Establishing new wetland protected areas in Fizes catchment, Romania Radu Mihaiescu and Tania...

Establishing new wetland protected areas in Fizes catchment, Romania

Radu Mihaiescu and Tania Mihaiescu

Faculty of Environmental Sciences, University “Babes-Bolyai”, Cluj-Napoca, Romania

curriculum in natural environmental science, vol. 2, 2010NEAR

Map of Romania


Relief map of Fizes watershed


Geological map of Fizes watershed


Precipitations map of Fizes Mic watershed


Fizes Valley in upper catchment


Catina Lake with wetland vegetation


Geaca Lake – Hydrophilic vegetation


Tau Popii Lake


General view of Stiucii Lake and its catchment


Sic reed bed


Legiilor Valley


Land-use in Fizeş Watershed


Diffuse pollution sources in Fizes watershed


• watershed area - 562 km2; • annual runoff average - 1,20

m3/s; • runoff - 68 mm/an; • forest land area -103 km2; • arable and pasture land area -

442 km2; • mire/wetlands - 3 km2; • lakes - 4 km2;

• rural settlements - 10 km2; • animal units (12619 equivalent

cows from which 9000 dairy cows);

• 19745 inhabitants with individual sewer system (with 20% using dry toilets);

• industrial pollution sources – 2 (S.C. NAPOLACT S.A. - Ţaga Section and SNGN ROMGAZ MEDIAŞ- Ţaga section).

Fizeş Watershed diffuses pollution assessment using WENNERBLOM model

INPUT PARAMETRS


Measures targeted on the reduction of individual pollution sources: building up sewage and drinking water facilities, waste water treatment plans both for human agglomerations and industrial enterprises, septic tanks.Measures for conservation and restoration of ecosystem: rehabilitation of natural wetlands; creation of buffer zones and natural corridorsMeasures for controlling diffuse pollution: on the main river course and banks (rehabilitation of longitudinal and lateral connectivity of the river, rehabilitation of natural riparian vegetation); for the flood plain (rehabilitation of wetlands, specific agricultural practices); for the hillside (implementing the Code for Good Agricultural Practices, building up some grass and heath strips, usage of specific local crops in order to prevent erosion); for the watershed (rehabilitation and restoration of natural vegetation, especially forest vegetation)

The main classes of analysed measures


Provisions of goods and services by aquatic ecosystems and the role of management

interface in these interactions


Project measures• building of small dimension dams (at least 14), for

partially blocking selected waterway in order to create a total area of 250 ha of ponds and wetlands, and reforesting a surface of 430 ha.

• local flora species (shrubs and trees) will be planted on the vicinity of roads and waterway in order to establish green corridors, with a total surface of aprox. 500 ha.

• the whole area (more than 40000 ha) will be transformed in a functional network of green corridors, thus creating a perfect space for migratory species.

• The Fizes river corridor will connect two of the most important watersheds in Romania, Somes and Mures, facilitating bird migration between these two areas.


Expected results

• a significant improvement of water quality.

• the tourism development development of the whole area.

• touristic activity jobs for at least 300 inhabitants in the area.

• small private ponds and agro-touristic pensions.


Conclusions

• Wetland restoration and creation proposals must be viewed with great care.

• Clear, site-specific measurable goals should be established.• Wetlands should, in general, be designed to be self-sustaining

systems and persistent features of the landscapes.• Wetland design should consider relationship of the wetland to

the watershed, water sources, other wetlands in the watershed, and adjacent upland and deepwater habitat.

• Increasing public awareness towards environmental problems and benefits of eco-friendly agriculture and ecosystem services can prove to be a good example and count more in the balance of benefits and losses.


Establishing new wetland protected areas in Fizes catchment, Romania Radu Mihaiescu and Tania...

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