Narew river restoration project
Narew river restoration project
Key features of the case study
The Narew river restoration project concentrates on the area of the buffer zone of Narew National Park (NPN). NPN was created in 1996. Narew valley between Suraż village and Żółtki village (area of the NPN and its buffer zone) was fully natural area until implementation of hydrotechnical works that were carried out in the Narew valley from 1960 until 1980. Prior the regulation, the Narew river was of anastomosing character along entire length of this stretch. The main aim of the restoration project was protection of environment in Marshy Valley of the Narew (Natura 2000 site code PLB200001) with a special consideration of hydrological conditions and integrated program of economic development. The work proceeded in stages and focuses on restoring an anastomosing system of Narew river downstream of the NPN in its buffer zone.
Site description
Particular conditions of the site: size, river type, type of pressures, ecological status, etc.
Narew river is located in North-east Poland. Narew is a large lowland river with catchment area exceeding 28 000km2 (up to gauge station in Zambski Kościelne) and length reaching almost 500km. It is the fifth biggest river in Poland. The restored part of the river is located in the upper part of the catchment, between Rzędziany-Pańki levee and the road bridge in Żółtki village in podlaskie voivodeship. In this stretch the Narew river is classified as type 24 Small and medium size river in the area influenced by peat forming process, according to the national river typology. The area of the restored site is 13.4 km2. On this area, the following habitat and vegetation transformations, resulted from river valley reclamation works, were observed:
- drying out and disappearance of old river beds
- changes in the species composition and disappearance of mesotrophic rushes Caricetum elatae, strictly connected with long-term flooded fens
- increase of the number and size of the area of expansive plants species as Calystegia sepinum, Phalaris arundinacea, Urtica dioica, Phragmites australis
- expansion of the invasive species Echinocystis lobata
- increase size of the area of extremely poor in species aggregation of Phragmites australis and Urtica dioica
- decrease of mesotrophic grasslands areas
- increase of the area of Salix L. and marshy deciduous forests.
Measures selection
Success criteria
Ecological response
Hydromorphological response
Monitoring before and after implementation of the project
Socio-economic aspects
Contact person within the organization
Extra background information
References
Related Measures
- Improve/Create water storage
- Increase minimum flows
- Improve water retention
- Water diversion and transfer
- Reduce erosion
- Improve continuity of sediment transport
- Increase flood frequency and duration in riparian zones or floodplains
- Manage aquatic vegetation
- Establish environmental flows / naturalise flow regimes
- Remove barrier
- Widen water courses
- Allow/increase lateral channel migration or river mobility
- Modify aquatic vegetation maintenance
- Initiate natural channel dynamics to promote natural regeneration
- Remove sediments
- Remove or modify in-channel hydraulic structures
- Develop riparian forest
- Adjust land use to develop riparian vegetation
- Adjust land use to reduce nutrient, sediment input or shore erosion
- Remove hard engineering structures that impede lateral connectivity
