Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

Urban Wetlands (UWs), defined as bodies of water receiving urban runoff, remain essential to urban ecology, although they are threatened by anthropogenic activities, particularly those related to urban hydrology. For rich biodiversity to thrive in these systems, effective maintenance strategies are necessary. This study aimed to investigate proper maintenance strategies for promoting UW-biodiversity by interviewing Biologists/Ecologists (Bio/Eco) and Stormwater Managers/Urban Planners (SM/UP) in Swedish municipalities and analyzing their responses statistically. Results indicate that relatively few Swedish municipalities employ such established maintenance strategies, with larger municipalities and SM/UP overrepresented among those having maintenance plans and experiencing problems, including organizational and design-related obstacles. Cleaning/de-clogging of outlets and inlets, as well as removal of excess debris, appear relatively frequently, likely benefiting biodiversity. While, emptying UWs of water occurs infrequently, potentially hindering biodiversity along with infrequent monitoring routines. Trade-offs involve balancing stormwater treatment efficiency and biodiversity as well as choosing between maintenance actions and timing to strike the right level of disturbance, favoring selected species. UW-biodiversity follow-ups in Swedish municipalities are scarce and vague, with an unclear association with maintenance strategies. Therefore, optimal maintenance strategies for biodiversity should be based on contextual research, recommending water table monitoring, weeding, removing in/outlet debris, and incorporating a multi-cellular design with a pre-sedimentation basin, allowing for full maintenance access and emptying, as well as complex littoral fringe structures and varied bottom terrain. Further research clarifying the symbiotic relationship between stormwater treatment efficiency and biodiversity, accompanied by contextual outreach to municipalities, is needed.