Examining the effect of reed mowing model and rate on natural filtering areas with the example of Bendimahi Delta (Van-Turkey)

Abstract

Reeds emerge in shallow coastal areas where water and land meet. Because of this feature they are at transition and buffer point between two ecosystems. Not only they contain creatures belonging to these two environments but also they help shaping the interaction between the environments in a balanced manner. A reed which has not been ruined functions just as a technical treatment system. Firstly, the plants in the water cut the speed of the water and makes the particles’ in it sink thus providing physical treatment. At eh second stage, the creatures living in reeds decompose the organic substances and realize biological treatment step. At the last stage, plants and other creatures living in reeds takes the substances they need into their bodies thus providing chemical treatment. After passing these stages, the water infiltrates through the dunes and joins the system in a clear manner. Today, cleaning waters by establishing artificial reed pools in the areas, where no natural reeds have grown, has become a commonly used method. The aim of this study is to put forward the relation between the mowing manner of reed plants which were cut generally for economical reasons in wetlands and the natural filtration by means of Bendimahi example. Images taken from the mentioned area and other satellite images that have been taken from the area during the study, which has taken one year, have been blended with literature knowledge and interpreted. The idea of mowing a certain amount of reeds every year which has been recommended by the experts may be useful for shallow and still waters without a large amount of water input-output and which do not flow into a water system thereafter. However, this idea does not provide an efficient solution for streams flowing down fast from highlands such as Bendimahi Stream. Instead of this, it will be more appropriate to cut the reeds as wide bands to clean the water and in a way to cut down the speed of the water and provide a dam before it. This model may be applied by cutting different bands every year. The desired continuous filtration will be provided with this system which we can call as “bands model”. Implementation of such a model will contribute to the protection of both biodiversity and clean state of Van Lake.