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Soil investigation in the Emmericher Ward.

 

The boreholes for the investigation were severeal meters in depth.

 

A drill core is preparated for the analysis (Photos: Dr Thomas Chrobock).

Within our project, a part of the fluvial terrace of the Emmericher Ward will be floristically upgraded. Herewith, some plant species will be reintroduced that have become very rare or even extinct during the last decades. Meadow sage (Salvia pratensis), pigeon´s scabious (Scabiosa columbaria) and lesser meadow-rue (Thalictrum minus) are some of these species.

A few weeks ago, we already visited the Rhine peninsula Salmorth (also a nature conservation area and part of the EU-Bird Sanctuary Unterer Niederrhein) opposite of the Emmericher Ward. Together with colleagues of the Naturschutzzentrum im Kreis Kleve we searched for suitable donor populations of these species. After the necessary approval of the responsible authority (Lower Nature Conservation Authority of the District of Kleve) we successfully collected seed a few days ago.

 

Inspection of a donor area on the Rhine peninsula Salmorth: the meadow sage in full bloom (Photo: Thomas Chrobock).

 

Collecting seeds of the meadow sage (Photo: Isabel Schlurmann).

Kleve – The NABU-Naturschutzstation Niederrhein successfully finished the EU Life project „River and floodplain Emmericher Ward“. Due to a new side channel running parallel to the Rhine and the development of an alluvial floodplain forest, new space for riverine nature has been created in the Emmericher Ward. The local economy benefitted from the project´s financing and, thus, jobs had been secured in the region. Peter Driessen, candidate for District Asministrator, ahd a look into the area last Sunday.

Project manager Klaus Markgraf-Maué took a retrorespective look on the project: „After a long period of preparation and the start of the project in 2012, we conclude today: it was worth all the efforts.“ The main objective of the project was to improve and enlarge the natural habitats of the Rhine and its floodplain and promote its typical species, as there are blue throat, common kingfisher and sand martin, but also different fish species. To sustainably secure and enlarge the fish populations, spawning grounds as well as feeding and resting habitats had to be created.

Now we can see large shoals growing up in the side channel – protected from the waves of the ships on the Rhine. Among them are the project´s target species nase and barbel. They are very demanding rheophilic species. Obviously, we succeded in creating a high quality side channel“, Markgraf-Maué pointed out.

Already in the last year, three breeding pairs of the blue throat had been observed, he reported. „They were exclusively in the area of the new side channel. Such a number had been observed in 2002 for the last time in this area.“ Also this year, several pairs were observed in the willows and tall herbs along the side channel. Moreover, additional fish, insect and other species typical of the Rhine floodplain had been documented.

Peter Driessen, candiadte for District Administrator, was also very impressed during the excursion last Sunday: „This morning is an enrichment to me. On the one hand, I learned a lot about the functioning of a floodplain forest, the floodplain´s water balance and the new side channel. On the other hand, I was able to get to know people who , despite decades of considerable resistance, are enthusiastically engaged for nature and environment.“

The project´s budget summed up to about 3.1 million Euro. This sum was largely spent on construction works and planning services during the project´s life time from 2012 to 2020. The majority was spent in the region, for example to companies from the district of Kleve and the city of Emmerich.

The project´s funding was provided by the LIFE-Nature program oft he EU, the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, the Kurt-Lange-Stiftung, the HIT Environmental and Nature Conservation Foundation, the NABU Federal Association and the NABU-Naturschutzstation Niederrhein itself.

Although this project is finished now, the work still goes on. The new LIFE-project „Re-establishment of the wetland characteristic of the Rhine floodplain Emmericher Ward“ will further improve the ecological quality of the Rhine´s floodplain. Project manager Dr Thomas Chrobock introduced the project during the excursion. He clearly pointed out that the preservation of this internationally important wetland area is of great importance for the protection of biodiversity, especially against the background oft he climate change´s predicted consequences. The measures of the project are planned in detail at the moment and will be implemented from 2021 onwards.

Learn more about the finished project on its website.

 

Getaway in the Emmericher Ward – among others with Peter Driessen, candidate for Districst Administrator, and Klaus Markgraf-Maué.

 

One of the main projects objectives is promoting the re-establishment of black terns (Chlidonias niger) in the Lower Rhine area. Formerly, black terns bred on the backwaters and oxbow lakes of the Lower Rhine´s flood plain. Due to the decrease of these waters, the black tern population diminished. But, recently, the numbers of black terns are increasing again due to nature conservation measures, as we perform within our project. This week, we brought 20 breeding rafts onto a former gravel pit lake in the Emmericher Ward. These rafts are also sucessfully used in other areas in the Lower Rhine flood plain.

We hope, the black terns will discover our rafts and will breed on them.

 

The breeding rafts are planted with water mint.

 

A small boat was used to bring the rafts in the water.

 

Awaiting the Black Terns...

 

Since about six weeks, due to the Rhine´s water level, the Emmericher Ward is flooded. The low-lying grounds are water-filled and the natural wet land character of the Emmericher Ward becomes obvious. Especially from the bird´s eye view, taken from a drone (the drone flight was authorized by the responsible authority).

The results of our ground water measurements clearly show fluctuations of the ground water level in the Emmericher Ward. Between the beginning of the measurements in April and October the groud water level dropped by 1.50 metres. From October to January it rose again by about 1.80 metres. At that time the Rhine also carried much more water than in summer. This illustrates that the Rhine affects the ground water of the flood plain. As soon as the Rhine rises/falls the ground water level follows with some delay. The figure below compares the ground water level at one of our gaugung stations with the Rhine´s water level at Emmerich upstreams (the Rhine´s water level at the project area is a little lower!).