Recovery of riparian vegetation in the Sils Canal [FINISHED]

CALENDAR:

START: October 2019

FINAL: September 2020

GOALS:

O1. Recover the riparian vegetation in the Sils Irrigation by:

1. Recover riparian forest habitats
2. Improving the habitat of the herpetofauna present.
3. Reduce the impact of erosion.
4. Reduce and buffer temperature fluctuations especially in summer.

O2. Implement different techniques for controlling invasive vegetation and recovering riparian vegetation for the Sils Lake area.

PRESSUPOST:

• PRESSUPOST TOTAL DEL PROJECTE: 42.000,00€
• FINANÇADORS:
  • ACA
  • FUNDACIÓ EMYS

COLLABORATORS

AJUNTAMENT DE SILS.

SUMMARY:

The Sils canal is a drainage infrastructure that was created to dry out the Sils lakes area. This is an artificial river space that rises below the Santa Maria stream, coming from Caldes, and flows into the Santa Coloma stream. In addition to its function as a drainage channel and to prevent flooding, it also offers an interesting habitat for a wide range of potential biodiversity: from riparian vegetation, including unique species of flora such as the snow lily (Galanthus nivalis), Lilium martagon or primrose (Primula veris), up to several species of fauna of interest such as the brook turtle (Mauremys leprosa), the pond turtle (Emys orbicularis), the kingfisher (Alcedo attis), the eel (Anguilla anguilla), the hawk (Gasterosteus aculeatus), or the otter (Lutra lutra). Unfortunately, the habitat of the canal is very degraded, with an almost absolute absence of riparian vegetation, and with few natural elements that give it heterogeneity, which would favor biodiversity.

That is why the Fundació Emys is proposing a river stewardship agreement with the ACA (the Catalan Water Agency), with the aim of promoting actions to improve the habitat in the area. The aim of this project is to remove the American cane from the bank of the ditch and promote the recovery of the riparian vegetation through different techniques: revegetation with Cocoon system, sowing wild seed, planting shrubs and techniques of bioengineering such as beams or living stakes. All these measures, in addition to seeking the recovery of riparian vegetation, also seek to consolidate the slopes, and compare the most appropriate methodologies to continue the recovery of irrigation vegetation along its entire length. In addition, there will also be two campaigns to catch exotic turtles, as the ditch is a very interesting area for the pond and stream turtle, but there is a large presence of Florida turtles. In this sense, sunshine points for turtles will also be promoted, thus improving the habitat conditions for the species.

ACTIONS TO BE PERFORMED

1. Planting of 330 trees and more than 500 shrubs
2. Disposal of at least 1200 m2 of American cane
3. Installation of bioengineering elements to protect the margins from drought
4. Removal of invasive turtles from space
5. Creating Sun Turtle Sunshine Points
6. Installation of an information poster
7. Create a 1 minute summary video