BASIS FOR RIVER RESTORATION PROJECT

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1 The FLUVIO FCT-Doctoral Program Hydromorphological and Habitat Restoration Course Diego García de Jalón and Marta González del Tánago, UPM Madrid BASIS FOR RIVER RESTORATION PROJECT Throughout the course, students will carry out a practical work on a river section (1-5 km length) that will be visited during field trip practices. This work should be presented oral and written. This work will be done in groups of 2 students, and consist of four main parts: 1. Characterization of the river reach and its up-scaling features 2. Evaluation of ecological status and diagnosis of the problems 3. Proposals for improving its ecological functioning and Action Plan 4. Writing a memory restoration project. Figure 1.- River reaches being visited for analysis of its current state, taking samples of their geomorphological dynamics, particle size of the substrate, riparian vegetation, water quality, macroinvertebrate communities, macrophytes and human pressures. The river reaches studied are located in the Tajo Basin (Figure 1) and are (UTM): 1. Río Guadarrama at Rielves , ,07 2. Río Tajo at Albarreal , ,02 3. Río Tajo at La Rinconada , ,48 4. Río Alberche at El Casar de Escalona ,35 4, ,89 1

2 5. Río Alberche Talavera de la Reina ,45 4, ,45 6. Río Tajo at Talavera , ,09 7. Rio Tajo at Puente El Arzobispo , ,73 8. Río Ibor at Bohonal de Ibor , ,91 9. Río Tietar at La Bazagona , , Río Tietar at La Tayuela , , Río Jerte Galisteo , , Río Alagón (Galisteo) , ,65 Before departure to the field trip, students should have well advanced the first two paragraphs (office work): hydrological analysis (gauging); Morphological analysis of the channel; inventory pressures; inventory of macroinvertebrates, fish, macrophytes and riparian vegetation; data collection of water physico-chemistry. 1. CHARACTERIZATION OF THE RIVER REACH IN STUDIO Geomorphological characterization of the reach A characterization of the study area will be carried out according to different spatial scales (region, catchment, landscape unit, river segment and reach). For this purpose basic documentation (topography, geology, cover, drainage, etc.) will be consulted and the precise characteristics and types of each of the variables analyzed. Finally, it will be indicated to which type the analyzed river reach corresponds. Address the following scales downscaling: Region (ecoregion): Following information on bioclimatics.org, indicate the river reach, the basin, the region and biogeographic provinces where it fits. Catchment: Indicate the following characteristics: Catchment area (km2) Total length of river (km) Relief (Maximum Altitude - Minimum altitude) Geology: summary description of the types of rocks and geological class (limestone, silica, mixed) Coverage: Brief description of vegetation cover and land use Suitable Figures: Basin and its drainage network map, Geological map, Land use map (Corine Land Cover, Level I). 2

3 Landscape unit: For each of the landscape units recognized in the basin, indicate the following characteristics: Location in the river continuum (upper reaches, medium, low) Topography (high mountain, middle mountain, piedmont plain, terrace...) Geology: more detailed description given to the basin scale, if possible quantify surfaces of each class Coverage: Idem that for geology Recommended Figures: Map of the basin representing different landscape units; longitudinal profile of the main river, indicating the boundaries of each landscape unit recognized. Fluvial segment: For the segment in which the study river reach falls, indicate the following characteristics: channel length (km) altitudinal range (maximum and minimum altitude), Slope (m) and runway longitudinal slope (%) Valley Type (Confined, partially confined, unconfined) Presence of erosion on the slopes of the valley and evaluate possible sediment to the river bed. Average width of the valley (m) River pattern (single channel: straight, sinuous, meandering, multi-channel: braided, wandering, anastomosed) Average width of the riparian corridor (m) Dominant Vegetation formations in the floodplain Pressures Figures required: representative cross sections of the fluvial valley segment. River reach: Within the studied river reach, identify significant changes in layout, in channel width or in channel shape, and characteristics of the riparian corridor. Indicate the following features for the selected study reach: active channel width (mi) riparian corridor width (m) Reach length (km) Longitudinal slope (%) Layout plan (straight, meandering, braided, etc.) Units of vegetation by species and age classes (regenerated, young, adult, mature) substrate particle size (grading curve: needs fieldwork) Cross-sections of representative channel of the river reach 3

4 1.2. Hydrologic Characterization In the case of having gauging stations data, analyze the flow regime of the selected section in detail, from available historical records. Include the following values and graphs, based on a single data period (unregulated rivers) or two or more periods according to the year dam was built (regulated rivers): Average annual flow average monthly flow chart, representing on ordinates the monthly modules value (monthly averages for the period of years available) and on abscissa the corresponding month considering the hydrological year October of one year to September of the following year. Graph of peak flows, representing on ordinate the value of the maximum daily or instantaneous flow each year and on abscissae the corresponding year. Graphical flow duration, representing ordinate the flow value and the abscissa the percentage of days the river carries a flow rate equal or higher than the corresponding neat. Bankfull Flow 1.3. Sediment Balance Estimation of sediment transport capacity by the channel in the study reach and evaluation of sediment coming from the watershed. The Sediment Balance is a comparative analysis between the supply and transport capacity of the channel Water Physical-chemical characterization Referencing data water quality monitoring network of the corresponding Basin Authority (Confederacion Hidrografica), display a graph with the evolution of the main indicators of water quality in successive years with records. Especially, dissolved oxygen, BOD5, nitrates and ammonium, conductivity and suspended solids Biological characterization Refer to the information available on the network for ecological status monitoring of the corresponding River Basin Authority, including information on existing macroinvertebrates and fish. Review other sources of biological information section on ecological status assessment by IBMW 'and EFI +. 4

5 1.5.Identification of reference conditions to study reach In response to the hydro-morphological characterization done, define its river typology and whether are located in the same basin similar reaches that can serve as reference for the environmental improvement of the selected section. Once you know the type of the section under consideration, the closest sections considered in "good ecological status" that could serve as a reference or standard by which to estimate the degree of naturalness or alteration in each case should be indicated. 2. EVALUATION OF ECOLOGICAL STATUS AND DIAGNOSIS OF THE PROBLEM 2.1. Analysis of the historical evolution of the section under study geomorphological evolution: To perform this analysis aerial photographs of other times consult, including 1956, and presented a comparison of the "past" and "present" quantifying the changes detected in the following elements: Morphology and dimensions of the active channel Morphology and dimensions of the riparian corridor Coverage and structure of riparian vegetation. Evolution of instream flows: based on historical gauging data different periods may be detected and significant changes on hydrological parameters quantified. Evolution of Fluvial Territory Uses: consult uses maps of other times, and compared with current ones: Land use and occupancy of the floodplain Land use of adjacent water margins Other areas of interest 2.2. Analysis of pressures and impacts affecting the reach under study. It will be discussed in some detail the pressures and impacts identified in the study reach, which are valued at different spatial and temporal scales. Specifically, the following issues will be discussed: Pressures and impacts related to land use in the basin (eg agriculture, forestry, urban, etc..). Mechanisms derived from each land use affecting the study reach (eg flow regulation, fertilizers, pollution, etc..). 5

6 Economic and social actors (eg agricultural policy, urban development, tourism, etc..). Pressures and impacts on the interventions in the reach Identification of spatial and temporal scales at operating pressures and impacts detected Additional local problems Summary of the pressures and impacts affecting the reach and overall assessment of the problem. For each type of pressure, the impacts produced on the reach, and as far as possible the economic and social stakeholders, should be identified. With all this, a summary of the general problem that affects the reach is presented, always quantifying both pressures as the aforementioned impacts, and highlighting the source of information used in each case be made Assessment of problems with a hierarchical definition of limiting pressures and diagnosis of their effects. Of all the pressures affecting the reach, we analyze their impacts to determine those that cause further degradation of river ecosystem. Among the latter we prioritize those that are acting as limiting factors of the ecological status, so that their correction does not improve their status. 3. PROPOSALS FOR IMPROVING YOUR ECOLOGICAL FUNCTIONING AND PLAN OF ACTION In this third part of the Work, students are free to choose their restoration measure or to propose to develop a program of measures. This third part consists in turn of the following tasks: 3.1. Implementation of strategies and techniques for rehabilitation / restoration of fluvial ecosystems In this section develops one or more of the measures in the program, through the design and calculations for the reach analyzed. It is in this case an exercise in practical application by the student can make rough estimates of certain conditions of the workplace, in order to facilitate its practical application. Also, the development of the proposal including a maintenance plan in the short and medium term. 6

7 3.2. Evaluation of the proposals and justification. This section provides an approximate assessment of proposals designed, in economic terms (costs and benefits of implementation), ecological (intended track expected improvements) and social (beneficiaries, future use, environmental education, etc.) will be presented Planning of actions. Prioritization of selected restoration measures is performed, according to their effectiveness and cost / benefit analysis, to be submitted to the processes of public participation and agreement. Finally, it should be included a development plan of the measures and propsoal chosen, including the following: Identification of actors ("stakeholders") and who should participate in the project. Organization of participation levels Implementation of the proposals. Implementation plan and maintenance plan. Monitoring Plan and evaluation of results. 4. BASIS FOR DRAFTING OF A RESTORATION PROJECT MEMORY A summary document, formally written as Project Memory, with a length between 20 and 30 pages, including a summary (300 words) should be developed. Contents should be structured by chapters of Introduction and Objectives, Description of the study area, Methodology, Results: Problematic, Current status, Restoration Measures Alternatives, Develop of Proposals, Action Plan, Monitoring Plan and References. Its content in any case should include: A clear definition of the 'target image' of the project, An analysis of the problems including a diagnosis of the limiting factors. Proposals of the most significant actions, justifying these proposals based on the problems identified and especially limiting factors. Design measures to track the success of the implementation of the proposed project by quantitative indicators. A final section in which all references and consulted web pages as well as a detailed list of any other documentation used will be collected. 7