Last updated: October 2021
The restoration of the Nesttun watercourse was made in order to secure the watercourse’s surroundings against damaging floods and to develop its urban qualities as a blue/green structure traversing this part of the city. The City of Bergen has exploited possibilities in flood control measures to develop the watercourse’s natural qualities and improve accessibility. A number of measures were completed in order to give the watercourse a positive ecological status and make it into an attractive recreation corridor, learning arena and secure ‘blue-green’ urban structure. (Ref 1, 2)
Nesttun Watercourse (2005)
Terje Aarsand, retrieved 08/17/2018
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Grey infrastructure featuring greens
- Blue infrastructure
- Riverbank/Lakeside greens
- Rivers/streams/canals/estuaries
Key challenges
- Water management (SDG 6)
- Flood protection
- Improvements to water quality
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Habitat and biodiversity restoration
- Regeneration, land-use and urban development
- Regulation of built environment
- Inclusive and effective governance (SDG 16)
- Inclusive governance
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Environmental education
- Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
- Preservation of natural heritage
Focus
Maintenance and management of urban nature existing green areas, Management and improved protection of rivers and other blue areas
Project objectives
The goals of this project included:
- Increasing knowledge about the watercourse (Ref. 1,3)
- Ensuring that its ecological status is good (Ref. 3)
- Planning for its use and conservation (Ref. 3)
- Stimulating professional and financial involvement from the local community, authorities and businesses. (Ref. 3)
- Securing the watercourse’s surroundings against damaging floods (Ref. 3)
- Developing urban qualities of the city using blue-green infrastructure (Ref. 1,3)
- Developing the watercourse’s natural qualities (Ref. 1,3)
- Improving accessibility (Ref. 3)
Implementation activities
The following measures were said to be taken between 2005-2015 (Ref. 2):
- Stop supply of sewage and runoff from agriculture to the watercourse
- Remove trash in the area
- Avoid damaging activities within a 20 m buffer zone around the waterway
- Transfer the overfishing project in Myrdalsvatnet, and establish a fish staircase at Hopsfossen
- Facilitate access to trails, as well parks around at Nesttun watercourse and Sandal (Gårdsparken)
- Rehabilitate cultural heritage of the area, including the stone bridge at Midtun
- Establish parking lot and a swimming area at Myrdalsvatnet
- Improve access to the water
- Provide information on the water quality of the Nesttun watercourse
- Establish boat rentals and better access to the beach zone and fishing spots in Grimevatnet
- Improve the path from Sædal towards Myravatnet
- Stabilize water levels in Myrdalsvatnet
- Facilitate kayaking in the waterway
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity restoration:
- Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems
- Public engagement
Main beneficiaries
- Local government/Municipality
- Non-government organisation/Civil Society
- Citizens or community groups
Governance
Management set-up
- Co-governance with government and non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Local government/municipality
- Non-government organisation/civil society
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Co-management/Joint management
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
This NBS is led by the municipal government (Ref. 1,5)
The NGO 'Friends of Nesttunvassdraget' has been largely involved in the project and have been working closely with the City of Bergen. (Ref. 1,4) Activities included: collaborating with the Bergen municipality for the development of a model for watercourse management, completing restoration work of the Midtun bridge and surrounding area, distributing information to schools to promote the use of the watercourse in education. (Ref. 4)
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Yes
(The European Water Framework Directive (Ref. 2))
... a national policy or strategy?
Yes
(Planning and building law (Plan- og bygnings loven) (Ref. 2))
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
(Cities of the Future program (Ref. 3)
Green Environment Plan (Ref. 5))
Financing
Total cost
€500,000 - €2,000,000
Source(s) of funding
- Public local authority budget
- Unknown
Type of funding
- Unknown
Non-financial contribution
Type of non-financial contribution
- Provision of labour
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
- Citizens (e.g. volunteering)
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Water management and blue areas
- Improved water quality
- Increased protection against flooding
- Enhanced protection and restoration of freshwater ecosystems
- Green space and habitat
- Promotion of naturalistic styles of landscape design for urban development
Economic impacts
- Unknown
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Improved access to urban green space
- Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
- Health and wellbeing
- Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
- Cultural heritage and sense of place
- Protection of historic and cultural landscape / infrastructure
- Education
- Increased awareness of NBS and their benefits
Type of reported impacts
Expected impacts, Achieved impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Yes
Presence of indicators used in reporting
Yes
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
Yes
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
References
1. City of Bergen (2010). Water and the life of the city. Department of Urban Development, Value Creation and Climate. [Document provided].
2. City of Bergen (2007). Management Plan for the Waterways in Bergen/Forvaltningsplan Vassdragene i Bergen. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 26 October 2020].
3. City of Bergen (2008). Cities of the Future - Cities with the lowest possible greenhouse gas emissions and a good urban environment. [Document provided].
4. Friends of Nesttunvassdraget (2014). Annual General Meeting 2010/2013. /Årsmelding 2010/2013. Nesttunvassdragets venner. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 26 October 2020].
5. City of Bergen (2013). City Council for Social, Housing and Area Affairs. Appendix 7: Priority Order of the Green Environment Source link for sosial, bolig og områdesatsing. Vedlegg 7: Prioriteringsrekkefølge grøntmiljøplanen. [Document provided].
6. City of Bergen (2016). Green Strategy. Climate and Energy Action plan for Bergen/Grønn strategi. Klima- og Energihandlingsplan for Bergen. Behandlet av Byråd 26. mai. 2016. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 26 October 2020].
2. City of Bergen (2007). Management Plan for the Waterways in Bergen/Forvaltningsplan Vassdragene i Bergen. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 26 October 2020].
3. City of Bergen (2008). Cities of the Future - Cities with the lowest possible greenhouse gas emissions and a good urban environment. [Document provided].
4. Friends of Nesttunvassdraget (2014). Annual General Meeting 2010/2013. /Årsmelding 2010/2013. Nesttunvassdragets venner. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 26 October 2020].
5. City of Bergen (2013). City Council for Social, Housing and Area Affairs. Appendix 7: Priority Order of the Green Environment Source link for sosial, bolig og områdesatsing. Vedlegg 7: Prioriteringsrekkefølge grøntmiljøplanen. [Document provided].
6. City of Bergen (2016). Green Strategy. Climate and Energy Action plan for Bergen/Grønn strategi. Klima- og Energihandlingsplan for Bergen. Behandlet av Byråd 26. mai. 2016. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 26 October 2020].
Nesttun Watercourse (2014)
Terje Aarsand, retrieved 08/17/2018
Illustration of a Medieval Fish Farm Restoration Project at the Nesttun Watercourse
Terje Aarsand, retrieved 08/17/2018