Groundwater-Born Fens and Petrifying Springs

In large parts of NW-Europe, the natural fen areas in river valleys and along the coasts are fully or partially formed by outflowing groundwater, thereby forming petrifying springs, alder swamps, willow thicket and, not least, open floating mats and alkaline fens. These habitats are exceptionally rich in plant species and mosses and are moreover the habitat of a number of rare fungi and invertebrates.

To be able to utilize the potentially productive peatlands, the bogs have to a large extent been drained and often transformed into nutrient-rich cultural or cultivated fields. As the peatlands have settled, the management has ceased in many places and the fens are overgrown with tall grasses, reed beds and thicket.

As a result of this historical development, natural nutrient-poor, groundwater-born wetlands have become rare and a number of habitat types have been included in Annex 1 of the Habitats Directive. Data from the national monitoring program NOVANA, collected during the period 2004-2014, show that the condition of the groundwater-born open habitat types continues to deteriorate accompanied by loss of typical vulnerable plant species and mosses. We do not know the direct cause of the deterioration, but international research as well as analyzes of the vegetation in Danish alkaline fens point to hydrological changes and consequent nutrient load as important causes. There is a need to clarify which instruments are the best in restoring groundwater-dependent fen types. In addition, there is a need for effective communication between managers and researchers about the most important issues and issues that may arise in the management of the habitats of the river valleys, so that there is an effective transfer of knowledge from the research to the administration.

We Will Do This By:

1. Developing methods for bio-hydrological mapping of river valleys focusing on the occurrence of wetlands with intact hydrology, water chemistry and vegetation, outflow zones for groundwater and runoff conditions (terrain, drainage and ditches).
2. Developing methods for setting goals for the river valleys based on biological and hydrological mapping, prioritizing which areas are suitable for full or partial restoration.
3. Testing and investigating means of restoration (of natural hydrology, vegetation and derived biodiversity), including various forms of management of the areas (grazing models, mowing, fire and natural succession.

Research Group:

• Rasmus Ejrnæs (AU)
• Camilla Fløjgaard (AU)
• Dagmar Kappel Andersen (AU)
• Hans Henrik Bruun (KU)
• Louise Juhl-Lehmann (KU)
• Bettina Nygaard (AU)
• Geoffrey Brian Groom (AU)
• Jesper Moeslund (KU)
• Annette Baattrup-Pedersen (AU)
• Ole Munch-Johansen (WatsonC)

Project Collaboration (Manager Group):

• Jørgen Bidstrup (Naturstyrelsen Himmerland, Projektleder LIFE IP Natureman)
• Rasmus Fuglsang Frederiksen (Mariagerfjord Kommune)
• Lise Frederiksen (Mariagerfjord Kommune)
• Henriette Bjerregaard (Miljøstyrelsen, Kronjylland)
• Lars Christian Adrados (Thisted Kommune, LIFE RigKilde)
• Allan Eskesen (Jammerbugt Kommune, LIFE RigKilde)
• Erik Vinther (LIFE Kærprojektet)
• Karsten Funch Madsen (Viborg Kommune)
• Torben Ebbensgaard (COWI)