Wetlands full of life! Management and control of vegetation in the marsh of Gautegiz Arteaga

Due to the improvement project that was carried out in the marshes of Gautegiz Arteaga, it has been created a wetland consisted of two ponds with a permanent level of water. This area has turned into a very favourable place for birds, many of them migrants, where they can rest and feed.

This recently created wetland is fed by a portion of runoff that flows by small streams and springs, and on the other side, by the water of the each tide with salt water. The vegetation of the wetland that is still in evolution stage, is formed by helophytic and marsh plants and they play an important role in the wetlands, providing oxygen to the aquatic fauna and the refuge necessary for life in it.

But over time, this vegetation also entail problems of silting and eutrophication of ponds, so without the proper management, the wetland will finish overfilling and losing biodiversity at full speed. Besides, it will increase the big problem of invading plants like Baccharis halimifolia, Paspalum vaginatum, Spartina patens... as they take advantage of overfilling conditions to spread all over the wetland.

Seedling of Baccharis halimifolia

After have been analysed similar experiences in other Iberian wetlands such as Fuentes de La Nava, Aiguamolls de l'Empordà and several Dutch and British wetlands, we have clearly seen that this wetland also needs a similar management. So one of the objectives of the Center also includes the management of the vegetation and the surroundings, always with the objective of create an ornithological optimum in the marshes; where an assortment of habitats made by open water for feeding, islets for resting and reed beds to take refuge; give to the birds and other type of fauna, places where they can rest, feed and breed.

Management works carried out by technicians of the Center and volunteering

For all these reasons, from the Center are carrying out management works in the marsh designed to maintain the several habitats and also to maintain or increase the biodiversity.

These management works are scheduled from the Center. On the one hand, in those works take part the technicians of the Center and volunteers that approach here to help us in those tasks. On the other hand, vegetation is also managed by ewes; this practice is very used in most of the European wetlands. In our case, the ewes are "latxa" race and they use the surroundings of the pond to feed, keeping at bay the spreading of seedlings of Baccharis and other invaders. 

"Latxa" sheep on the dike of the pond

Management works are carried out all over the year and they consist of several tasks like the eradication of invasive plants, conservation of the reed beds, water management, maintenance of water level, maintenance of dikes and islets and an endless number of activities aimed always to have a wetland full of life.