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Assessing the impact of water management options upon vegetation development in drained lake side wetlands

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Abstract

Lake-side wetlands and their original vegetation have become rare in The Netherlands. The few remaining lake-side wetlands (also called: boezemlands) are mostly managed as nature reserves. Much attention is given to the preservation and restoration of species-rich meadows (Calthion palustris). In lake-side wetlands, both desiccation and acidification endanger the characteristic environmental conditions of these plant communities.

The aim of this study was to develop guidelines for water management in different types of boezemlands. Three sites, representing different hydrological conditions, were selected. The steady-state groundwater model FLOWNET was used to describe water movement. The results of vegetation surveys were used to produce response curves for important species, giving correlations between their presence and environmental conditions (groundwater levels, soil pH).

Three types of lake-side wetlands (boezemlands) can be distinguished, with different hydrology and management:

  • a. Original boezemlands which have free drainage to a lake.

  • b. Summer polders which are artificially drained in summer and inundated in winter.

  • c. Winter polders which are artificially drained throughout the whole year.

Measures to counter the effects of desiccation and acidification and to improve the prospects for Calthion palustris are proposed:

  • a. Measures are required to guarantee sufficient infiltration with water from the lake in the original boezemlands.

  • b. The same measures are needed to prevent desiccation in summer polders. Furthermore, it has to be ensured that inundation takes place with base-rich water from the lake. In this way the proportion of water derived from precipitation is limited and acidification is minimized.

  • c. Extra intake of base-rich boezemwater is required during dry periods in winter polders, that can be achieved through a dense network of ditches.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Geography, University of Groningen, Kerklaan 30, 9751 NN, Haren, The Netherlands

    J. F. M. Spieksma & J. M. Schouwenaars

  2. Department of Plant Biology, University of Groningen, P.O. Box 14, 9750 AA, Haren, The Netherlands

    R. van Diggelen

Authors
  1. J. F. M. Spieksma
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  2. J. M. Schouwenaars
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  3. R. van Diggelen
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Spieksma, J.F.M., Schouwenaars, J.M. & van Diggelen, R. Assessing the impact of water management options upon vegetation development in drained lake side wetlands. Wetlands Ecol Manage 3, 249–262 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00179840

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