Case study:Restoration of the lowland river system Grote Nete

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Location: 51° 6' 1.06" N, 4° 47' 27.58" E

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Project overview

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Status	Complete
Project web site	http://www.life-grotenete.be/
Themes	Habitat and biodiversity
Country	Belgium
Main contact forename	Tom
Main contact surname	De Beelde
Main contact user ID
Contact organisation	Natuurpunt Beheer v.z.w.
Contact organisation web site	http://natuurpunt.be/default.aspx
Partner organisations
Parent multi-site project
This is a parent project encompassing the following projects	No

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Project summary

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This project targeted 1850 ha in the valley of the Grote Nete to restore a habitat mosaic landscape. The valley holds 11 remarkable habitat types, including sand dune and dune-heath vegetation, dry heath, species-rich grasslands, aquatic plant communities and forests on wet soils. Some rare species are also present.

Natuurpunt and the Flemish Region have established several protected areas in the valley. However afforestation, eutrophication, habitat fragmentation, intensification of agriculture, and disturbances still have adverse affects for the natural hydrology of the river.

Restoration works involved clearing trees, re-naturalising river courses and landscape hydrology, eradication of invasive water plants and improving spawning possibilities for fish in the river system. An integrated management plan for the site would be prepared and actions implemented to ensure permanent conservation of the habitats.

Monitoring surveys and results

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As a result from restoration actions, a total of 32 ha of poplar plantations were felled or will die standing to make room for alluvial forest. Additionally, 42 ha of former agricultural land will spontaneously evolve towards forest, as a result of measures taken by the project.

Also, good grazing management practices have been implemented to help developing a gradient of open and heavily grazed forests, as well as closed and almost non-grazed forests. 18 weekend cottages were removed and 15 horticultural ponds were restored to be re-integrated in the landscape.

Another important aspect of the project was the re-naturalisation of the river De Kleine Hoofdgracht. This action was implemented by the province of Antwerp, which removed the dikes along a stretch of 690 m and created more than 2 ha of open water, marshland and oxbows etc. The result is an improved habitat for endangered fish, such as the target species, brook lamprey and spined loach.

Pine plantations and sod were cut, now providing a land dune of 15 ha for wind dynamics and free recreation to take place and contribute in keeping this area an open habitat.

Over 60 ha is under continuous management of the area by a local farmer partnership. Also hiking trails were installed (with bridges and board walks) and hiking brochures were produced to increase the ecotourism value of the region for visitors.

Lessons learnt

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Catchment and subcatchment Select a catchment/subcatchment Site Edit site Name WFD water body codes WFD (national) typology WFD water body name Pre-project morphology Reference morphology Desired post project morphology Heavily modified water body National/international site designation Local/regional site designations Protected species present Invasive species present Species of interest Dominant hydrology Dominant substrate River corridor land use Average bankfull channel width category Average bankfull channel width (m) Average bankfull channel depth category Average bankfull channel depth (m) Mean discharge category Mean annual discharge (m3/s) Average channel gradient category Average channel gradient Average unit stream power (W/m2) Project background Edit project background Reach length directly affected (m) Project started Works started Works completed Project completed Total cost category Total cost (k€) Benefit to cost ratio Funding sources Cost for project phases Phase cost category cost exact (k€) Lead organisation Contact forename Contact surname Investigation and design Stakeholder engagement and communication Works and works supervision Post-project management and maintenance Monitoring Reasons for river restoration Edit reasons for restoration Mitigation of a pressure Hydromorphology Biology Physico-chemical Other reasons for the project Measures Edit Measures Structural measures Bank/bed modifications Floodplain / River corridor Planform / Channel pattern Other Non-structural measures Management interventions Social measures (incl. engagement) Other Monitoring Hydromorphological quality elements Edit Hydromorphological quality elements Element When monitored Type of monitoring Control site used Result Before measures After measures Qualitative Quantitative Biological quality elements Edit biological quality elements Element When monitored Type of monitoring Control site used Result Before measures After measures Qualitative Quantitative Physico-chemical quality elements Edit Physico-chemical quality elements Element When monitored Type of monitoring Control site used Result Before measures After measures Qualitative Quantitative Any other monitoring, e.g. social, economic Edit Other responses Element When monitored Type of monitoring Control site used Result Before measures After measures Qualitative Quantitative Monitoring documents Upload monitoring documents Additional documents and videos Upload additional documents Additional links and references Edit links and references Link Description Supplementary Information Edit Supplementary Information