EGU General Assembly 2008
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  Information - HS10.9 Artificially drained catchments – from monitoring studies towards management approaches

Event Information
Artificial drainage such as ditch and tile drainage is a widespread measure to improve the moisture and aeration conditions, trafficability and workability of agricultural soils. The implementation of an artificial drainage system does, however, alter the hydrological functioning of the plot or even of the landscape. Furthermore, artificial drainage may also increase and accelerate the losses of nutrients – especially nitrate – and other substances (e.g. pesticides) from the fields, thereby contributing to the still elevated levels of diffuse pollution of surface waters. Artificial drainage creates a more aerobic soil environment and thereby accelerates mineralisation and nitrification while inhibiting denitrification. To quantify the impact of tile drainage on the hydrology and hydrochemistry, monitoring studies are needed. While numerous process studies have been conducted at the soil profile and plot scale, understanding the processes at the larger scales is much more difficult due to the large variability of geology, geomorphology, climate, soils, land use and agricultural practice. Up to now, only a few catchment scale modelling approaches take explicitly into account the spatially variable properties of drainage networks which would be required to evaluate changing land use or even climatic conditions. The future of land drainage is associated with the restoration and revitalisation of streams and catchments with artificial drainage systems as inherent components. Many decision makers consider the subsurface drainage as an unimportant issue, regarding the spontaneous destruction of tile drains as a sufficient solution for most cases. This approach, however, neither provides appropriate water quality protection nor makes the agriculture competitive. Therefore – also in the light of the European Water Framework Directive –, ideas for a sustainable management of artificially drained catchments need to be developed and implemented.

Results from research focussing on all aspects of artificially drained catchments – also those dominated by peatlands – are welcome in this session: Hydrological, hydrochemical, biogeochemical and hydrogeological monitoring results, tracer studies, and modelling approaches, ranging from the plot to the catchment scale, as well as experiences from mitigation strategies such as controlled drainage, treatment wetlands, stream restoration, or re-wetting measures will be appreciated.

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