Project pilot areas
Overview of the implemented activities
OBTAINING THE PERMITS
Most of the permits and consensuses, necessary for the implementation of activities on the Mura-Petišovci pilot area (PA) have been obtained before 2013. In 2013 the owner of the company Gramoz d.o.o., which owns the Lakoš area (planned landfill), changed. We had to coordinate the conditions on the deposition of the material from oxbow lakes in the Lakoš area all over again. We also obtained the consensus from the Municipality of Lendava for the deposition of the material on the alternative location besides Nagy Parlag oxbow lake. Later, the new owner of Gramoz d.o.o. gave us consensus to deposit the material on the originaly planned area.
HYDROLOGICAL ACTIVITIES
Key momentum was in 2012 when our project partner, The Institute for water of the republic of Slovenia (IFWRS), produced the geodetic project for the renaturation of oxbow lakes. We also selected the most appropriate contractor and signed a contract with him in the beginning of 2013. In March 2013 we officially handed over the business to the contractor in the company of project designer (IFWRS), contractor (EHO projekt d.o.o., Pavčnik d.o.o.), construction supervisor (Regnum) and Lendava Fishing society. We visited both area where actions would later take place and the area where material would be deposited. We agreed on the relationship and on the ways of communication between supervisor and contractor during the implementation of the activities. We prepared public announcements and we noticed all stakeholders about the beginning of the activities.
Hydrological activities were carried out with the aim to increase the area of open water. We did that by deepening the oxbow lakes and removing the material which was in the oxbow lakes either because of natural or artificial processes. Increased quantity of material in oxbow lakes even accelerated the process of overgrowing of areas which used to be open water. Oxbow lakes were becoming dryer and dryer and by that special type of water habitat is slowly but surely dissappearing. We began activities on Nagy Parlag oxbow lake. Due to extreme conditions (wet floor, deep mud) we had to monitor the progress of the whole process very often. During the implementation of the activities we often refered to similar technical sollutions on Drava river. Material was dug out from three locations at Nagy Parlag oxbow lake. By the end of 2013 work on this oxbow lake was more or less completed. At the same time all the material was deposited on the landfill nearby.
OVERGROWTH REMOVAL
Prior to overgrowth removal we visited the areas on Drava river where gravel was being removed. In August 2013 we began removing overgrowth at Nagy Parlag oxbow lake. Technically this was much more difficult than we expected due to inability to use standard techniques. Based on some examples of good practice from other areas we decided to use more appropriate methods and machinery. Work had to be supervised a lot. Majority of work was done in September. We deposited wood at previously allocated area.
REMOVAL OF FISH
In February 2013 we had a meeting with the representatives of Fisheries Research Institute of Slovenia (FRIOS), regarding the activities related with WETMAN project. We agreed on the details of C.3 action implementation on Mura-Petišovci PA. Within this action the FRIOS performed the removal of non-native fish species from the oxbow lakes using electricity. By doing that they reduced pressure of the non-native species on the habitat.
IMPLEMENTATION OF NATURE CONSERVATION GUIDELINES INTO SECTOR PLANS
Natura 2000 sites are being managed also through sector plans, including forestry. In 2013 we carried out a lot of activities with Slovenia Forest Service, Murska Sobota regional unit. One of this activities was habitat trees labeling in section 8 of Dolinsko Forest management unit in April 2013. Together we labeled 43 habitat trees and we carried on with this action in Murska šuma area in June 2013. In June we also took part in two workshops: one on management and conservation of wetlands in lowland river areas and other on the implementation of nature conservation guidelines into farming practises in protected areas.
PUBLIC AWARENESS
We carried out a lot of communication with stakeholders. We also organised some educational activities for students and lectures for locals and general public. We also prepared info-boards and put them up.
