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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,
www.biohabitats.comCASE STUDY #13