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Finland
Source: Laitinen and Jormola 2008
Almost every ditch and stream in Finland has been altered: Many natural streams have been widened to increase drainage, deepened and straightened for agriculture. Drainage of agricultural areas is a prerequisite for cultivation in the Finnish climate and lowland conditions. Almost all brooks and ditches in farming lands have been widened, deepened and straightened to allow sufficient drainage depth and prevent local flooding. Regular dredging has weakened the ecological condition of brooks and increased erosion, sedimentation and invasion by aquatic plants of the downstream sections. Decreased water flow and poor water quality also cause problems. In addition, biodiversity suffers and the form of the streambed becomes monotonous. Only few species can live in straightened and deepened streams.
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1. sentence: Almost every ditch...straightened for agriculture and forestry.
2. sentence: Drainage of agricultural areas....in the Finnish climate, soil and lowland conditions. Aim of the forestry drainage is to increase growth conditions and thus productivity.
At these days drainage is focused mainly on renovation and restoration of existing streams following principles of environmental hydraulic engineering. Completely new drainage projects are very rare.