Assessing the hydrological suitability of floodplains for species-rich meadow restoration: a case study of the Thames floodplain, UK

The physical and chemical environment of a floodplain needs to be assessed to define conservation targets for restoring it to species-rich meadows from agricultural land. A straightforward technique, widely applicable by site managers for assessing the suitability of the hydrological and hydro-chemi...

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Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2007-01-01
Series:Hydrology and Earth System Sciences
Online Access:http://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/11/170/2007/hess-11-170-2007.pdf
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spelling doaj-5b3f3eb5439144759106072979c9f8112020-11-24T22:48:09ZengCopernicus PublicationsHydrology and Earth System Sciences1027-56061607-79382007-01-01111170179Assessing the hydrological suitability of floodplains for species-rich meadow restoration: a case study of the Thames floodplain, UKThe physical and chemical environment of a floodplain needs to be assessed to define conservation targets for restoring it to species-rich meadows from agricultural land. A straightforward technique, widely applicable by site managers for assessing the suitability of the hydrological and hydro-chemical regime of a floodplain for wet grassland restoration, has been tested by examining the feasibility of restoring plants characteristic of NVC MG4 and MG8 communities to the Castle Meadows, Wallingford (Oxfordshire, UK). Hydro-chemical suitability has been assessed by comparing phosphorus concentrations with species-rich meadows nearby. The flooding regime was estimated based on a rating curve and a digital elevation model and groundwater levels were measured monthly in dipwells and piezometers. The hydrological regime was then compared with published reference guidelines for communities of conservation interest. For the Castle Meadows, the maximum duration of flood events in autumn and winter exceeded MG4 and MG8 species requirements across half of the site, while the depth of the groundwater table in summer exceeded species requirements in the other half. It was shown that, depending on topography, MG5 or MG13 may be more realistic vegetation targets.http://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/11/170/2007/hess-11-170-2007.pdf
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
title Assessing the hydrological suitability of floodplains for species-rich meadow restoration: a case study of the Thames floodplain, UK
spellingShingle Assessing the hydrological suitability of floodplains for species-rich meadow restoration: a case study of the Thames floodplain, UK
Hydrology and Earth System Sciences
title_short Assessing the hydrological suitability of floodplains for species-rich meadow restoration: a case study of the Thames floodplain, UK
title_full Assessing the hydrological suitability of floodplains for species-rich meadow restoration: a case study of the Thames floodplain, UK
title_fullStr Assessing the hydrological suitability of floodplains for species-rich meadow restoration: a case study of the Thames floodplain, UK
title_full_unstemmed Assessing the hydrological suitability of floodplains for species-rich meadow restoration: a case study of the Thames floodplain, UK
title_sort assessing the hydrological suitability of floodplains for species-rich meadow restoration: a case study of the thames floodplain, uk
publisher Copernicus Publications
series Hydrology and Earth System Sciences
issn 1027-5606
1607-7938
publishDate 2007-01-01
description The physical and chemical environment of a floodplain needs to be assessed to define conservation targets for restoring it to species-rich meadows from agricultural land. A straightforward technique, widely applicable by site managers for assessing the suitability of the hydrological and hydro-chemical regime of a floodplain for wet grassland restoration, has been tested by examining the feasibility of restoring plants characteristic of NVC MG4 and MG8 communities to the Castle Meadows, Wallingford (Oxfordshire, UK). Hydro-chemical suitability has been assessed by comparing phosphorus concentrations with species-rich meadows nearby. The flooding regime was estimated based on a rating curve and a digital elevation model and groundwater levels were measured monthly in dipwells and piezometers. The hydrological regime was then compared with published reference guidelines for communities of conservation interest. For the Castle Meadows, the maximum duration of flood events in autumn and winter exceeded MG4 and MG8 species requirements across half of the site, while the depth of the groundwater table in summer exceeded species requirements in the other half. It was shown that, depending on topography, MG5 or MG13 may be more realistic vegetation targets.
url http://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/11/170/2007/hess-11-170-2007.pdf
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