Volunteer Work and Monitoring at the Wetland pilot site in Pori
The MUSTBE partner team City of Pori organised a public event at the restored Lotskeri wetland pilot site, with the support of Satakunta University of Applied Sciences (SAMK). The aim of the event was to disseminate information to local residents of the wetland solution as well as host a volunteer event to remove the harmful invasive alien species, Himalayan balsam, from the area. The sunny afternoon brought together representatives from the City of Pori, SAMK, the construction company that worked on the wetland pilot site and local residents, resulting in around 25 volunteers and even one very small participant!
The volunteers worked together to remove Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera), an invasive alien species classified as harmful throughout the European Union. The plant threatens native biodiversity by crowding out native vegetation, including threatened and declining species. Volunteers removed the balsam manually along with the help of the City of Pori’s hot water treatment equipment, which can eliminate plants using steam.
Learning, coffee and one very small volunteer
One of the goals of the wetland pilot site is increasing biodiversity which is also supported by removing the invasive alien species from the area. With a crowd of over twenty people, the invasive Himalayan balsam was removed from the area in just a couple of hours.
Before and after the work, participants enjoyed coffee and refreshments together. Among the volunteers was a nearby resident, 9-month-old Tibetan Spaniel Lempi, who delighted everyone and became an unofficial mascot for the day.
Alongside the volunteer work, attendees learned about the MUSTBE pilot site and its water quality goals. The Lotskeri wetland was restored in late 2024 with the aim of reducing nutrient and pollutant loads reaching the Baltic Sea. This is achieved using vegetation and filtration structures that help slow, retain and treat surface runoff. Restoration work also included dredging and clearing the site, with the long-term goal of letting nature reclaim the area in a balanced way.
Monitoring water quality at the wetland pilot site
During the event, the MUSTBE experts Marjatta Halme (City of Pori) and Meri-Maaria Salo (SAMK) took pH measurements from several different points throughout the wetland. The pH of the wetland is continuously monitored before and after the wetland solution, but with a portable pH meter, more detailed data can be acquired to examine the effectiveness.
Monitoring at the Lotskeri pilot site will continue throughout 2025 to assess the effectiveness of the solution. This will be done by continuous online monitoring systems that measure for example pH, perched groundwater and water flowing out of the solution, as well as water sampling to examine heavy metals and suspended solids, among other things.
Writers and editors: Veera Iisakkala & Meri-Maaria Salo. Photos: Veera Iisakkala.
