the prunteli wetland

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Life+ Return of Rural Wetlands

PRUNTELI WETLAND, ROVANIEMI, FINLAND

Text: Juha Siekkinen, Life+ Return of Rural Wetlands, Finnish Wildlife Agency, 5.6.2014Photos: Juha Siekkinen andJyrki Autti, Kemijoki Co.Maps and aerial photos: © National Land Survey of Finland license number 326/MML/11 and 053/MML/13

PRUNTELI WETLAND – THE OBJECTIVES AND BACKGROUND

• The objectives are to Create habitats for wetland fauna, in particular for waterfowl Promote biodiversity, landscape and multifunctional land use Act as demonstrative site of wetland work in the region

• Background– The Prunteli wetland is located 25 km from the center of Rovaniemi downstream of the River

Kemijoki, on the east side of the river.– Petäjäskoski Hydroelectric Power Plants (built in 1953-1957 by a state-run Kemijoki Ltd) is located

13,5 km downstream and Valajaskoski Power Station (built in 1957-1960) 9 km upstream– The once flowing water was blocked and a reservoir was formed former fields began to be

hydrated or covered by the reservoir´s higher water level– During decades former fields turned into swamp-like ecosystems– Kemijoki Ltd has an obligation to compensate the environmental impacts of hydropower.

Implementing Prunteli wetland project, started in 2011 in collaboration with Life+ Return of Rural wetlands, was such a new approach.

– The collaboration with local people and hunting clubs was important and started in the beginning of the wetland project.

– There are no water control structures in the Prunteli wetland because it is part of the River Kemijoki: water level in wetland varies according to the variation of river and due to the controllability in Petäjäskoski and Valajaskoski Hydroelectric Power Plants. Daily changes of water level in Kemijoki in Prunteli area are between 10-30 cm.

THE ACTIONS AND COSTS OF THE CREATIONAND MANAGEMENT OF THE PRUNTELI WETLAND

• Total area 2,9 hectares, of which open water area 1,4 ha, medium depth about 0,4 m• Total costs of the re-creation 10 300 € (incl. VAT 23 %):

– Excavator works 8 700 €: excavation of channels, construction of the articifial islands, excavation of 400 m new ditch and landscaping. Of the excavator works Life+ Return of Rural Wetlands accounted 25 % (2 160 €) and Kemijoki Ltd 75 %.

– Wetland planning and field working 1 600 €. Life+ Return of Rural Wetlands accounted 100 %• Excavator works conducted by Excavating Contractor Otto Veikanmaa Tmi 19.4.-3.5.2012• Wetland planning Juha Siekkinen Life+ Return of Rural wetlands in collaboration with

fisheries technician Jyrki Autti Kemijoki Ltd and representatives of local hunting clubs. • Wetland management: Muurolan Erämiehet ry. (local hunting club) and Valajaskosken

metsästys- ja kalastusseura ry (local hunting and fishing club). • Waterfowl hunting is possible in Prunteli wetland and it is coordinated by previously

mentioned local hunting clubs. Waterfowl censuses are the basic tool for determination of sustainable hunting levels.

• Waterfowl censusing in environmental monitoring– waterfowl point counts 4 times/year: 2 counts in late spring, 1 brood count in July and 1 late

summer count in the beginning of August (before the beginning of hunting season)– conducted by the local experienced observer Reijo Saari

THE HISTORY OF PRUNTELI AREA• Aerial photo left, photographed in 1952: in the early 1950´s, before constructing hydroelectrical

power plants, the water lever in the River Kemijoki near Prunteli area was about 2 meters lower than today. Fields and hay barns were in active agricultural use.

• Aerial photo right, photographde in 1998: After damming, the water level raised and fields and forest began to be hydrated . Fields turned to swamp-like, wet biotopes. Prunteli wetland is marked with yellow line.

© Maanmittauslaitos

© Kemijoki Oy

• Wetland was created by digging 2-6 m wide and 0,2-0,8 depth channels• Excess soil which was digged, was spread around the wetland and partially to the artificial islands

TELKÄNPÖNTTÖ

Live Cage Trap for raccoon dog

Artificial islands

Path to wetland

New ditch to wetland

KOSTEIKKO VALMIS© Maanmittauslaitos, kesä 2013

SUUNNITELMA J. Siekkinen/19.9.2011© Maanmittauslaitos ja Kemijoki Oy 1998

KOSTEIKON PERUSTAMINEN

• Collaboration in planning started early in the beginning of wetland project

• Both field planning and inside planning was done

• Fisheries technician Jyrki Autti Kemijoki Ltd presented the wetland project to local people

© Juha Siekkinen

© Juha Siekkinen

EXCAVATOR WOKRS IN PRUNTELI 19.4.-3.5.2012

• Excavation works should be done during winter period, because area was very wet and turf layer was more than 2 m thick.

• Excavation work started 19.4.2012 though ground was not frozen. The excavator machine (total weight 23 tons) was able to operate because the machine was carried by 40-50 cm thick snow cover.

Otto Veikanmaa Sodankylästä teki Pruntelin kaivinkonetyöt.Kuvat Juha Siekkinen 19.4.2012

• The excess soil was digged to the depth of 30-80 cm. Water depth of 20-50 cm is most suitable for dubbling ducks like mallard, widgeon and teal.

© Juha Siekkinen, 19.4.2012

© Juha Siekkinen

• The aim was to excavate 2-8 m wide, meandering channels

• Digged material was spread afterwars around the wetland and to artificial islands

Kuvat: Juha Siekkinen 19.4.2012

• Two new ditches was digged to the southeast of the wetland. • The aim is to control the water from ditched forestry areas first

to wetland

© Juha Siekkinen


© Juha Siekkinen, 26.4.2012

• New path was constructed from the main road to the wetland• The aim is to ease the reachness of the wetland

Photos: Jyrki Autti 3.5.2012


WETLAND FINISHED© Jyrki Autti, 3.5.2012

BEFORE WETLAND CREATION © Juha Siekkinen, 7.6.2011

DURING CONSTRUCTIONS © Juha Siekkinen, 23.4.2012

PRUNTELI WETLAND 19 MONTHS AFTER IMPLEMENTATION© Juha Siekkinen, 2.9.2013


PHOTOGRAPHED FROM THE EASTERN SIDE OF PRUNTELI WETLAND

© Juha Siekkinen



PRUNTELI WETLAND 19 MONTHS AFTER IMPLEMENTATION© Juha Siekkinen, 2.9.2013

© Juha Siekkinen

DURING CONSTRUCTIONS © Jyrki Autti, 3.5.2012

PRUNTELI WETLAND 3,5 MONTHS AFTER IMPLEMENTATION© Jyrki Autti, 15.8.2013


KOSTEIKKO 14 KK TOIMENPITEIDEN JÄLKEEN © Juha Siekkinen, 13.6.2012

PHOTOGRAPHED FROM THE SOUTHEAST SIDE OF PRUNTELI WETLAND

• Vegetation succession was rapid: after the two summer artificial islands and embankments were covered with natural vegetation

Photos: Juha Siekkinen 23.4.2012 (up)and 2.9.2013

• In a riparian zone, the area where moist soils and plants exist next to a body of water, shoreline vegetation has been effectively reestablished after two summer

Photos: Juha Siekkinen 23.4.2012 (up)ja 2.9.2013

Photos: Juha Siekkinen 2.9.2013

Hunting is possible in Prunteli wetland. The non-native predator control is one the most important management means to take care of wetland wildlife.Kuvat: Juha Siekkinen 2.9.2013

Prunteli wetland area welcomes public for recreation and visiting. Infoboard near wetland gives information about Prunteli wetland creation project and Life+ Return of Rural Wetlands –project.Photo below: Wetland Day of Nordic Countries 2.9.2013

Photos: Juha Siekkinen 2.9.2013

the prunteli wetland

Environment

prunteli wetland project

wetland management

wetland fauna

prunteli wetland total

beginning of wetland

wetland new ditch

river kemijoki

waterfowl hunting