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that triggers the formation of cyanobacterial bloom. Due to the high

concentration of phosphate in the groundwater and seepage water,

a limestone-based biogeochemical barrier was constructed to reduce

phosphorus levels through absorption and precipitation. Preliminary

results indicate that phosphate concentration in the groundwater was

reduced by 58 per cent after it flowed through the barrier.

The shoreline is intensively used for recreational purposes, and

the lack of tourist infrastructure in the sites contributes to devasta-

tion of the vegetation buffer zones. Following the ecohydrological

aim of harmonizing society’s needs with the enhanced ecosystem

potential,

restoration of the mosaic ecotone zones was combined

with the construction of recreational infrastructures, such as jetties

for fishing and boating.

Individual ecohydrological methods can be synergistically linked into

the system solutions to complement existing hydrotechnical solutions

for water resources management, contributing to enhancement of the

overall resilience of a catchment and its ability to provide ecosystem

services. The action plan to reduce diffuse pollution in the Pilica River

basin has been developed in cooperation with the Regional Water

Management Authority in Warsaw, which is responsible for water

management of the Vistula River catchment and for the implementa-

tion of European Commission water directives.

Stakeholders (regional authorities, local authorities, non-govern-

mental organizations (NGOs), universities etc) were identified and

integrated through a multi-stakeholder platform which helps to

create an independent space for discussion and exchange of experi-

ence and knowledge. Additionally, measures have been organized to

raise ecological awareness among the local community

and decision makers concerning the prevention of diffuse

agricultural pollution. Public meetings for local people,

educational activities for schoolchildren and training for

specialists, decision makers and teachers have been held.

Blue-green city: urban ecohydrology

The increasing global rate of urbanization and concurrent

global climate changes create new challenges, but also

stimulate new approaches to the management of cities.

Achieving sustainable development under increasing

global pressures will depend to a great extent on how

cities manage their natural and water resources. A key

challenge is insufficient space for water circulation in the

city landscape, due to uncontrolled or out-of-date urban

development schemes. Rapid, damaging flash floods

followed by long-lasting dryness, the formation of urban

heat islands and the lowering of air humidity are some of

the major consequences, contributing to higher incidence

of asthma and allergies in city dwellers.

This negative

tendency can be reversed by changing the paradigm for the

management of stormwater, which is the only renewable

source of water for cities. This valuable resource should be

consciously retained in city landscapes by rehabilitating

their blue and green infrastructure.

A functional approach towards achieving this goal, by

including urban ecosystems in holistic water manage-

Reducing phosphorus pollution by enhancing plant buffer zones with biogeochemical barriers: LIFE+ EKOROB project Zarz

cin demo site

Source: Izydorczyk K. 2013. ‘Chemical barrier for enhancement of buffer zone toward reduction of diffuse pollution by phosphorus - preliminary results’.

Ecohydrol. &

Hydrobiol.

Article in press