Makan

In the Northeast region of Twente, the nature reserves on the sandy soils have to deal with lack of water. The low groundwater levels provide problems for the Natura 2000 Brook systems that rely on groundwater/surface water. To get notion of this Brook ecosystem surveys are carried out. The task is mapping the total Brook system landscape/ ecological and hydrological wise.

For the Natura 2000 areas, conservation goals for species and habitat types are formulated. One of these natural areas called Springendal is located on the flank of the glacial till of Ootmarsum. For the redesign of the Springendalse Brook, it is important the groundwater level corresponds with the needed vegetation.

Natura 2000 sites are part of a coherent network of natural areas in the European Union. These are the habitat types and species that must be protected in Europe. The goal of Natura 2000 is to ensure the biodiversity in Europe. The Mos Brook wells up on the west flank of the glacial till of Ootmarsum and is powered by a large number of sources. The source area of the Mos Brook contains an unique flow bog vegetation.

The Mos Brook flows through one of the erosion valleys of the glacial till of Ootmarsum. Boulder clay deposits in the surface make the area very varied and rich in resources. In the Valley of the Mos Brook and the Hazelbekke we find wet species-rich grassland with heather on poor soil (including lime Marsh and quaking bogs vegetation), spring forests and dry Juniper scrub. The grasslands and heather are interspersed with forest, scrub and hedgerows.

A bottleneck for the Brook systems are dehydration by erosion of the stream bottoms and local drainage around the source areas. Eutropic strong groundwater/ surface water( run-off from agricultural areas) play also an important role in the problems. With local measures in water management and reduction/termination of fertilization in farming areas, depending source springs habitat types are maintained. A good example of source springs habitat types are the developed Alder forest with Golden Saxifrage, in Springendal and at different locations along the Mos Brook and along the Hazelbekke.

On the glacial till lies the Paardeslenkte. At its foot, wells up the Mos Brook, the Springendalse Brook and the Hazelbekke. The skewed clay plates, created by the formation of the glacial till have a major influence on the local hydrology. Different spring sources exist because groundwater flows above this skewed clay plates. In the profile surveys the supposed flow streams are drew in.