Post on 07-Mar-2018
Christoph Ulbig, B.Sc.
Ecological Department Tamera
Water Retention Landscapes
Applied solutions for a regenerative water management
Water Retention Landscapes are systems for the restoration of the full water cycle by retaining the water in the areas where it falls as rain.
A water retention landscape is fully realized
when no more rainwater leaves the land
but rather all water flowing away comes from springs.
The Heritage
SoilsShallow Low carbon content
WaterHigh surface run-off Low infiltrationDepletion of aquifer
VegetationOld trees, low natural regenerationLow diversityPioneer plants and bushes
Goals of the WRL in Tamera
Regenerative water supply for a settlement of 500-1000 people
Model solutions for regional autonomy structures for:
Water
Food
Energy
Create habitats for vegetation and wildlife
Elements of Water Retention Landscapes
Ponds/Lakes
Terraces/Slopes
Swales
Afforestations on contour
Drinking water well
Irrigation reservoirs
Irrigation pipes and channels
Swale gardens & Orchards
Managed grazing with horses
Soil preparation with pigs
Sewage treatment systems
Urban rain water management
Building Terraces with topsoil from the valleys to slow down rainwater and stop erosion.
Tamera, SouthlakeJuly 2011
Same spotMarch 2012
What we have done...
4 larger Retention spaces >0.5 ha
19 smaller retention spaces <0.5ha
4 irrigation ponds
1.5 ha terraces with irrigation
>2000 fruit trees & bushes planted
40 ha afforestation
Vegetable seed autonomy
20 ha managed grazing
3 ha cereals
3 ha olive and fruit orchards
2 ha eucalyptus forest in transition
30 ha older cork oak forest in restoration to natural forest ecosystem
02.1
0.20
1209
.10.
2012
16.1
0.20
1223
.10.
2012
30.1
0.20
1206
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2012
13.1
1.20
1220
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2012
27.1
1.20
1204
.12.
2012
11.1
2.20
1218
.12.
2012
25.1
2.20
1201
.01.
2013
08.0
1.20
1315
.01.
2013
22.0
1.20
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.01.
2013
05.0
2.20
1312
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2013
19.0
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2013
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2013
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2013
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2013
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2013
30.0
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2013
14.0
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1321
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2013
28.0
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2013
11.0
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2013
25.0
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2013
09.0
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2013
23.0
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1330
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2013
06.0
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.08.
2013
20.0
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1327
.08.
2013
03.0
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2013
17.0
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2013
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2013
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2013
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2013
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10.1
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2013
24.1
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1331
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2013
07.0
1.20
1414
.01.
2014
21.0
1.20
1428
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2014
04.0
2.20
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2014
18.0
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1425
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2014
04.0
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2014
0,00
0,50
1,00
1,50
2,00
2,50
3,00
3,50
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7,00
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8,50
Recharge of AquiferLevels of open wells in Tamera catchments
Next steps
Integration of sheep and chicken in management
Application of keyline principles
Swales for fruit trees and olives
Wildlife corridors
Natural forest rehabilitation
Design of creeks
Productive wetlands (sewage treatment)
Showcase urban solutions
Road and pathway design
Aquaculture
Research & Documentation
Symptoms of incorrect Water and Landscape Management
• Drying out the landscape– Droughts– Floods– Fires– Erosion & landslides– Desertification– Sea level rising– Ground water table decreasing– Sweet water shortage– Climate change– Poverty and rural exodus
Principles of Water Retention Landscapes
• Decentralized structures• Slow down (Retention), Reduce of water runoff• Allow the water to infiltrate• Aquifer recharge• Increase of soil moisture• Building of top soil & humus• Increase of biomass and diversity• Avoidance of hot spots (cities, parking lots…)
Methods & Tools
• Earth works– Terraces– Swales– Lakes/Ponds– Subsoil loosening– Infiltration– Reduction of sealed surfaces (impervious surfaces)
• Soil building and shading– Afforestation– Green Manure– Mulching– Animals– Irrigation
Benefits
• Restoration of rivers & aquifers• Decentral availability of fresh water • Decrease of infrastructure damage• Decline of energy use for pumping & cooling• Increase of agriculture security • Lowering of weather extremes (regional)
Sources & Links
• Sepp Holzer www.krameterhof.at• Buckminster Fuller Challenge http://challenge.bfi.org • Callum Coats (Viktor Schauberger) http://de.scribd.com/doc/50123307/Viktor-
Schauberger-Living-Energies-With-Callum-Coats
• Peter Donovan http://managingwholes.com• Allan Savory www.savoryinstitute.com • Michal Kravčík www.waterparadigm.org• Brad Lancaster www.harvestingrainwater.com• John D. Liu http://eempc.org• Millán Millán www.ceam.es• Yadu N. Pokhrel http://www.nature.com/ngeo/journal/
vaop/ncurrent/abs/ngeo1476.html
• Rajendra Singh www.tarunbharatsangh.org• Bernd Mueller www.tamera.org