Springs need to be restored

A spring in a forest is like a small oasis. It stays cool throughout the year and offers special habitats for many species. Springs should be cared for, and restored if necessary.

Fewer than one out of ten springs in Finland is in a semi-natural condition, while only one out of a hundred is in a natural condition. Many springs have been destroyed by forest drainage or road building projects, and even if the spring itself still exists, land drainage may have caused its water level to drop. Some springs have been altered and modified for water abstraction. Once the spring is no longer in its natural condition, the species living in it have often been reduced in number, or their composition has changed.

Spring restoration starts with raising the water table up to its pre-drainage level. Forest drains close by the spring are blocked and deep ruts left by heavy machinery filled in. The water discharging from the spring is led to its original streamlet or brook, which is also restored, and upstream drainage waters are directed around the spring.

If needed, any disused structures and felling residue can be removed from the spring, and natural tree cover should be promoted to provide shade.

Spring restoration must be planned carefully to avoid adverse impacts. The flora and fauna living in the spring and in its surroundings should be examined thoroughly, and the requirements of different species should be addressed. If the spring was modified a long time ago, its plants and animals may already have adapted to the new conditions.

If you are planning to restore a spring found on your land, contact the Finnish Forest Centre or your regional Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY Centre).