Central Baltic Project Database - lakes and rivers

SEABASED helped to improve the status of marine area by reducing nutrients from the seabed

kersti — Tue, 16 Nov 2021 13:23:43 +0000

Eutrophication is one of the most large-scale problems of the Baltic Sea. While the nutrient load from land-based sources has been cut significantly during past decades, nutrients that are stored in the seabed and are being released from the sediment back to the waterbody.

The SEABASED Project (2018-2021) examined and assessed measures that potentially improve the status of marine area by reducing this “internal load” of nutrients from the seabed. The project also strengthened cooperation and shared knowledge between scientific communities as well as among authorities, political decision makers and third sector actors of the region on the feasibility, risks, and sustainability of the different sea-based approaches in different scales and sea areas, as well as on their financial sustainability.

The project implemented the following small scale local pilots in Finland, Åland and Sweden:

Marl application to phosphorus-rich bottom sediments in coastal bays in Sweden (Kyrkviken, Djuröfladen, Farstaviken) and Finland (Kolkka) (Ekeroth 2021). The pilots and its outcomes are presented in the report.

Irrigation of two fields in Åland for two seasons, 2019 and 2020, with brackish, nutrient-rich near-bottom water from the strongly eutrophicated bays Kaldersfjärden and Ämnäsviken. The pilot's main goal was to evaluate this sea-based method for reducing nutrients in the marine environment and restore the coastal areas into better conditions while presenting a win-win solution for the farmers and the Baltic Sea. More information about approach, measurements and results in the report Nutrients from Sea to Field.
Harvesting of stickleback was piloted in Sweden and Åland with the aim to uptake nutrients with the fish biomass, and, in addition, to develop techniques to efficiently harvest the abundant population of these small fish. The report for the stickleback harvesting can be accessed here. Short video about this pilot and lessons learnt.

In addition to stickleback harvesting, the construction of artificial reef structures and small- scale wetlands, “pike factories” aiming to improve the condition of coastal ecosystem in pilot bays to be more suitable for spawning and “nursery” of young generations of pike and other predatory fish which spawn in shallow sea bays. Video presenting the aim of the artificial reefs.

Removing the top layer of the sediment was planned but it was not possible to implement because proposed prices were too high. Instead, the potential of sediment top-layer removal for phosphorus uptake and reducing the oxygen demand in the bottom was studied with incubation tests in laboratory scale. The report is available here. The study on the incubation of the sediment.

The concept for aquatic compensations was designed, related to the renovation of the Water Act in Åland. More information in the final report Nutrient compensation for aquatic coastal environment — legal, ecological and economic aspects in developing an offsetting concept.

The practical and scientific knowledge, including estimates on impacts and sustainability, risks, costs, and feasibility of available sea-based measures gained in the SEABASED and previous projects is compiled as in the Practical Guidelines for Sea-based Measures.

More information about the project results in the project website at www.seabasedmeasures.eu

List and links to the materials produced in the project.

Tags:

Water management

Coastal management and maritime issues

Waterways

lakes and rivers

Attachment:

Binding P with activated limestone__Pilot Report 2021

Potential for improving water quality in the Baltic Sea by sediment removal_Project report

Merisedimentin Inkubointikoe Seabased Tulosraportti

Nutrient Compensation for Aquatic Coastal Environment 2020

Practical Guidelines for sea-based measures 2021

Category:

Reduction of nutrients, hazardous substances and toxins inflow into the Baltic

At a glance text:

The SEABASED Project (2018-2021) examined and assessed measures that potentially improve the status of marine area by reducing this “internal load” of nutrients from the seabed.

Project link:

Seabased Measures in Baltic Sea Nutrient Management

Heawater improved water quality in selected small urban rivers

kersti — Fri, 07 May 2021 12:28:08 +0000

The project Heawater improved water quality in selected small urban rivers by preventing nutrients and hazardous substances inflow from watersheds to Baltic Sea.

Partners from Estonia, Sweden and Finland developed and tested new technological solutions that were specially designed for small rivers to reduce pollution load. The most suitable solution for each selected small river was tested as part of the pilot investments that were carried out in Tallinn, Söderhamn and Turku. Monitoring data shows reduction in concentration of selected indicators more than 10%.

Another project aim was to raise awareness about the benefits of restoration measures of small urban rivers both for the general public and decision-makers.

The project identified best measures for different stormwater management goals and compiled the information in a tool that support planners, decision makers and private actors looking for the best urban river restoration methods. The decision support tool provides a database with the most common and well-established solutions for urban runoff and river management. The solutions are applicable also in other regions in the Baltic Sea area.

Furthermore, the project conducted a survey in the project three cities to assess the awareness level related to water quality issues and citizens’ willingness to pay for better water quality. Although city streams are often close to people, they can nevertheless receive very little attention. Based on the answers, large proportion of respondents showed interest in managing the urban waters, and a significant proportion of respondents was also willing to participate in improving the situation. The cost benefit analysis published in the summary report demonstrates that overall benefits of improving the state of small waters and sustainable stormwater management would outweigh the costs, at least over a period of several years.

Additional information:
Project video: https://youtu.be/4Algl3gsz94
Project video on Mustjõgi: https://youtu.be/e5mboRLKpXw
Project video on Kuninkoja (In Finnish) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9OVutJ8DPo
Söderhamn video (in English): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TGHP3kMhLM
Project final webinar: https://youtu.be/xNZDXh1znno

Tags:

Attachment:

Category:

Reduction of nutrients, hazardous substances and toxins inflow into the Baltic

At a glance text:

Partners from Estonia, Sweden and Finland.
Improved water quality in selected small urban rivers.
Developed and tested new technological solutions that were specially designed for small rivers to reduce pollution load.

Project link:

Achieving healthier water quality in urban small rivers of the Baltic Sea catchment by restoration of water bodies and preventing of nutrients and hazardous substances inflow from watersheds.

INSURE - New methods to prevent hazardous substances from reaching the Baltic Sea

annika.holmstrom — Wed, 10 Mar 2021 13:50:57 +0000

The project “Innovative Sustainable Remediation” (INSURE), with project partners from Sweden, Latvia and Finland, aimed to improve and increase the rate of remediation of contaminated sites and thereby decreasing the hazardous substances and toxins into the Baltic Sea. Currently the most common treatment for contaminated areas is excavation, where contaminated masses are removed and transported away for treatment or final storage. This not is considered sustainable because of the CO2 emissions created to transport both clean and contaminated masses.
The project worked in three areas:

Testing different methods in pilot areas

The project tested various so called in situ methods in eight pilot areas (Motala in Sweden; two pilot sites in Valmiera, Latvia; Janakkala, Nastola, Virrat, Loppi and Karjaa in Finland). Each pilot area had different historic contaminants. Therefore suitable sustainable techniques for each site were tested, and knowledge and experience was gathered what method would be suitable at what type of site. Examples of techniques used are bio-stimulation, electro-kinetic pumping, fenton reaction and phytoremediation.

Supervision and enforcement

During the project, new methods have been developed and used to improve the work of supervision and enforcement. Supervision and enforcement are necessary tools for authorities to achieve increased rate of remediation of contaminated sites.

A series of documents were prepared on this topic (for example: self-monitoring of contaminated sites in Sweden, Handbook including checklist and methodology for supervision and enforcement in operation, etc.).
Strategies also have been developed to more efficiently handle areas that are complex because of e.g. their size, diversity of contaminants, property owners and responsibility.
Furthermore, a tool for enterprises has been developed; A Plan of action, that describes how to continuously self-monitor the work with their contaminated site. Within INSURE, the County Administrative Board of Östergötland and Motala Municipality have participated in this activity together with 28 enterprises.

Technical tools for visualisation

As contaminated areas often are complex with several contaminants in different media like soil, ground- and surface water, sediments and buildings, there is a need to find better tools for prioritisation and visualisation of the sites to support the work. During the project, a database of contaminated sites was developed in Latvia. Another example is new GIS tools that support the visualisation of the contaminated sites. All project experience for visualisations of contaminated sites and developed tools are available in the project website.

Project website: www.insureproject.se

Tags:

Managing natural and man-made threats

Risk management

Waterways

lakes and rivers

Attachment:

Brochure "How to deal with contaminated sites in the Baltic Sea region "

Report about pilot tests

Report about Suitability Tests for Pilot Areas

External link:

Project website

Video about the project

Category:

Reduction of nutrients, hazardous substances and toxins inflow into the Baltic

At a glance text:

7 sources of hazardous substances was worked with that improved the situation in the Baltic Sea.
8 pilot areas in three countries. In 7 of those the project received successful results.
Improved methods for supervision and enforcement was developed for better management
Technical tools for visualisations was developed

Project link:

Innovative Sustainable Remediation