The hydraulic and morphological works are finished: the fresh water is flowing into the Lagoon!

The Life Lagoon Refresh project has achieved an important goal: the connection between the Sile River and the Venice Lagoon has been completed and from May 20th, 2020 the fresh water is flowing from the Sile into the Lagoon.

After several unforeseen events, which slowed down the construction sites, such as the exceptional weather event of November 2019 and the health pandemic of 2020, both the hydraulic and morphological works were finally completed and the fresh water input from the Sile Rivers to the Lagoon is now active. Fresh water flows by gravity within the inlet work, as a function of the difference in water level between the river and the lagoon, with variations that depend on the tidal regime. The first regulation of the sluice gates allows an average flow rate of 300 l/s. To avoid the sudden dispersion of fresh water, modular biodegradables elements were installed in the lagoon in front of the hydraulic work. The fresh water and the altimetric variability produced by the morphological structures will make the lagoon environment suitable for reedbed growing.

The next steps involve the planting of reeds and aquatic phanerogams, thanks to the involvement of hunters and fishermen, assiduous frequenters of the area, previously trained during the course of 12 July  2019. The fresh water flow rate will be gradually increased up to a maximum average value of 1000 l/s and a second front of biodegradable structures, that limits the flow of fresh water, will be placed.  Monitoring activities will verify the efficiency of the works and the effects on the animal and plant communities on the project area. The conservation actions of the Life Lagoon Refresh aim to counteract the saline gradient loss, mainly due to the diversion of rivers, and to increase the biodiversity of fishes, birds, animals of mobile bottom and plants.

The official opening is postponed for now, waiting for fewer restrictions on the social distance of the period. In the meantime, we invite you to follow our updates on this website or visit the social media channels of the project.