Wetland buffer zone implementation in Sweden

- experiences from LIFE-Goodstream

John Strand, Peter Feuerbach & Lisa Feuerbach-Wengel

Hushållningssällskapet Halland

www.goodstream.se

CWs: large hydrological loads

Buffer zones: only

surface run-off

The reality: many sites with smaller

drainage systems enter the recipients

directly, i.e. passing under traditional buffer

zones (if any present).

The problem

By combining:

Ecosystem services of

constructed wetlands

…we get:

http://www.skogforsk.se/KunskapDirekt

Riparian buffer zones

in forests

Christen and Dalgaard, 2012

Sites of traditional

buffer zones

Tree root penetration depths

(infiltration enhancement)

The infiltration bank without topsoil is ca. 5 m wide. Can

be planted with trees, resulting in better infiltration

1 m level control in

outlet well

Excavated soil placed on the field

Maintainance pipe

Field

Sediment excavated + recycled to field

Integrated Buffer Zones (1st pilot constructed march 2012)

Pilot IBZ, Lilla Böslid, Sweden

Trees (Birch), planted saplings

Integrated Buffer Zones 1st pilot at Lilla Böslid, Sweden,

80 m long, testing trees and Reed

canary grass on infiltration bank Low water level August 2012

Incoming pipes.

Test with Reed

canary grass

(bioenergy)

Trees (Birch), planted saplings

Low water level September 2015

Alder (Alnus)

Reed canary

grass (and

some Alder)

High biodiversity Amphibians: 4 species

Mammals: 6 species

Birds: 10 species

Invertebrates: >30 species

Aquatic plants : 13 species

Terrestrial plants: >15 species

High N and P retention

P = 70-90 % retention

N = 35 – 80 % retention

Integrated Buffer Zones in Europe

(September 2018)

15 in Sweden

(11 in LIFE-Goodstream)

5 in Denmark

LIFE-Goodstream Reaching Good Ecological Status in an agricultural stream

- introducing Integrated Buffer Zones in a hollistic approach

Good tream

Problems

Eutrophication Fish migration

Floods

Biodiversity

• Good Ecological Status in river Trönningeån

- P-conc. in the stream reduced to < 50 µg/l

- Migration possible in the whole stream

- 10 % increase in Salmonid density

- Reduced flood risk in the village of Trönninge

- Increased biodiversity in the catchment

• Calculations showing economic cost-effectiveness

• Quantified carbon sequestration in IBZs and LWs

Long-term goal:

the concept is implemented throughout EU

Expected results

www.goodstream.se

• 6 years (Oct 2015- Oct 2021)

• Budget ca 20 MSEK (> 2 M. €)

• Financing: - 49% EU

- 45.7 % Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management

- 5.3 % own financing by partners

• Coordinating Beneficiary: Hushållningssällskapet Halland

• Associated Beneficiaries: County Administration

Halmstad municipality

LIFE-Goodstream

Good tream

Good tream

• Drainage area: 33 km2

• Lenght from source to mouth: ca 11 km

• 50% agricultural, 42% forest, 8% urban

map from SMHI:s Vattenweb

• 30 Integrated Buffer Zones

• 8 Wetlands

• 60 Creotopes

• 500 nest boxes

• 1 Removal of migration barrier

• 1 Urban Storm Water Pond

Our tools

wetland

Creotope (amphibian pond)

Nest box

Integrated buffer Zone

Good tream

First 3 years (2016/18):

11 Integrated Buffer Zones

13 wetlands

18 amphibian ponds

8 other creotopes

2 migration barriers removed

Problem: how to remove a wetland migration barrier and still increase nutrient retention and biodiversity

Solution: use a variety of multi-functional wetland buffer zones (IBZ, wetlands etc)

Before After

Wetland buffer zones in LIFE-Goodstream

Total P 2016-03-21 – 2017-02-20 (main channel)

Barrier removal

Barrier removal Barrier removal

Aerial view after barrier removal

and wetland buffer zone constructions

Implementation of wetland buffer zones

IBZ IBZ

IBZ IBZ

IBZ

CV

CV

CV

CV

IBZ = Integrated Buffer Zone

CV = Constructed Wetland

Brook lamprey (Lampetra planeri) in

the new (old) streambed first year

Wetland birds in the new CWs

Surveys show increased biodiversity

Increase in aquatic plants Tadpoles and

newts in

amphibian ponds

Increase in insects

Multi-functionality!

Come visit us in Sweden or read more at: www.goodstream.se

www.wetlands.se

www.goodstream.se

Thank you!