Restoration of the Flooded Quarry in Portugal

Introduction

• Focus on restoring a flooded Quarry in northeast Portugal.
• Objectives: Create habitats for local wildlife and improve conditions.

Project Background

• Property dedicated to rewilding since 2021 under management of Rewilding Portugal.
• Involvement began a year later with project management planning.
• Conducted environmental DNA (eDNA) surveys to assess species presence.

Objectives of the Restoration

1. Increase Size and Variety of Flooded Areas: Expand rare aquatic habitats with varied water depths.
2. Water Retention: Enhance ability to hold water during dry seasons to support wildlife year-round.

Key Features Created

• Water Barriers: Built barriers to redirect water flow, creating shallow water pools.
  • Purpose: Accumulate water and support temporary ponds.
  • Barriers are strategically placed to maximize water retention.
• New Lake Creation: Blocked water flow to form a new temporary lake, previously dry.
  • Lake depth: About knee-deep, connected to a larger lake.

Wildlife Observations

• European Pond Turtle: Found in newly flooded areas, feeding on animal matter and plants.
• Aquatic Plants: Identified as "publit" or water butterfly, creating underwater forests.
• eDNA testing revealed at least 204 species present in the area.

Temporary Ponds

• Created by water retention leading to shallow areas for amphibian reproduction.
• Observations of various frog species enjoying the safe habitat.
• Small ponds act as safe havens against predatory fish.

Community Involvement

• Funding from community members through Mossy Earth contributes to the project.
• Encouragement for viewers to support via website and subscriptions.

Final Area Restored

• Additional barriers created to control water flow and accumulation in the area.
• Plans to plant trees around barriers for resilience.

Financial Overview

• Approximately €36,000 budgeted for machinery, eDNA testing, and staff.
• Goal: Transform the Quarry into a thriving wetland habitat.

Closing Remarks

• Progress in restoration is promising with more updates to come.
• Call to action for subscribers to follow the project's journey and support rewilding efforts.