Tartu WAVE Living Lab Team 2 2022
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| Area | Tartu Emajõgi Central Part | |
| Place | Tartu | |
| Country | Estonia | |
| Topics | The river and its Bridges uniting the landscape | |
| Author(s) | Kartik Padmanabhan, Pouria Malih, Kristina Kurash, Jose | |
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Rationale
- Emajogi and all the rivers around the world are a mosaic of biotopes with different gradients needed for life to happen between Viljandi and Peipsi Lakes, with a diverse and dynamic presence of biological communities; including human beings. Rivers are more than just a line of water. Rivers also offer different ecosystemic services due to their capacity to transmit, control, and interact with the energy and matter, between the water and the soil (Doring, 2008).
- In this characterization, we use secondary information available online to describe the ecological connectivity and biodiversity, and the human relationship whitin the waterscape in the central part of the Emajõgi River valley, in the urban area of Tartu, Estonia - (From the TÜ sports hall / Kroonuaia bridge towards Sõpruse bridge / A leCoq sports hall).
- As a result, we expect to create a framework for sustainability (focusing in UN SDGs #14, 11, and 6) and connectivity of cultural practices connected with the river’s identity.
Location and scope
Emajõgi River valley, in the urban area of Tartu, Estonia - (From the TÜ sports hall / Kroonuaia bridge towards Sõpruse bridge / A leCoq sports hall). You can edit this map with the map editor
Water as a natural system
Geomorphology, typologies and dynamics of water areas
- The river is the space needed for its geomorphological dynamics to develop part of man’s cultural and sentimental heritage (Doring, 2008). In Tartu, the river divides the city, but at the same time joins it. Emajogi represents the dorsal of the city coming from the northwest to the southeast. Emajõgi River belongs to the class of medium-sized rivers, according international standards. It is the second largest river in Estonia by discharge (70 m^3/s) with a length of 100 km. River flows from lake Võrtsjärv into Lake Peipsi and is the only fully navigable river. River’s basin size is 9,740 km2 with little elevation changes of 30 meters. Emajõgi has 6 tributaries: Pedja, Laeva, Amme, Elva, Porijõgi and Ahja. River basin is divided in 3 distinct sections: 1. The upper course from Võrtsjärv to Kärevere bridge. It is large, flat and marshy areas, where Emajõgi lacks a clearly defined floodplains and floods can cover several kilometers. 2. The central course from Kärevere to Kavastu, where it goes through Tartu. In this section Emajõgi has a defined valley varying from 400m up to 1.4km. In Tartu it is 800m. 3. The lower course, the river flows through a swampy lowland Emajõe Suursoo. The fluvial system in Tartu can be considered as the transport zone of water and sediment conveyance; and sediment source, characterized by near-equilibrium conditions between the inflow and outflow of water and sediments. (Julien, P. 2002). During summer, the river sometimes causes floods in the city. The water level can fluctuate by 1.2-2.6 metres in a year [1]. Zoom in for the flood areas +3,00m. (Maaamet.ee) The flooding zone and its water connection will depend on the seasonal and inter-annual variability of the water level, and that is relevant in a bigger scale to understand it. The next image is useful to understand how can be connected the wetlands and the main aquatic ecosystems by their floodplains. Water connectivity - Emajogi Floodplain and Wetlands (Sipelgas et al. 2020) The fluvial system in Tartu can be considered as the transport zone of water and sediment conveyance; and sediment source, characterized by near-equilibrium conditions between the inflow and outflow of water and sediments. (Julien, P. 2002).
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The fluvial system in Tartu can be considered as the transport zone of water and sediment conveyance; and sediment source, characterized by near-equilibrium conditions between the inflow and outflow of water and sediments. (Julien, P. 2002). During summer, the river sometimes causes floods in the city. The water level can fluctuate by 1.2-2.6 metres in a year [1].
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Zoom in for the flood areas +3,00m. (Maaamet.ee)
Water as a living space
- There are many species found along the Emajõgi River both in the city center and nearest natural areas. They have different behaviors, diets and life cycles, but they often are dependent on water bodies and plant diversity. In the Emajogy river we can see that the biggest animal variety is in the habitats with high vegetation next to the water bodies - in Anne cannal, Botanical garden and Suppillina lake. Many animals need long, dense vegetation for hiding, transit, and hunting, they live in habitats suitable for that.
- Many birds are nesting near the water bodies during mating seasons and use a big variety of plants for nests. Usually they use soft plants, branches, flowers, etc. For example Remiz pendulinus, that was recorded in the northern part of Emajogi river, uses branches of willow, elm or betula, that are common in Tartu.
- Tall trees with dense foliage serve as hiding/nesting places for birds, like Pica pica, Corvus frugilegus, Dendrocopos medius and mammals, for example Sciurus vulgaris that lives in tree hollows.
- Life cycle of amphibians and reptiles are closely connected to the fresh water bodies. Animals like bufo bufo, rana temporaria lay egg in the water, which later hatch into tadpoles. After several months of growth and development, these sprout limbs and undergo metamorphosis into tiny toads/frogs. The juveniles emerge from the water and remain largely terrestrial for the rest of their lives.
- Several species of mammals have been recorded in Tartu near Emajogy river. One of them is castor fiber or eurasion beaver. They build dens in the rivers and ponds, their diet mainly consists of soft deciduous trees like willow and birch. Lutra lutra is an endangered species in Estonia, but there are several records of them in Tartu. They are territorial carnivorous animals that live near the coastline. They need large individual territory and can compete with each other if there are shortages of food.
- Insects play an important role in the biological chain - they provide food for birds, small mammals and pollinate the plants. But some need specific plants, for example, Aglais urticae butterflies and caterpillars feed on Urtica dioica and Urtica urens.
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Blue and Green Infrastructure
- The role of riparian vegetation is very important because it acts as a barrier to catching sediments coming from runoff, acting also as a biofilter of nutrients (nitrates and phosphates), giving stability to the river margins, and habitat for species (serving as a transitional zone - ecotones).
- According to Kõrs et al, 2012, the dominating species in Emajõgi river are: Glyceria maxima (in spring and autumn) that prefer wide and deep rivers, and in summer (July-August), Nuphar lutea, Butomus umbellatus and Sagittaria sagittifolia, those plants grow mostly in shallow water (0-0.8m). But in general, instability is a characteristic feature of the river vegetation, being that those are the most resistant plants, but in general most of the species that can be observed along the river can change year to year. And this composition can be affected because of the water temperature and level fluctuation, but also disturbance of spring floods and heavy boat traffic.
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Water as a cultural space
Land use and water
- The Emajogi River joins Lake Vortsjärv and Lake Peipus and is Estonia's only totally navigable river. The majority of the Emajogi River area is accessible to people with the exception of areas under natural protection. Pedestrian paths are more prominent as compared to vehicular access.
- Comparably, access points on the eastern part of the river in our catchment area are more interactive due to the well-organized access paths stretching almost into the river making you have a more natural feel of the place. Facilities like the Delta building, sitting areas strategically positioned, makes the whole area relaxing and comforting to stay. Moving along the river deep into the heart of the city, vehicular access becomes more prominent with less space for pedestrians to gain access to the river but further up along the vaike turu sadam towards the sopruse bridge, human interactions become very minimal with fisher folks and other traders along the river going about their daily activities
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Cultural and spatial typologies of water areas
- The Emajogi River joins Lake Vortsjärv and Lake Peipus and is Estonia's only totally navigable river. The majority of the Emajogi River area is accessible to people with the exception of areas under natural protection. Pedestrian paths are more prominent as compared to vehicular access.
- Comparably, access points on the eastern part of the river in our catchment area are more interactive due to the well-organized access paths stretching almost into the river making you have a more natural feel of the place. Facilities like the Delta building, sitting areas strategically positioned, makes the whole area relaxing and comforting to stay. Moving along the river deep into the heart of the city, vehicular access becomes more prominent with less space for pedestrians to gain access to the river but further up along the vaike turu sadam towards the sopruse bridge, human interactions become very minimal with fisher folks and other traders along the river going about their daily activities.
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Sacred spaces and heritage
- A traditional Estonian folktale A tells of the birth of the Emajõgi River. When Grandfather created the world, it was a good place to live, but soon the animals were fighting with one another. Grandfather called all the animals together and said: "I can see that you need a king who will control you. To welcome him you must dig a deep, wide river into which all other rivers can flow. The name of the river will be Emajõgi." The animals did as grandfather told them, and he poured water into the river, gave it life with his breath and determined its course. This is how Emajõgi was created.
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Visual appearance and landscape narrative
- Which elements are essential for the landscape character?
- Has the landscape been painted or otherwise depicted, when and whom? Which elements are essential?
- Which narratives exist? Who has written about this landscape or depicted it in some way?
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Water and People
Accessibility and usability
- Where are your water areas accessible, and where not? How strong are spatial obstacles preventing access?
- Who is using the spaces and how?
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Community Mapping
What is to be mapped here?
- After World War II, community mapping for the Emajogi River's frontal part went through a lot of alterations. The Soviet era resulted in a Russian community in Estonia alongside the Estonian community, resulting in a mixed culture. Tartu is considered a student city since it has two large universities (Tartu University and Estonian University of Life Sciences), which have resulted in a large student community in the city. The area upstream of the Emajogi River is well-known for the bars and cafes in the city center, which lies near the river's western bank. As a result, there is a distinct diverse society.
Social Groups Families which most probably prefer places where they can enjoy their time with their kids in friendly places where they can do some activities. Kids where they can do some scholar activities and some playgrounds. Teenagers tend to go to places where it’s private and with some outdoor activities. University students prefer to have spaces with activities within river banks.
Local stakeholder groups University which is most of them are accessed to the river as University of Tartu Art Museum or it’s located on the water as University of Tartu Faculty of Economics and Business Administration. Schools The schools use the green/blue structure for education and for activities such as field trips and they are located near the Emajõgi River Sports Park which is a main outdoor recreational activity place for families and teenagers and even the university student Youth club which is mainly for the canoeing club which is located on the eastern bank of the Emajõgi River Market Tartu Market Hall is the main local market in Tartu which is located near to Riia bridge which is the main bridge in Tartu
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Possible Futures
- making stronger connection between people, city, and river
- Identifying different users and their needs an how they use river
- Giving Identity to 5 bridges in the defiend zone(Tartu central part)
- programming a participatory design process and not designing the space
- Your case your spider diagram or dpsir model.jpg
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Collaborative Goal Setting
- Define strategic planning objectives based on the evaluation findings from your analysis
- Ideally, involve the community of your living labs into this process
- Link back to your original targets from section one and the Development Goals
- 150 words text contribution
Spatial Strategy and Transect
- translate your strategic goals into a vision
- develop a spatial translation of your vision
- exemplify your vision in the form of a transect with concrete interventions
- add map(s) and visualizations
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From Theory of Change to Implementation
- For implementing your vision: Which partnerships are needed? Which governance model is required?
- Who needs to act and how? Draw and explain a change/process model/timeline
- Which resources are needed? On which assets can you build?
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References
- Kõrs et al. Temporal changes in the composition of macrophyte communities and environmental factors governing the distribution of aquatic plants in an unregulated lowland river (emajõgi, estonia). Boreal environment research 17: 460–47. Helsinki, 2012.
Process Reflection
- Reflect in your intercultural and interdisciplinary team on the outcomes of your study
- Which limitations were you facing?
- What have you learnt from each other?
- What did you learn in the Living Labs?
- What would you do differently next time?
- You can also use diagrams/visuals
- 250 words text