Thematic Group Leader Ainis Lagzdiņš, Latvia University of Life Sciences and Agriculture

Preparatory activities for reducing pollution with nutrients from agriculture and forestlands (A1 and A2 activities)

Action A1 aims to prepare background information needed for the practical implementation of measures to reduce nutrient losses and transport from agricultural areas. The measures to be considered and investigated within this action can be furthermore divided into two categories based on the specific considerations for location and functionality – green infrastructure (GI) and rural sustainable drainage systems (RSuDS). GI can be described as a strategically planned network of natural and semi-natural areas with other environmental features designed and managed to deliver a wide range of ecosystem services[1]. In the context of this action the following measures of GI will be evaluated – buffer strips, intelligent buffer strips, saturated buffers, woodchip bioreactors, sediment traps, grassed waterways, swales, infiltration trenches, barriers/traps within ditches and swales, infiltration basins, and manholes. These measures are intended to provide water quality benefits from field to farm scale. RSuDS stand for individual or multiple structures designed, constructed and maintained to replicate natural retention processes in drainage systems by collecting, storing and improving the quality of water within agricultural and forested catchments. The following measures of RSuDS will be considered as part of this action – sedimentation ponds, two-stage ditches, bottom dams, meandering, controlled drainage, and constructed wetlands.

Action A1 consists of five interrelated sub-actions:

1. i) Inspection and assessment of the sources of pollution with nutrients from agricultural areas in the selected water bodies at risk including V093 Slocene, G264 Age, L118 Auce, and V046 Eda (A1.1.);
2. ii) Development of practical recommendations and technical solutions for implementation of GI in agricultural areas of the selected water bodies at risk including V093 Slocene, G264 Age, L118 Auce, and V046 Eda (A1.2.);
3. iii) Economical assessment and environmental effectiveness of implementation of GI scenarios for reducing pollution with nutrients in agricultural areas (A1.3.);
4. iv) Development of practical recommendations and technical solutions for reconstruction and maintenance of sustainable and environmentally friendly land drainage systems in agricultural areas of the selected water bodies at risk including V093 Slocene and G264 Age (A1.4.); 
5. v) Preparatory activities for the concrete implementation actions such as agreements with landowners, compensations, permits, and alignments (A1.5.).

Action A2 includes preparatory activities necessary for further implementation of measures to reduce inputs of nutrients from diffuse pollution in forestlands. The water body of G264 Age was selected to demonstrate the efficiency of water protection measures to improve chemical and ecological status. The following measures of GI will be considered in forestlands – delineation of buffer strips of varying width, thinning of riparian zones to reduce the proportion of spruce to promote broadleaves and establishment of vegetation-covered belt close to the stream, removal of grey alder and replacement with another coppice tree species of establishment of mixed stand in riparian zones, removal of excess debris from the stream bed, removal of leaning and unstable trees, control of beaver activity. Construction of overland flow areas, sedimentation ponds and pits, and peak flow structures will be considered as measures of RSuDS in forestlands.

Action A2 consists of three interrelated sub-actions:

i) Inspection and assessment of the sources of pollution with nutrients from forestlands in the catchment area of selected water body at risk – G264 Age (A2.1.);

ii) Development of practical recommendations and technical solutions for GI in forestlands – at least two demo sites along the water body of G264 Age as identified in A2.1. (A2.2.);

iii) Development of practical recommendations and technical solutions          for reconstruction and maintenance of sustainable and             environmentally friendly land drainage systems in forestlands in the catchment area of selected water body at risk – G264 Age (A2.1.).

The outcomes from the preparatory activities for reducing pollution with nutrients from agriculture and forestlands (A1 and A2 activities) will be utilized for planning purposes of the concrete implementation activities (C5 and C6 activities) during the later phases of the project.

[1] Communication from the European Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: Green Infrastructure (GI) – Enhancing Europe’s Natural Capital, COM (2013) 249 final.