General National Id Spain_02 Site name Duero River Basin, Órbigo River (segment I), León (NUTS3), Castilla y León (NUTS2)) Summary Órbigo River (Duero River Basin, northwest of Spain) ecological status improvement. The budle of measures applied within the framework of this project (2013 IRF European Riverprize finalist) aimed to promote floodplain reconnection and restoration, revitalisation of flowing water, levelling of longitudinal barriers, natural bank stabilisation, elimination of riverbank protection and restoration and riparian buffer restoration and maintenance. The intended impacts of these NWRM were to improve the river (lateral and longitudinal) connectivity and dynamics. Light or indepth? In-depth The in-depth description of the case study cs-es-02-final_version.pdf NUTS Code Castilla y León RBD code ES020 Transboundary 0 Data provider Gonzalo Delacámara and Marta Rodríguez (IMDEA Water) in close cooperation with Ignacio Rodríguez Muñoz, José Ignacio Santillán Ibáñez and Rosa Huertas (Duero River Basin Authority, Confederación Hidrográfica del Duero) Source(s) Proyecto para la mejora del estado ecológico del río Órbigo. Tramo I (León). Documento 1_ Memoria (Clave 02.434-229/2111) (Órbigo River ecologic status improvement. Stretch I (León). Document 1 (Technical Report) Proyecto para la mejora del estado ecológico del río Órbigo. Tramo I (León). Anejo 4 (Estudio hidrológico e hidraíºlico). Proyecto para la mejora del estado ecológico del río Órbigo. Tramo I (León). Anejo 5 (Estudio morfológico). Proyecto para la mejora del estado ecológico del río Órbigo. Tramo I (León). Documento 4 (Presupuesto). Estrategia Naciional de Restauración de Ríos (ENRR). Demarcacion Hidrográfica del Duero Proyecto para la mejora del estado ecológico del río Órbigo. Tramo I (León). Instrucción para la elaboración y tramitación de los informes de viabilidad previstos en el artículo 46.5 de la Ley de Aguas). [Clave: 02.434-229/2111] El Proyecto de mejora ecologica del río Órbigo (tramo I) Case Study: Improvement of the Ecological Status of the River Órbigo (Leon, Spain) Ecological Improvement Project in the Órbigo River (Stretch I) The Órbigo River Restoration Project and its implications in flood risk prevention River Órbigo Restoration Project Guía técnica para la caracterizacion de las actuaciones a considerar en planes hidrologicos y estudios de viabilidad NWRM(s) implemented in the case study Floodplain restoration and management Forest riparian buffers Removal of dams and other longitudinal barriers Natural bank stabilisation Elimination of riverbank protection Stream bed re-naturalization Longitude -5.82061595 Latitude 42.65652004 Site information Climate zone cool temperate moist Mean rainfall 534,700012207031 Mean rainfall unit mm/year Average temperature 10,6700000762939 Type Case Study Info Average slope range 0-1% (average slope of the Órbigo River Stretch I: 0.3%) Vegetation class Riparian vegetation with poorly preserved continuity due to replacement with other uses (adjacent crops: agro (irrigation) and forest (poplar: Populus x euroamericana). Monitoring maintenance Monitoring impacts effects 1 Monitoring parameters So far: areas suffering from intense erosion and deposition processes; side arms dynamics according to variable water flow levels; wet areas after intense flood events (April 2013 and 2014) and perception of local population towards changes. Planned new activities to be carried out during 2014: topographic characterization of the most active areas. Performance Performance impact estimation method Catchment outlet Performance impact estimation information Field visits, drone images (comparison before and after floods), information from stakeholders. Design & implementations Application scale River Installation date 2012-09 Performance timescale 1 - 4 years Area (ha) 160500 Area subject to Land use change or Management/Practice change (ha) 45 Size 45 Size unit ha Design capacity description Variable volume of retained water according to circulating water flow. For this kind of intervention it is more appropriate to use the concept of "slow down flow water"; and the use of simulation models (different water volumes and return periods). e.g. Flood lamination: 4-5 hm3; Water volume: 590 m3/s; Return period: 500 years [Source: River Basin Authority, personal communication] Inflow volume 16,1100006103516 Inflow volume unit m3/sec Public consultation 1 Design contractual arrangement Arrangement type Responsibility Role Comments Name Design consultation activity Activity stage Key issues Name Comments Screening phase Preparatory phase (year 2009): with municipal majors/neighbourhood associations'representatives. Using ortophotos (years 56-57, 2004 and 2008) as a basis for analysing changes in floodplain Design phase a) Diagnosis phase (year 2009): Compilling and analysing information provided by the referred stakeholders; b) Informative sessions: with other interested stakeholders (inhabitants) Other Public hearing phase (year 2009: alternatives were discussed and showed by means of computer simulation on the basis of ortophotos (years 2004 and 2008). [CHD, 2013b]: More than 50 meetings (in a period of 3 years) with stakeholders. Other Monitoring [Source: Barquero and Santillán (2012a)] Design phase Informative sessions (for stakeholder (inhabitants) Implementation phase a) Informative sessions (for stakeholder (inhabitants); b) Dissemination activities (for external audience) and field trips: Riverbasin Authority/Ministry of Environnment Websites; Specialised national/international networks on river restoration (newsletters, presentations). 2013 IRF European Riverprize finalist practice.Field trips from: Universities, Administration bodies, within in the framework of specialised workshop; c) Newspapers; d) Volunteering and environmental education programme Screening phase Preparatory phase (year 2009): with municipal majors/neighbourhood associations'representatives. Using ortophotos (years 56-57, 2004 and 2008) as a basis for analysing changes in floodplain CONSULTATION ACTIVITIES Design phase a) Diagnosis phase (year 2009): Compilling and analysing information provided by the referred stakeholders; b) Informative sessions: with other interested stakeholders (inhabitants) CONSULTATION ACTIVITIES Other Public hearing phase (year 2009: alternatives were discussed and showed by means of computer simulation on the basis of ortophotos (years 2004 and 2008). CONSULTATION ACTIVITIES [CHD, 2013b]: More than 50 meetings (in a period of 3 years) with stakeholders. Other Monitoring CONSULTATION ACTIVITIES [Source: Barquero and Santillán (2012a)] Design phase Informative sessions (for stakeholder (inhabitants) COMMUNICATION Implementation phase a) Informative sessions (for stakeholder (inhabitants); b) Dissemination activities (for external audience) and field trips: Riverbasin Authority/Ministry of Environnment Websites; Specialised national/international networks on river restoration (newsletters, presentations). 2013 IRF European Riverprize finalist practice.Field trips from: Universities, Administration bodies, within in the framework of specialised workshop; c) Newspapers; d) Volunteering and environmental education programme COMMUNICATION Design land use change Land use change type Design authority Authority type Role Responsibility Name Comments National water authority Initiation of the measure Ministry of Environment and Rural and Marine Affairs (Ministerio de Medio Ambiente, Medio Rural y Marino), MARM Providing a general framework (drawing up the National Strategy on River Restoration, ENRR) in which this initiative can take place) Regional / sub-national water authority Determination of design details of the measure River Basin Authority (Confederación Hidrográfica del Duero) Selecting a candidate project to be developed within the framework of the National Strategy on River Restoration. Selection criteria based on IMPRESS, Methodological Guide on River Restoration and priority areas aimed at improving connectivity Regional / sub-national water authority Implementation River Basin Authority (Confederación Hidrográfica del Duero) Preparatory, diagnosis, public hearing process and works National water authority Implementation Ministry of Environment and Rural and Marine Affairs (Ministerio de Medio Ambiente, Medio Rural y Marino), MARM Participation during preparatory, diagnosis, public hearing process and works Other Implementation Municipalities (Ayuntamientos): Cimanes del Tejar, Llamas de la Ribera, Carrizo de la Ribera, Turcia and Santa María del Rey Participation during preparatory, diagnosis and public hearing process Other Implementation Local entity (Juntas vecinales) Participation during preparatory, diagnosis and public hearing process NGO Implementation Neighbourhood associations Participation during preparatory, diagnosis and public hearing process National water authority Financing Ministry of Environment and Rural and Marine Affairs (Ministerio de Medio Ambiente, Medio Rural y Marino), MARM Within the framework of the National Strategy on River Restoration Regional / sub-national water authority Monitoring River Basin Authority (Confederación Hidrográfica del Duero) Lessons, risks, implications... Key lessons A 2013 IRF European Riverprize finalist. a) Good practice of integrated water management and land use policies b) Implementation of innovative concepts (e.g. “room for the river”, green infrastructure…) c) Relevance of management and planning tasks. d) Example of integrated approach in WFD and FD implementation e) Example of the need to devote a great deal of time and effort to explain to the stakeholders the scope of the measures in order to achieve their acceptance and their participation. Multiplier effects are obtained when stakeholders became aware of the effectiveness of the measures. e) Example of the relevance of public involvement during the whole process (public participation during the planning cycle and volunteering within the framework of environmental programme linked to the Project). f) Impact on the media (beyond the pressnotes on the plan). g) Replicability (downstream stretches) potential and networking potential (the project derived in the participation of the Basin Authority -together with other 4 European basin authorities- in the ECRR Community of Practice -launched in 2013 as a network for sharing their experiences in river restoration-). (Source: CHD, 2013a; River Basin Authority, personal communication). Financing difficulties 0 Success factor(s) Success factor type Success factor role Comments Public participation main factor Attitude of decision makers main factor Existing staff and consultant knowledge main factor Existing institutional framework main factor Financing possibilities main factor Other Financing Financing type Comments National funds This measure is implemented within the framework of the National Strategy for River Restoration (ENRR, Estrategia Nacional de Restauración de Ríos). Funding: Ministry of Environment and Rural and Marine Affairs (Ministerio de Medio Ambiente, Medio Rural y Marino), MARM Barrier Barrier type Barrier role Comments Attitude of relevant stakeholders main barrier At first, local population was relunctant to the implementation of the project. Reasons: they didn't understand the theory (intervention was very different -aim was to create "room for the river"- to anything else carried out previously in the river) and how it would work in practical terms. [Source: CHD (2013a]] Driver Driver type Driver role Comments Past flooding events main driver Organisation committed to it main driver Financing share Financing share type Share Comments National funds 100 View Policy, general governance and design targets Policy description Loss of lateral (main derived problem: floods) and transversal connectivity, river dynamics (erosion and sedimentation) alteration, flow alteration and riparian forest loss and fragmentation. Pressures for this water body (identified by IMPRESS): hydromorphological (weirs, channels...) and land-use patterns. [Source:INFRAECO (2011a)] Part of wider plan 1 Policy target Target purpose Peak-flow reduction Runoff control Erosion Control Improved Biodiversity Oher Societal Benefits Policy pressure Pressure directive Relevant pressure Policy area Policy area type Policy area focus Name Comments Policy impact Impact directive Relevant impact Policy wider plan Wider plan type Wider plan focus Name Comments National Water National Strategy for River Restoration (Estrategia Nacional de Restauración de Río, ENRR) Sub-programme 3 (improvement of the longitudinal continuity of the rivers within the Duero basin) and 4 (improvement of the lateral continuity of the rivers within the Duero basin) [Source: Rodríguez et al., 2012a] Policy requirement directive Requirement directive Specification Socio-economic Costs land acquisition information Null value as intervention were carried out in Public domain land [INFRAECO (2011d)] Costs operational information Commonly no operational cost is associated to this kind of project (river restoration) [Source: García et al. (2013)] Costs maintenance information Variable according to the specific element considered (average values for Spanish river basins: 1.2% of initial investment cost for fishladders; 20% of total investment cost for revegetation works; 15% of total investment cost for bioengineering works) [Source: García et al., 2013]. Due to the implementation of the project maintenance costs have been drastically reduced (CHD, 2013a). These costs were expected to be very low and assumed by the Duero River Basin Authority within the framework of its Public Domain Conservation Programme (Source: CHD, 2009). Costs total 3084697,25 Costs total information This is the total projected budget. Budget breakdown: 1. Lateral connectivity and dynamics improvement works (52.01%); 2. Longitudinal continuity improvement works (15.70%); 3. Riverbank estabilization works (7.52%); 4. Site access improvement (11.14%); 4. Supplementary works (2.57%); 5. Other items: monitoring of works (3.89%); environmental monitoring (3.89%); risk prevention (2.23%); waste management (1.06%) [Source: INFRAECO (2011d) ] Executed budget: 2065264.81 € [Source: River Basin Authority, personal communication] Ecosystem improved biodiversity 1 Information on Ecosystem improved biodiversity Higher habitat diversity as a consequence of the improvement of longitudinal and lateral continuity due to reforestation of riparian forest (0.6% recovery, 6.5 ha as planned in technical reportt+fish ladders) and due to recovering adjacent fluvial areas. [Source: CHD (2013a); INFRAECO (2011a)] Ecosystem provisioning services 1 Information on Ecosystem provisioning services Recreational (opening access to the river banks); b) Integration of the river in urban areas (improvement of the landscape and tourism sector strenthening) [Source: CHD (2013a)] Ecosystem impact climate regulation No information available Ecosystem flood control volume 160 Biophysical impacts Information on retained water Variable volume of retained water according to circulating water flow and water depth. For this kind of intervention it is more appropriate to use the concept of "slow down flow water" and the use of simulation models (different water volumes and return periods). E.g. Flood lamination: 4-5 hm3; Water volume: 590 m3/s; Return period: 500 years Information on Peak flow rate reduction According to the Planning Office (River Basin Authority) (on-going evaluation) NRWM have performed properly against floods that took place during Winter 2013 (160 m3 flood: same as those in 1995 and 2000 causing serious damage) and during the Winter of 2014 (300 m3). These were successfully abated thanks to NWRM [Source: River Basin Authority, personal communication] Information on Increased infiltration Greater infiltration rate and rate of recharge of the natural floodplains. [Source: CHD (2013b]] Information on Ecosystem flood control volume According to Planning Office (River Basin Authority) (on going evaluation) these NRWM have performed properly against floods that took place during Winter 2013: 160 m3 flood, (same that in 1995 and 2000 caused serious damage) was successfully abated thanks to implemented NWRMs Ecosystem erosion control 1 Water quality overall improvements Not relevant for this application Information on Water quality overall improvements According to technical project [Source: INFRAECO (2011a) initial water quality status for the Stretch I (chemical/physical status /microinvertebrates/diatomes) was rated as good-very good so no specific measures were designed for this purpose. Despite of this, first evaluation results show that the ecological status of this water body has been improved. Soil quality overall soil improvements N/A info Information on Soil quality overall soil improvements Positive effects regarding infiltration rate and rate of recharge of the alluvial natural floodplains and soil fertilization are expected but no empirical evidence has been obtained yet [Source: CHD (2013b]] Information on Soil quality overall soil carbon Positive impact-SQ improvement Full Context Pathway(aka Context) Default view Area(aka Level or Site) ALL