Why does it not work? In other words, why are we doing something in Gardno Polders IX and X?

Details

One of the activities carried out under the project is the "Improvement of habitats for wetland birds". On our site you can already admire the picturesque views of the area where this action is carried out, i.e. Gardno Polder IX and X in the spring edition (here you can see the pictures). Today we would like to show why the technical activities are planned in this area, that is why we want to do anything at all.

In the past, this area has been highly drained, a dense drainage network has been established (ditches, canals, culvert gates and culverts were made) used for irrigation and drainage, for intensive meadow management. Today, the water that remains in Gardno Polders IX and X comes mainly from atmospheric precipitation. Every year, protective tasks are carried out here involving reaping, ultimately not for the needs of the meadow economy, but in order to increase the attractiveness of this area for wetland birds. Thanks to these treatments performed by local farmers, a mosaic of habitats is being created, and there are more and more birds. Cooperation with local farmers for the purposes of nature protection has been established in this way.

However, the implementation of these tasks is difficult because the technical condition of water facilities does not allow water management, in - one can use the word - optimal way. One could ask - why change anything? After all, protective tasks are carried out every year through implemented cuts, and birds appear on surfaces. Yes, but the problem is in the details. Currently, to drain the most wet part of the Polder, in order to cut it down, we have to drain areas that do not need it, often overdrying them unnecessarily. Maintaining adequate water levels above the surface is important for waders. These short-legged birds do not have to wade in too high water. And when small elevations, i.e. islands, are flooded - they will not build nests. Currently, unfortunately, the dam-valves are constantly open or closed, culverts are silted, and water management is very difficult.

How should it work? In simple words: a higher water level should be maintained during the breeding season, so that birds can calmly carry it out and during the flight period, so that they can rest on the surface. However, you can not overdo it and remember that this level should not be too high. The lower water level should be in turn during the cuts, so that it is possible to carry out protective treatments. At these lower levels it is easier for farmers to make cuts, roads are passable, and the machines do not sink.

It is also worth remembering that the climate is changing. It is possible that in the future, in order to preserve the current character and natural value of Gardno Polders IX and X, it will also be worth bringing water from the river into this area. To make it possible, devices that would have to be used for this will not be liquidated.

Explaining what is going on in the above-mentioned optimality, it's just water management that tries to reconcile everything we write about above. For this purpose, it is planned to divide the area of approximately 340 ha of Gardno Polders IX and X into 16 quarters, based on existing water facilities. Quarters are kind of complexes that can be separated from the rest of the Polders by means of culvert gates. They allow to stop water, drain or irrigate areas if necessary. Unfortunately, this is not always possible without the drainage or irrigation of the nearby quarters. We try to plan the activities with the contractor for the technical documentation in order to achieve the most effective natural goals in the most effective way.

The division into quarters is not everything. Water management facilities must be operational and construction works enter the game here. Planned works will mainly consist in the construction, reconstruction or renovation of culvert gates, ditches and culverts will also be desilted.

Before the works, however, technical documentation needs to be developed, as well all the permits and arrangements necessary to start them need to be obtained. As part of these preparatory activities, there will also be created a "Plan for water management, maintenance and conservation of the modernized drainage system in the Gardno Polders IX and X" so that the protective tasks carried out in this area will be the most effective in improving the habitat of wetland birds.

Several existing water facilities on the Gardno Polders IX and X and their condition are presented in the pictures below.

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