Life+ project Dviete

Stroming worked on behalf of ARK Natuurontwikkeling and the Latvian Ornithological Society (LDF) on a stream restoration project in Latvia. The goal of this LIFE+ project is to improve the wet grasslands along the Dviete River in the southeast of Latvia. These grasslands are home to many special bird species such as corncrakes and snipes. The project was completed in October 2015.

Stream Restoration

One of the components of the project is restoring the natural course of the Dviete River. The current straightened channel, which was straightened in the 1930s, has a draining effect. With stream restoration, this situation has been reversed as much as possible. There were several options for stream restoration: waiting and letting the stream do the work, digging a new channel, or excavating the old channel. The choice depends on local conditions, and in the case of Dviete, it involved excavating the historic channel.

Natuurlijke processes

In the new, shallower channel, water takes a longer path through the area, restoring the hydrology of the region. Space for natural processes, such as fallen trees in the stream, beaver dams, and grazing cattle and horses on the banks, complements the natural restoration.