hydrological studies, 12.5 ha of the Montehano salt marsh was re-flooded and 13 ha of exotic species, such as Eucalyptus, were removed. Surveillance patrols managed fire risk and hunting, as well and ecological monitoring. An interpretive centre was set up and outreach included school children, farmers, fishermen, hunters, tourists and cavers. In addition to the land the project purchased, a further 63 ha were ceded by councils and associations for restoration and conservation.
At the end of the project, the Foundation obtained an Interreg IIIB [Interreg is an EU-funded programme, IIIB deals with transnational co-operation involving national, regional and local authorities] project (“Waterwaysnet”) to allow the awareness-raising and habitat investigation actions to continue.
The broad awareness-raising campaign has reached women’s associations, schoolchildren (12 schools, 1 500 students in 2000-2001), the general public, farming and fishing unions, sports associations(cavers), tourism-related institutions. In all, some 35 institutions have been informed about the project.
H
Technically robust information will be available to inform the Hoveton Wetlands Restoration Project, increased understanding of the wider implications of the project on Broad fisheries status as a whole. Benefits include angler participation and support for the restoration projects.
The objectives are to significantly improve the condition of the lake by creating clear water conditions in which a variety of plants and animals thrive. NE are leading on an ambitious £4.5m project funded by LIFE+ and Heritage Lottery Fund to undertake sediment removal and biomanipulation of the fish populations with the aim of resorting the lake to good status including for fish. Our aim is to support our partners in this project, add to our understanding of Broadland fisheries, and shallow lake restoration measures. +
B
Thanks to the measures, the river valley landscape has become more varied, which has been good for tourism. The valley now features a series of long natural levees. +