Description
In the past, watercourses meandered along the wide valley floor, forming meanders and wetlands of various types. Characterised by rich vegetation, these environments provided the habitat for resting, wintering and reproduction for numerous animal species, many of which have now disappeared.
The origin of the biotope is due to the hydraulic works carried out in the last century by the Austro-Hungarian state administration: the course of the Noce torrent, which once reached the river Adige at the height of the San Michele settlement, was diverted south of the Mezzolombardo settlement through a new riverbed about 7 kilometres long and entirely covered with stones.
In 1926, during a flood, the Noce broke its right bank and settled in the new bed, parallel to the artificial one, where it still flows today.
The nature reserve comprises diverse environments with different conditions for plant and animal life:
- the watercourse with its wide bends, meanders, pools and blades of water
- the banks characterised by countryside and riparian vegetation with willows (Salix, several species) and poplars (Populus, several species).
In a section of the valley floor where riparian vegetation of the type represented here is very scarce, the biotope constitutes a kind of small 'river park' for fauna.
The high naturalistic value of this stretch of the stream is first and foremost evidenced by the fish population, represented by various species, some of which have become rare in Trentino due to the alteration of the watercourses. Typical wetland birds, such as the mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), kingfisher (Alcedo atthis), river nightingale (Cettia cetti) and riparian birds, such as the little piro piro (Actitis hypoleucos), nest along the stream. In addition, numerous interesting bird species stop here during migration and in winter.
The strips of riparian woodland are frequented by various amphibians, birds and mammals, which find safe refuge and rich feeding possibilities here. The presence of rock walls and open areas suitable for hunting favour the presence of both diurnal and nocturnal birds of prey, such as the rare peregrine (Falco peregrinus) and eagle owl (Bubo bubo).
Visiting facilities
- Visiting path
Studies
- ichthyofauna monitoring
- naturalistic and cadastral definition project
- fauna study
- periodic avifauna monitoring
- monitoring biological evolution of the former riverbed
- phyto-purification lagoon monitoring