Aquatische natuurwaarden Kathagerbeemden en Kathagerbroek

The Kathagerbeemden and the Kathagerbroek contain sloping peatland with valuable calcareous fen vegetation. It is threatened by drainage caused by several incised streams. A restoration measure to counteract this negative impact is raising the stream bed by adding sediment to the incised channels. However, the application of this measure might have detrimental effects on the macroinvertebrates and aquatic vegetation in the streams. Therefore, the composition of the macroinvertebrate assemblages and the vegetation in the streams was determined. The macroinvertebrate assemblage appeared to be rich in indicator species for natural streams as well as nationally rare species. Advice was given on how to carry out the restoration measures, taking this valuable community into account.