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Agricultural Water Management Using Two-Stage Channels: Performance and Policy Recommendations Based on Northern European Experiences

Author

Listed:
  • Kaisa Västilä

    (Finnish Environment Institute, Latokartanonkaari 11, 00790 Helsinki, Finland
    Department of Built Environment, Aalto University, PL 15200, 00076 Helsinki, Finland)

  • Sari Väisänen

    (Finnish Environment Institute, Latokartanonkaari 11, 00790 Helsinki, Finland)

  • Jari Koskiaho

    (Finnish Environment Institute, Latokartanonkaari 11, 00790 Helsinki, Finland)

  • Virpi Lehtoranta

    (Finnish Environment Institute, Latokartanonkaari 11, 00790 Helsinki, Finland)

  • Krister Karttunen

    (Finnish Environment Institute, Latokartanonkaari 11, 00790 Helsinki, Finland)

  • Mikko Kuussaari

    (Finnish Environment Institute, Latokartanonkaari 11, 00790 Helsinki, Finland)

  • Juha Järvelä

    (Department of Built Environment, Aalto University, PL 15200, 00076 Helsinki, Finland)

  • Kauko Koikkalainen

    (Natural Resources Institute Finland, Latokartanonkaari 9, 00790 Helsinki, Finland)

Abstract

Conventional dredging of ditches and streams to ensure agricultural drainage and flood mitigation can have severe environmental impacts. The aim of this paper is to investigate the potential benefits of an alternative, nature-based two-stage channel (TSC) design with floodplains excavated along the main channel. Through a literature survey, investigations at Finnish field sites and expert interviews, we assessed the performance, costs, and monetary environmental benefits of TSCs in comparison to conventional dredging, as well as the bottlenecks in their financing and governance. We found evidence supporting the expected longer-term functioning of drainage as well as larger plant and fish biodiversity in TSCs compared to conventional dredging. The TSC design likely improves water quality since the floodplains retain suspended sediment and phosphorus and remove nitrogen. In the investigated case, the additional value of phosphorus retention and conservation of protected species through the TSC design was 2.4 times higher than the total costs. We demonstrate how TSCs can be made eligible for the obligatory vegetated riparian buffer of the European Union agri-environmental subsidy scheme (CAP-AES) by optimising their spatial application with respect to other buffer measures, and recommend to publicly finance their additional costs compared to conventional dredging at priority sites. Further studies on biodiversity impacts and long-term performance of two-stage channels are required.

Suggested Citation

  • Kaisa Västilä & Sari Väisänen & Jari Koskiaho & Virpi Lehtoranta & Krister Karttunen & Mikko Kuussaari & Juha Järvelä & Kauko Koikkalainen, 2021. "Agricultural Water Management Using Two-Stage Channels: Performance and Policy Recommendations Based on Northern European Experiences," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-27, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:16:p:9349-:d:618177
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Pranay Ranjan & Jonathan D Witter, 2020. "Promoting adoption of two-stage agricultural drainage ditches: A change agent perspective," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(3), pages 1-18, March.
    2. Krause, Stefan & Jacobs, Jörg & Bronstert, Axel, 2007. "Modelling the impacts of land-use and drainage density on the water balance of a lowland–floodplain landscape in northeast Germany," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 200(3), pages 475-492.
    3. Hodaj, Andi & Bowling, Laura C. & Frankenberger, Jane R. & Chaubey, Indrajeet, 2017. "Impact of a two-stage ditch on channel water quality," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 192(C), pages 126-137.
    4. Lötjönen, Sanna & Ollikainen, Markku & Kotamäki, Niina & Huttunen, Markus & Huttunen, Inese, 2021. "Nutrient load compensation as a means of maintaining the good ecological status of surface waters," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    5. Amigues, Jean-Pierre & Boulatoff (Broadhead), Catherine & Desaigues, Brigitte & Gauthier, Caroline & Keith, John E., 2002. "The benefits and costs of riparian analysis habitat preservation: a willingness to accept/willingness to pay contingent valuation approach," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 43(1), pages 17-31, November.
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