The Magadino Plain Park Foundation has commissioned the Oikos Sagl studio in Bellinzona to design the redevelopment interventions for the “Ciossa Antognini” nature reserve (no. 2310), specifically the area located near the terminal section of Canal A, a tributary of the main left-bank canal. The intervention was funded by the Canton, Municipalities, the Confederation, and the Blue Planet Virginia Böger Foundation X.X.
The intervention perimeter extends for a length of approx. 500 m along the terminal section of Canal A. The latter originates as a branch of the main left-bank canal near the town of Sant’Antonino and flows for about 5.5 km along the southern edge of the Magadino Plain, before merging back into the main left-bank canal right within the Ciossa Antognini nature reserve. The catchment area of Canal A has a surface of approx. 11 km2 and collects water from the various slopes of the northern side of the ridge that leads from Monte Ceneri to Monti del Tiglio, above Sant’Antonino.
From the analysis of ecomorphological data (FOEN, 2004), it is clear that the section of Canal A located within Ciossa Antognini retains a certain degree of naturalness, falling into ecomorphological class II (“slightly impaired”). However, some deficits persist, mainly due to the trapezoidal section of the bed, zero transverse and longitudinal variability, and the presence of hard engineering elements located at the foot of the bank. The straightening of this canal and the containment of floods within rigid embankments has also excessively limited its function as an element of alluvial dynamics and thus the regeneration of associated riparian and marsh environments.
Following the reclamation and canalization interventions carried out during the 20th century, there was a loss of areas occupied by oxbow lakes and other wetland biotopes within the Ciossa Antognini marsh. As a consequence, the wooded area has gradually increased over the years at the expense of marshy areas and hygrophilous environments characterized by typical vegetation. The progressive lowering of the groundwater level also contributes to a negative evolution of the marsh environments. These areas have progressively silted up, reducing their ecological and functional value as hotspots for plant and animal species of these environments. In parallel, there has been a general simplification of the existing habitats.
