As part of the project “Green Gap: Renaturalization and Recovery of the Ribeira da Agrela”, in Guimarães, field studies were carried out in the last fortnight of April.
In this way, a methodology was developed to define the proposal for the renaturalization and recovery of the Ribeira da Agrela in Guimarães.
In the first phase, the information necessary to support the analysis and proposal was collected. The information was obtained from orthophotomaps, heritage inventories, biophysical maps and other digital design bases. From these data it was possible to analyze the intervention corridor, as well as to understand the location of the main elements/assemblages in the territory, their relationship with the water line, the population and the surrounding landscape. Also during this phase, segments of the river corridor were defined and a field sheet was prepared for each of them in order to prepare for the next phase. Intervention levels were also defined during this phase, based on similar projects previously carried out in the municipality of Guimarães, which facilitated the collection of information.
In the second phase, surveys were conducted in six areas, distributed among the three parishes covered by the project. During the field visits, data were collected on: i) accessibility to the water line; ii) conservation status of the banks; iii) characterization of the land adjacent to the water line; iv) characterization of the fauna and flora; and v) the existence of cultural and historical heritage. The data were recorded photographically and on field sheets.
Also during the investigations, monitoring was carried out at four points along the water line. The objective of this monitoring is to determine the ecological status of the stream. Activities carried out include: (i) collection and identification of macroinvertebrates to assess the spatial and temporal evolution of the communities; (ii) measurement of various physicochemical parameters on site and in the laboratory, including measurements of pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, conductivity and nutrients (nitrates and phosphates); and (iii) characterization of the hydromorphology using the QBR (Quality of Riverine Woods) and RHS (River Habitat Survey) indices.
The data obtained will allow a comprehensive assessment of the ecological status of the Agrela stream, identifying critical areas in need of intervention and promoting appropriate conservation and restoration actions.
In the coming weeks, the third phase will be developed, which will be the result of crossing the data collected in the first and second phases.
In the fourth phase, the proposal elaborated in the third phase will be presented in consultation with the partners involved in the project, namely the Green Gap project partners, the municipality of Guimarães, the Parish Councils, the Agência Portuguesa do Ambiente (APA) and the Instituto da Conservação da Natureza e das Florestas (ICNF).
The fifth and final phase consists of the preparation of the final proposal for the renaturation and rehabilitation of the Agrela Creek.
