Conservation actions for restoring the coastal lagoon habitats: Strategy and multidisciplinary approach of LIFE Lagoon Refresh

The Habitat Directive of European Union lists Costal Lagoons (habitat code 1150*) among priority habitats because they are in danger of disappearance. Natural ecosystems may recover from anthropogenic perturbations; however, the recovery can follow natural restoration or it can be redirected through ecological restoration by anthropogenic intervention. Accordingly, by collecting the available theoretical indications for restoration of estuarine and coastal areas, a methodological approach was detailed andit can be summarised into five issues: (i) Environmental context from which it began; (ii) Desired state to be achieved; (iii) Policies and socio-economic context; (iv) Typology of recovery and/or improvement of habitats and ecosystems; and (v) Methods for monitoring the impact of the project. The project strategy, management and measures of LIFE Lagoon Refresh were also presented and discussed, as a case study for the implementation of the multidisciplinary approach for restoration ecology in transitional waters. The project takes place in the northern Venice Lagoon (Italy), started in 2017 and it lasts 5 years. In the Venice Lagoon, since the 20th century, strong reductions of the typical salinity gradient of buffer areas between lagoon and mainland, and of reedbed extensions have occurred due to historic human interventions, with negative consequences on coastal lagoon habitats. To improve the conservation status of habitats and biodiversity of the area, the LIFE Lagoon Refresh project included several conservative actions, which are (i) the diversion of a freshwater flow from the Sile River into the lagoon; (ii) the restoration of intertidal morphology, through biodegradable structures; (iii) the reed and aquatic angiosperm transplantations with the involvement of local fishermen and hunters, and (iv) the reduction of hunting and fishing pressures in the intervention area. To achieve the restoration of the lagoon environment, the strategy of the project covered a combination of different aspects and tools, such as planning activities, through the involvement of local Institutions and communities; stakeholder's involvement to increase awareness of environment conservation and socioeconomic value improvement; an ecological engineering approach; numerical models as supporting tool for planning and managing of conservation actions; environmental monitoring performed before and after the conservation actions

Conservation actions for restoring the coastal lagoon habitats: Strategy and multidisciplinary approach of LIFE Lagoon Refresh

The Habitat Directive of European Union lists Costal Lagoons (habitat code 1150*) among priority habitats because they are in danger of disappearance. Natural ecosystems may recover from anthropogenic perturbations; however, the recovery can follow natural restoration or it can be redirected through ecological restoration by anthropogenic intervention. Accordingly, by collecting the available theoretical indications for restoration of estuarine and coastal areas, a methodological approach was detailed andit can be summarised into five issues: (i) Environmental context from which it began; (ii) Desired state to be achieved; (iii) Policies and socio-economic context; (iv) Typology of recovery and/or improvement of habitats and ecosystems; and (v) Methods for monitoring the impact of the project. The project strategy, management and measures of LIFE Lagoon Refresh were also presented and discussed, as a case study for the implementation of the multidisciplinary approach for restoration ecology in transitional waters. The project takes place in the northern Venice Lagoon (Italy), started in 2017 and it lasts 5 years. In the Venice Lagoon, since the 20th century, strong reductions of the typical salinity gradient of buffer areas between lagoon and mainland, and of reedbed extensions have occurred due to historic human interventions, with negative consequences on coastal lagoon habitats. To improve the conservation status of habitats and biodiversity of the area, the LIFE Lagoon Refresh project included several conservative actions, which are (i) the diversion of a freshwater flow from the Sile River into the lagoon; (ii) the restoration of intertidal morphology, through biodegradable structures; (iii) the reed and aquatic angiosperm transplantations with the involvement of local fishermen and hunters, and (iv) the reduction of hunting and fishing pressures in the intervention area. To achieve the restoration of the lagoon environment, the strategy of the project covered a combination of different aspects and tools, such as planning activities, through the involvement of local Institutions and communities; stakeholder’s involvement to increase awareness of environment conservation and socioeconomic value improvement; an ecological engineering approach; numerical models as supporting tool for planning and managing of conservation actions; environmental monitoring performed before and after the conservation actions

La previsione in tempo reale dei livelli idrometrici di piena del fiume Bacchiglione a Ponte degli Angeli, Vicenza

Il disastroso evento di piena che ha colpito il Veneto il primo novembre 2010, particolarmente drammatico per la citt\ue0 di Vicenza, ha reso evidente la necessit\ue0 di disporre di metodi di previsione, soprattutto a breve termine, che siano efficaci strumenti di supporto alle decisioni. Infatti, nelle fasi concitate di un\u2019alluvione che colpisce un\u2019area urbana densamente popolata, \ue8 assai difficile mantenere una visione chiara dell\u2019evoluzione dell\u2019evento e, di conseguenza, stabilire e coordinare un piano per la gestione delle fasi dell\u2019emergenza. Questa nota presenta un modello di previsione che adotta un metodo di tipo statistico basato sull\u2019acquisizione in tempo reale dei dati misurati dalle stazioni idro-meteorologiche del bacino del Bacchiglione e delle previsioni di modelli meteorologici

Geomorphological modeling of tidal inlets for sustainable deltaic lagoon management: A case study from the Po River delta, Italy

River deltas and enclosed lagoons represent a zone where fluvial and littoral processes interact through the redistribution, erosion, and deposition of sediment, which have a large impact on coastal management and engineering. The focus of the study is to understand the correct balance between strategies that maintain the navigational efficiency of tidal inlets and those that respect the ecological and economical functions of coastal lagoons. We applied an integrated modeling system that links multiple hydrodynamic and morphodynamic models to understand how coastal processes and associated sediment transport influences the functioning of the southern inlet of the Barbamarco Lagoon in the Po River Delta, Italy. Moreover, our study provides engineering solutions to improve the inlet functioning efficiency and a proposal for a monitoring plan. Our results highlight the importance of the seasonal effects of wave climate on the littoral sediment transport. Model outcomes show that the dredging volume is approximately 15,000 cubic meter/year for the southern inlet, which may vary with wave climate. However, creating a wider seaward tidal channel will reduce dredging activities over a longer interval than would sediment removal. A deeper and wider channel will deflect the along shore current seaward and cause sediment to bypass the inlet. Therefore, the sediment will reach the erosional side of the inlet and enhance the redistribution of the sediment, which may reduce over wash during storms and high-water levels. Our results illustrate the ephemeral equilibrium of tidal inlets and coastal lagoons in deltaic systems impacted by large riverine sediment delivery. Shore management scenarios and decisions rely on hydro-morphodynamic numerical models that predict best practices for coastal sustainability

Life Lagoon Refresh - Coastal lagoon habitat (1150*) and species recovery by restoring the salt gradient increasing fresh water input. Management measures in the northern Venice Lagoon (NE, Italy).

The northern Venice Lagoon (SCI IT3250031) holds several Annex I-listed habitats of the Habitats Directive, such as the 1150* (Coastal lagoons). Recent monitoring activities showed that conservation status of the habitat 1150*is improving within SCI IT3250031, but it is still unfavourable in the inner landward areas, due to lack of ecotonal buffer areas, favouring self-regulation processes, between lagoon and mainland. In the past, the project area was occupied by reed beds in large amounts, now significantly receded due to increasing of lagoon water salinity, caused by historical human activities (e.g. diversion of rivers with reduction of freshwater supply, inlet and channel excavation). With reduction or disappearance of reed beds, their contribution to ecosystem services, like supporting numerous biological communities and species, are minimised. The LIFE LAGOON REFRESH project, started on Sept 2017, foresees the restoration of favourable conservation status of habitat 1150* in the northern Venice Lagoon and the recreation of favourable habitats for faunal species of community interest. The project actions involve: diversion of a freshwater flow from the Sile river into the lagoon (necessary for the recreation of the typical salt gradient of buffer areas between lagoon and mainland); restoration of intertidal morphology through the implementation of structures properly arranged to slow down the freshwater dispersion and to favour reed development; planting of Phragmites australis to accelerate the development of the reed beds; transplantation of small dumps of seagrass species of the habitat 1150*, suitable to accelerate the recolonization by aquatic plants of low-salinity environments. The project aims to exploit the ecosystem services resulting from the recreation of a typical estuarine system to: counteract the depletion of lagoon bottom and fish communities; reduce eutrophication through reed bed phytoremediation function, favouring the presence of sensitive species and high ecological value aquatic plants; improve conservation status of bird species, including those listed in Annex I of the Birds Directive; increase the presence of fish species, listed in Annex II of the Habitats Directive. The restoration of salinity gradients will also contribute to increase biodiversity in the Natura 2000 net work site, and to help achieving targets defined by the 2020 Biodiversity Strategy