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OPTAIN : Kråkstad Catchment [Norway]

Last update
2025
Summary
The Kråkstadelva catchment, as case study area, is located within the Hobølelva watershed, located ca. 30km S-SE of Oslo, Norway. The area of the Kråkstadelva catchment is approximately 51 km². Agricultural land covers circa 43% of the catchment (22km²) and it is dominated by cereal production. Forest covers ca. 45% of the catchment. Heavy clay soils dominate in the area (up to 80% of clay content). Mean annual temperature is 5.3°C and average annual precipitation is ca. 864 mm. Floods of varied magnitude occur frequently in the catchment, typically during spring snow melt and autumn rainstorms. The main challenge in the area is water quality (incl. high phosphorus pollution) and soil erosion (incl. riverbank erosion and quick-clay landslides). There is already high focus on environmental mitigation measures, for example reduced tillage (no tillage in autumn), buffer zones (grassed bufferzones, in addition to natural buffer zones, in cropland along streams and lakes), grass-covered water ways, constructed wetlands and the use of catch-crops.
Position
Project
OPTAIN
National Id
NO_01
Implementation Status
Modeled
Contact
Nibio, Division of Environment and Natural Resources

Location of the project
Kråkstad catchment
NUTS Code
NO08 - Viken
Involved Partners
Authority type Authority name Role Comments

Climate

Climate zone
cool temperate moist
Annual Averages:
Precipitation
600-900
Temperature
Mean temp.: 5.3°C (annual), -4.8°C (Jan/Feb), 16.1°C (July).
Runoff
4.7 m3.s

Geography

Slope range
Various as we model whole catchment
Soil type
Stagnosol
Vegetation class
Agricultural land covers around 43% of the catchment (22km²) and is dominated by cereal production. Forest covers around 45% of the catchment.

Water quality

Water bodies: Ecological Status
Poor/ Moderate
Water bodies: Chemical Status
Failing to achieve good
Site Information Summary

Small agricultural catchment located within the Hobølelva watershed, with 43% of the catchment being agriculture land, dominated by cereal production. The main challenge in the area is water quality (incl. high phosphorus pollution) and soil erosion (incl. riverbank erosion and quick-clay landslides). 

Scale of the project

Project scale
Meso
Project scale specification
Catchment scale modeling
Lifespan
Modelling is done now for the following periods: - model calibration and validation period(s): 2014-2021 - near-future "scenario": 2041- 2070 - far-future "scenario": 2071 - 2100

Size of the project

Project area
51 km2
Area specifications
Agricultural land covers ca. 43% of the catchment (22km²) and it is dominated by cereal production. Forest covers ca. 45% of the catchment.
Design land use change
Land use change type Comment
Design and implementation summary

In Norwegian Case study within OPTAIN project we are modeling 6 different measures: 
-Reduced tillage (no tillage in autumn & stubble during winter)
-Grass buffer zones alongside waterways in cropland
-Grassed waterways
-Constructed wetlands
-Grass or stubble in areas prone to flooding and erosion 
- Small retention ponds in the forest

Cost of implementation and maintenance of these measures can vary greatly depending on their size, location and local conditions. 
All listed measures are eligible to the subsidies under region Regional Environmental Programm (RMP) or/and Special Environmental Subsities (SMIL). 
More about authorities and financing of measures can be found in the report: https://nibio.brage.unit.no/nibio-xmlui/handle/11250/3129598

Moreover, some design guidelines and example of cost estimation can be found in the NSWRM individual factsheets (OPTAIN measures, see overview section)
 

Total cost
Cost of implementation and maintenance of measures can vary greatly depending on their size, location and local conditions. All listed measures as subjects to the subsidies under region Regional Environmental Programm (RMP) or/and Special Environment
Financing authorities
Authority name Type of funding Financing share Comments

Policy and general governance summary

The agricultural sector has an independent responsibility for environment protection, especially when it comes to sediment and nutrient losses. The National Environmental Programme (NMP) for agriculture provides a comprehensive overview of how the authorities facilitate achieving environmental and climate targets, through agriculture management practices. These includes the mechanism at national, regional and local levels. The National Environmental programme was establishing first in 2004 and it is revised every four years with the intention to ensure that current and emerging environmental and climate considerations are taken into account in agriculture.

Today, surface runoff from fields and ditches is the biggest negative impact factor on the water environment from agriculture. Consequently, the environmental targets set for agricultural sector in Norway are:
- the condition of water bodies in areas dominated by agriculture should not deteriorate.
- water bodies in agriculturally dominated areas that are particularly exposed and polluted, where the condition is to be improved.

These targets require considerable effort from agriculture, therefore there is a need to advocate for efficient and cost-effective mitigation measures targeting environmental challenges in Norwegian agricultural catchments. The most important mitigation measures in agriculture in Norway are management of manure, fertilizer planning, reduced soil tillage, grassed buffer zones along open water, mitigation of point sources and sedimentation ponds.
 

In addition to measures for reducing losses to water, agriculture also need to reduce emission of greenhouse gases. 

Some of these measures have synergies with measures to reduce effects on water quality, like measures for manure, fertilizer use, catch crops, measures to increase carbon storage. 
 

Policy context
Local involvement has been extensive since around 1990 as catchment has been used as a study site in many projects, e.g., EU FP7 Refresh, EuroHarp, H2020 Recare). NIBIO has arranged many workshops with stakeholders of this catchment:
- Farmers and land owners;
- Water boards: local (for the catchment) and regional (for the river basin of Glomma);
- Municipalities;
- Boaters, canoes (mainly in the lake), local communities;
- Drinking water supply company (MOVAR);
- Environmentalists (f.ex., SABIMA);
- Hunting and fishing associations;
- Tourist association (Turistforeningen);etc.
Wider plan type
Wider plan type Wider plan focus Name Comments
Agriculture
Common Agriculture Policy
Policy target
Target purpose
Erosion Control
Peak-flow reduction
Pollutants Removal
Improved Biodiversity
Policy impact
Impact directive Relevant impact
Community involvment
Yes
Policy pressure
Pressure directive Relevant pressure
Requirement directive
Requirement directive Specification
Nitrate Directive (NiD) 91/676/EEC
NOTE: we do not follow this directives directly in Norway, but our national environmental targets are in agreement with EU directives
Water Framework Directive (WFD) 2000/60/EC
NOTE: we do not follow this directives directly in Norway, but our national environmental targets are in agreement with EU directives
Contractual arrangements
0
Design contractual arrangement
Arrangement type Responsibility Role Name Comments
Design consultation activity
Activity stage Name Key issues Comments
Screening phase
MARGs workshops
NIBIO has arranged many workshops with stakeholders in the case study catchment:
- Farmers and land owners;
- Water boards: local (for the catchment) and regional (for the river basin of Glomma);
- Municipalities;
- Boaters, canoes (mainly in the lake), local communities;
- Hunting and fishing associations;
- Tourist association (Turistforeningen);etc.
Policy area
Policy area type Policy area focus Name Comments
Primary
Water Framework Directive
Water Resource act (Vannressursloven)
Primary
Environmental Policy
National Environmental Program (NMP)
Primary
Climate change adaptation policy
The Land Act (Lov om jord)

Monitoring and Maintenance Summary

In case of some measures there are strict rules about maintenance, and granting of the subsidies depends on following these rules. Other than that, it is up to farmer to maintain implemented measures. In some cases it is possible to get additional grants, from SMIL program to (partly) cover the maintenance costs.


There is no strict rules regarding monitoring of the implemented measures. However, most of measures that are in focus for Norway within OPTAIN project are subject to research activities covering the whole operationalization cycle:
− design - including dimensioning, designing for processes etc.
− optimization of measure(s) location within the catchment
− design and implementation of monitoring programme
− modeling effectiveness of the measures at different spatial and time scales
− forecast the processes and effectiveness of the measures in the future.

Success factor(s)
Success factor type Success factor role Comments Order
Barrier
Barrier type Barrier role Comments Order
Driver
Driver type Driver role Comments Order
Lessons learned Summary

In OPTAIN project as modelling study - not applicable.

Hovewer, the project result in increase of knowledge about potential optimal location and dimensioning of measures and their possible combined effect at the catchment scale.