New Vision of the Role of Land Reclamation Systems in Nature Protection and Water Management - Wetlands and Water Framework Directive: Protection, Management and Climate Change - page 96

with the use of stereotypes and slogans. The problem is that trees and shrubs may
form valuable plant communities de ned in the Habitat Directive as willow, poplar,

alder and ash riparian forests. The presence of legally protected natural habitats
enforces the protection of areas endangered by

fl flood risk through adequate con-

struction and conservation of flood embankments to avoid such dilemma. Probably

in some cases such areas may be overgrown by unidenti

fl

ed shrub communities as a
consequence of secondary succession on abandoned grasslands. Removing this
vegetation is desired from the point of view of both biodiversity protection and
fl

flood control. Limitations associated with nature protection near fl ood embank-

ments may — in the opinion of fl flood control specialists — cause problems with

renovation of flood embankments. Postulated withdrawing from habitat and species

protection in such places seems worth considering. Each case should, however, be
analysed separately in view of the size of

fl

flood risk and the value of protected
elements of the natural environment. In the case of species and habitats of least
concern, blocking the possibility of renovation of

fl

fl flood embankments and exposing

to costly flood risks seem absurd. A unique in the country and European scale

sanctuary of protected species may, however, happen (probably exceptionally) to
occur near

fl

flood embankments. In such case, considering the construction of an
alternative embankment seems reasonable.
The problem of beavers

fl

'

activity has recently been a constant element of dis-
cussions on the efficiency of flood control. The author is not a zoologist and cannot
express his opinion in that matter. Knowledge of various source materials allows for
a conclusion that problem with beavers appears only during fl floods. Apart from high

water period, beavers do not inhabit flood embankments since there is no necessary

water there. During rapid water rising, beavers are enforced to leave their lodges
and search for dry land. The

fl

ood embankment. Under threat,
beaver is able to make a lodge there in a short period of time. Noteworthy, during
extreme spring

first such place is the fl

floods beavers suffer the greatest population losses among large
mammal species since young beavers cannot swim. Moreover, there are no reliable
data on beavers

fl

contribution to water leaking through embankments in comparison
with other reasons like too low height of embankments, a lack of their conservation
or technical defects.

'

6.7 Examples of Attempts Undertaken to Support Farmers
in Hampering Water Out

fl ow from Reclamation

Systems

The importance of water retention in reclamation systems to protect biodiversity
and to control floods, not colliding with agricultural productive interests, was raised

many times in documents know by the author. Beneath there are three examples of
these documents.

fl