Dead planet, living planet

Flood-meadows (alliance Cnidion) are one of the most endan-

gered plant communities in Central Europe. Many species typi-

cal to these meadows are already extinct or close to extinction

in the project area. This process was accelerated by intensified

drainage, structural changes in agriculture and a series of dry

years during the 1970s and 1980s which further accelerated the

conversion of the alluvial grassland into arable fields. As a con-

sequence, many rare and endangered river corridor plants are

restricted to small remnant populations in a few permanently

non-intensively managed meadows as well as to the fringe of an

extensive system of drainage ditches. In general, flood meadows

are of high biodiversiy conservation value. Certain types of these

meadows (e. g. alliance Cnidion) are protected by the Fauna Flo-

Restoration of Flood Meadows along the northern Upper Rhine

ra Habitat Directive of the European Union (92/43/ECC). Due to

the distribution patterns of Cnidion-meadows in Central-Europe,

Germany has a high responsibility for the conservation of this

meadow type. Starting in the mid 80s large areas (ca. 400 ha)

along the northern Upper Rhine where left to passive restora-

tion with the aim to re-establish riparian forests and species-rich

flood plain meadows on former arable land. Even after 20 years

the grassland that developed from the former arable land is still

characterised by rather common grassland species while species

and plant communities typical to river corridors are still missing

at most restoration sites. Most likely this is due to seed and dis-

persal limitation of many species under present-day conditions

along strongly confined rivers in Central Europe.

CASE STUDY #12

A 1999 Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) study conducted

by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) identi-

fied water quality problems in the Cuyahoga River behind Kent

Dam in the City of Kent, Ohio. A feasibility study was conducted

to evaluate alternatives to meet water quality objectives in the

TMDL report while also addressing concerns raised by the Kent

community. It was agreed that the design should modify the

Kent Dam/Dam Pool and restore the Cuyahoga to a free flowing

reach alongside the dam. The river flows through this channel

Kent Dam River Restoration – Kent, Ohio, USA

to satisfy OEPA aquatic habitat and fish passage criteria, as well

as enhancing amenity and recreational values including oppor-

tunities for kayak/canoe passage through the stretch of river

and bank revegetation upstream of the dam. Construction for

the Kent Dam restoration project was completed in early 2004

satisfying all initial OEPA objectives and providing a center of

gravity for urban renewal in the town of Kent, Ohio.

Source: Biohabitats,

CASE STUDY #13