Action C2. Restoration of the hydrogeological balance

River Sile's main feature is that of originating from a karst spring zone situated at the border between the middle and the upper plain, between the provinces of Padua and Treviso. The presence of springs that feed the main water body and its tributaries characterize the middle upper part of the river course.

The springs are characterized by their being very fragile elements of the plain's territory, both for the hydrogeological features characterizing them and because they represent particular habitats for the flora and fauna species.
With this project it is provided to intervene in some specific areas with springs being in a critical status, in order to improve the water management, to safeguards the springs, to restore their connection with the river system, guaranteeing a constant water supply to the wet areas that sometimes surround the springs.

The interventions will be carried out on the sites where now the springs are seriously damaged due to their degraded conditions. The area called Fontanili Munaron features karst springs in a degraded context, where the infesting species are replacing the hygrophilous plant species. The following interventions will be implemented:

• cleaning of the springs with removal of the organic remains and other material blocking the springs. Removal of plant remains and possible coarse grits following the planning;
• restoration of the plant section through the mowing and the cutting of infesting species, and the following planting and sowing of hygrophilous species, in order to restore the natural plant sequence near the springs;
• in the rest of the area the infesting species will be cut and replaced with plant species able to restore the Natura 2000 habitats, especially the habitat 6410 (Molinia meadows on calcareous, peaty or clayey-silt-laden soils  - Molinion caeruleae)
• earth-moving works to remove the draining elements in order to keep the water level;
• cleaning of the canals for the running off of the karst spring water, which allows a right feeding level for the Sile river by supplying good quality water.

The actions planned in the two areas make it possible to restore the karst spring, offering a complete experience useful in the whole area of the Sile Park.
The action is connected with the actions C3 and C4, because the karst springs and conveying water bodies will house the facilities to ease the reproduction of the target species Austropotamobius pallipese and Cottus gobio.

This action, improving the quality of the vegetation belt along the river, also affects the I.F.F. results, combining with the results of the action C1 and the final I.F.F. evaluation that will be carried out during the action D1.

 Planning and technical report (94,6Mb)