Year of Issue 2014 General National Id Poland_03 Site name Middle basin of Biebrza Valley Summary The aim of the EC LIFE programme's co-financed project is to improve the conditions for the protection of water habitats in the Middle Basin of the Biebrza Valley by: controlled management and irrigation of the area in order to stop the degradation processes of hydrogenic habitats within the water system of the Rudzki Canal – the Ełk River – the Jegrznia River – the Woźnawiejski Canal; creating habitat conditions for avifauna of open marshlands. One of the project activity is to build water constructions to support water retention particularly in dry years. The phase I of the restoration activities will be accomplished by 2016. Additionally, phase II has been also already launched. Light or indepth? Light NUTS Code Podlaskie RBD code PL2000 Transboundary 0 NWRM(s) implemented in the case study Basins and ponds Longitude 22.734504 Latitude 53.602265 Site information Climate zone cool temperate dry Mean rainfall 615 Mean rainfall unit mm/year Average temperature 6.7 Type Case Study Info Monitoring maintenance Monitoring impacts effects 1 Monitoring parameters hydromorphological, vegitation and birds Performance Performance impact estimation method Edge of Field/Plot Performance impact estimation information the methods involves field works, setting up monitoring sites for hydrological measurements Design & implementations Application scale River Basin Performance timescale 1 - 4 years Area (ha) 9000 Public consultation 0 Contractural arrangements 0 Design contractual arrangement Arrangement type Responsibility Role Comments Name Design consultation activity Activity stage Key issues Name Comments Other yes To implement the measures, the local spatial plan had to be ammended. Therefore SEA study was implemented, including public consultation. Design land use change Land use change type Design authority Authority type Role Responsibility Name Comments Regional / sub-national water authority Other Biebrza National Park Planning of measures and implementing Lessons, risks, implications... Key lessons The project is in implementation phase, the conclusions will be made in 2016. Financing mechanism 0 Success factor(s) Success factor type Success factor role Comments The project is still in the implementation phase Financing Financing type Comments EU-funds: LIFE+ LIFE09 NAT/PL/000258 Barrier Barrier type Barrier role Comments Legal obligations / restrictions main barrier The long time of preparing the relevant papers to undertake investment and construction works Driver Driver type Driver role Comments Legal obligations main driver to protect biodiversity in the Park area Availability of subsidies main driver LIFE+ funding provides co-financing for such activities Financing share Financing share type Share Comments European funds 50 View National funds 50 View Policy, general governance and design targets Policy description The main environmental problem is caused by a network of draining canals built in XIXth century under Russian Tsar administration which significantly lowered ground water table of neighbouring peatlands and changed habitat conditions in the region of two rivers – Jegrznia and Ełk as well as two canals: Rudzki and Woźnawiejski. Part of wider plan 1 Policy target Target purpose Improved Biodiversity Increase Water Storage Runoff control 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 Local spatial plan of Goniądz Policy requirement directive Requirement directive Specification Socio-economic Costs total information The LIFE+ project budget for the phase I (2010-2016) is 3 658 824 EUR. There is also a follow-up LIFE+ project granted (Phase II, 2014-2018) - 6 641 806 € Ecosystem improved biodiversity 1 Information on Ecosystem improved biodiversity Although the monitoring results are not yet available, the area is very valuable for waterfowls. Biophysical impacts Increased groundwater level 0.4 Information on Increased groundwater level While the groun water level in the river is estimated to be increased, the growundwater level in the vicinity of channel will decrease. Water quality overall improvements Neutral impact-no change in WQ status Information on Water quality overall improvements The area is haveing minor economic activities, therefore change in water qyality is not monitored. Full Context Pathway(aka Context) Default view Area(aka Level or Site) ALL