Agricultural water management using Two-Stage Channels (TSCs): the Ritobäcken river case

Water Hub

Conventional dredging of ditches and streams to ensure agricultural drainage and flood mitigation has severe environmental impacts. We assessed the main benefits of an alternative, nature-based two-stage channel design with floodplains excavated along the main channel. We conducted investigations at Finnish field sites (primary field site: Ritobäcken, Finland) and performed a literature survey focusing on Boreal and Continental climatic conditions. The 820 m long two-stage channel was constructed in 2010. The study results show that two-stage ditches provide efficient flood control and drainage, and likely improve stream water quality and biodiversity. The obtained knowledge can be used to estimate environmental effects from the similar type of drainage solutions in rural areas.

Ritobäcken river case study map

View visualisation

Ritobäcken river case study - Factsheet

Ritobäcken river case study

Originally published	27 May 2025
Knowledge service \| Metadata	Water Hub \| Nature-based solutions
Digital Europa Thesaurus (DET)	flood nature-based solutions

Supporting policy with scientific evidence

Agricultural water management using Two-Stage Channels (TSCs): the Ritobäcken river case

Ritobäcken river case study map

Seaweed-based textile dyes: a sustainable innovation

European Commission's Directorate-General of Research and Innovation at the EU Green Week 2026

CBE JU Stakeholder Forum 2026 Final Report