Grupp 5 - Vegetation study and review of the catchment area

On Tuesday 9th of October we were identifying aquatic vegetation. The autumn was already long, which made it difficult to identify some plants due to the lack of flowering. All vegetation we found were emergent plants, rooted floating plants or submersed plants (picture 1). We couldn’t find any lemnides or free floating plants.

Picture 1. Aquatic vegetation is divided here into four parts.

Emerged plants we found were common reeds (Phragmites australis) (picture 2), water horsetail (Equisetum fluviatile) (picture 3) and sedges (Carex) (picture 4).

Picture 2. Phragmites australis is common known as common reed.

Picture 3. Water horsetail. Source: www.vanhapinkka.luomus.fi

Picture 4. Sedges.

Rooted floating plants were broad-leaved pondweed (Potamogeton natans) (picture 5), bur-reed species Sparganium gramineum (picture 6) and yellow water-lily which is also known as brandy-bottle (Nuphar lutea) (picture 7).

Picture 5. Broad-leaved pondweed.eksti

Picture 6. Bur-reed species. Source: www.irmako.wordpress.com

Picture 7. Yellow water-lily.

Submersed plants were Canadian waterweed (Elodea canadensis) (picture 8) and claspingleaf pondweed (Potamogeton perfoliatus) (picture 9).

Picture 8. Canadian waterweed.

Picture 9. Claspingleaf pondweed.

Common reeds were mainly found with peat moss (Sphagnum, picture 10) in the western side of pond which is mainly swamp area. Water horsetails were found next to incoming stream. Other species of aquatic vegetation were found regularly on the shores of a small pond.

Picture 10. Peat moss, also known as sphagnum.

It was difficult to find out the true amount of the aquatic vegetation by peeking from the shore.

Canadian waterweed is a foreign-born species that is spreading rapidly. The massive Canadian waterweed growth blocks the growth of indigenous plants and may completely supplant it. The overgrowth caused by Canadian waterweed hampers all activity on the pond. Swimming, fishing and rowing a boat gets more difficult and even impossible. On the other hand, the waterbirds will have good eating places from the overgrowth areas.

Broad-leaved pondweed and common reeds are problematic because of their dense and extensive growths. They block the recreational use of the ponds.

  

At the same time we identified aquatic vegetation our task was to explore the nearby area of the lake Pieni-Valkeinen. We determined the drainage basin by using VALUE-tool. The size of the drainage basin was 58 hectares (picture 11). The drainage basin is mainly forest but there are approximately 45 houses on the north side of the pond and a school.

Picture 11. Drainage basin of the Pieni-Valkeinen.

We found three unmarked incoming streams on the map which weren’t flow at the moment we found them. Those streams were partially dried up and partially formed larger wetlands in the woods (picture 12) where the water stood. Pieni-Valkeinen is connected to the lake Iso-Valkeinen by its outgoing stream. The outgoing stream is 190 meters long.

Picture 12. Wetlands in the woods nearby the incoming stream.

Pieni-Valkeinen is recreational area with walking paths. Pond has also been used for swimming.

We found little bit waste from the shore areas and forests (pictures 13 and 14). For example candy papers, soft drink bottles, swimming toy and big metallic barrel. Those wastes are left there by individual people and there is no other permanent environmental load on the area.

Picture 13. Swimming toy in the incoming stream.

Picture 14. Metallic barrel in the lake Pieni-Valkeinen.