watermeadow

A watermeadow is a piece of land that is seasonally flooded with water to promote the growth of vegetation such as grasses and wildflowers. The term "watermeadow" itself is a compound word composed of "water" and "meadow." This type of land management practice has been adopted in various parts of the world, including Europe, Asia, and North America.

In traditional watermeadows, water is released from a nearby storage area to flood the land for a period of time, typically during the spring and early summer. This allows a variety of plants to grow that are typically found in natural wetland environments. The grasses and wildflowers that grow on watermeadows provide habitat for a range of wildlife, including insects, birds, and small mammals.

Watermeadows are often associated with marginal agricultural areas, where the land is too wet or seasonal for intensive farming. However, in recent years, watermeadows have gained recognition for their biodiversity value and are being considered for designation as natural areas or wildlife reserves. Modern watermeadows are often managed for conservation purposes, and are used to demonstrate sustainable land management practices.

In some parts of the world, traditional watermeadow management has been passed down through generations, and is an important part of local culture and history. The transboundary water management of watermeadows, especially in cases of international transboundary rivers, often relies on collaborative management practices that take into account the perspectives of different stakeholders.