LIFE12/ENV/FI/597 14.5.2014 MINUTES OF THE

LIFE12/ENV/FI/597
14.5.2014
MINUTES OF THE MEETING
Steering and Advisory Board (SAB) meeting of the project LIFE 12 ENV/FI/597 N-SINK
Time:
14.5.2014, 10:20 – 13:40
Location:
Lammi Biological Station, University of Helsinki, meeting room Sittiäinen,
Pääjärventie 320, FI-16900 Helsinki
Present:
Sanni Aalto (UJ), Lassi Ahlvik (MTT), Kari Aikio (MTK Häme), Lauri Arvola (UH),
Jussi Huotari (UH), Nina Hyvärinen (UH), Tom Kokkonen (DPHYS), Matti
Leppäranta (DPHYS), Tiina Nõges (Estonia), Harri Mäkelä (ELY-keskus Häme),
Kati Rankinen (SYKE), Marja Tiirola (UJ), Tiina Tulonen (UH),
1. Opening of the meeting
Jussi Huotari opened the meeting at 10:20.
2. Election of the chair and the secretary
Lauri Arvola was elected as chair and Jussi Huotari as sectretary
3. Approval of the agenda
Agenda was approved
4. Progress of the project and forthcoming tasks
Jussi Huotari briefly summarized the previous SAB meeting: what was discussed about the tasks of the SAB,
about the times and locations of the future SAB meetings, as well as the main points raised by the SAB
members during the presentations of the project and the subprojects.
SAB was informed about the partnership agreement, the delivery of the Inception report and the “GO”
response of the Commission. SAB was also reminded that the project www-pages are operational, where
the progress of the project can be followed. LIFE+ notice board was handed out to put on display on sites
where the project is implemented.
LIFE12/ENV/FI/597
14.5.2014
UH
UH has run preliminary laboratory tests in order to plan the demonstration in Vanajavesi. Nitrate loss could
be measured in a flow-through system by the nitrate concentration difference between the inlet water of
purified waste water and the outlet water of the system. The difference was easily detected with the field
measuring equipment available. A little concern was caused by slight increase in phosphate and ammonium
concentrations and it was suggested running in parallel a control system with pure water with low nutrient
concentrations. Additional laboratory testing will be run starting next autumn. Similar system in a larger
scale will be implemented in the field to demonstrate the effect of the sediment denitrification in nitrate
removal from waste waters in Vanajavesi. The demonstration takes place in 2015 and more detailed plan of
the demonstration will be presented in the next SAB meeting. ELY-keskus has given the statement that the
water permission of AVI will not be needed for the demonstration.
Monitoring of Lake Vanajavesi and N2O production in Paroinen has been planned and it will be started
during summer after the new gas chromatograph of UH has arrived enabling N2O determinations at the
Lammi Biological Station. Some measurements to detect the waste water flow in Vanajavesi was conducted
but unfavourable ice conditions did not allow more detailed flow measurements with extensive spatial
coverage, which was postponed to take place in summer or next winter.
UJ
Sanni Aalto presented progress of the actions of UJ. Water permit application for the demonstration has
been sent to AVI and in response they informed a possibility of responding the four statements left
concerning the application, but all the statements were favourable for the demonstration and the permit is
expected to be granted shortly. Construction plans of the perforated sediment filtration systems ordered
from Pöyry Oyj were presented, and companies will be invited to tender for the prototype construction
work when the water permit arrives. Demonstration in Keurusselkä will begin in next autumn/winter and in
Petäjävesi in 2015.
Monitoring of the demonstration sites in Keurusselkä and Petäjävesi has been conducted despite the
challenging ice conditions and will continue in every second month. N2 isotope analysis method has
successfully been developed and is now operational. Waste water flow measurements in Keurusselkä and
Petäjävesi were conducted in the winter by DPHYS.
Addition of demonstration site with clear water in oligotrophic state was suggested in one can be found. It
was discussed about what if the perforated sediment filtration system sinks into the sediment due to the
heavy weighting intended to keep the system down in the bottom but it was not seen as a problem.
DPHYS
Tom Kokkonen presented results of the waste water flow measurements by DPHYS in Keurusselkä and
Petäjävesi related to monitoring and demonstration sites of UJ.
SYKE
Katri Rankinen presented actions of SYKE. INCA and VEMALA models are ready to provide information of
nutrient loading from agricultural fields with various scenarios for agricultural changes, as well as nitrogen
retention in lakes and rivers and load to the Baltic Sea. Conceptual model of linking INCA-VEMALA-
LIFE12/ENV/FI/597
14.5.2014
Economical models in Deliverable 7.1 have been developed together with MTT. Collection of data for
empirical analysis has been started and the data quality analysis has been performed for selection of the
study sites. Four lakes with representative data were found and the demonstration will concentrate on
Lake Pääjärvi and Lake Vanajavesi, in addition to Porvoonjoki catchment. Preliminary Coherens lake model
runs have been performed for Keurusselkä and Coherens 3d model results for Lake Pyhäjärvi are ready for
comparing and developing lake processes in VEMALA. Work continues with empirical analysis as well as
INCA and VEMALA modelling.
MTT
Lassi Ahlvik presented Deliverable 7.1.: “Conceptual model of linking economic and ecological approaches”,
as an indication of the progress in the actions of MTT. Information has been gathered on the loading
reductions to achieve the good ecological condition of the waters, which will be the main target set of the
modelling, as well as on the costs of different nutrient abatement measures. One of the future challenges is
to make the model fast enough for optimization, where it has to be run several times to find the costminimizing solution.
It was noted that there are examples of the remaining poor conditions even if the loading to the waters has
been ceased in the area.
As a conclusion it was noted that the project has been progressed smoothly as planned.
5. Other things
Public briefing will be organized in Keuruu following the approval of water permit, before the construction
work of the perforated filtration system will begin.
6. Date and location of the next meeting
Next SAB meeting will be organized by the end of November at MTT, Helsinki. Doodle scheduling will be
organized for finding out the most suitable date.
7. Closing the meeting
Lauri Arvola closed the meeting at 13:40.

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