2.2.4 Sand Encroachment by Hálslón

Relates to the following subgoals

15.3

By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world.

Progress

The report on the environmental impact assessment of the Kárahnjúkar power plant states that it is essential to establish a monitoring system along all edges of the Hálslón reservoir since considerable erosion is to be expected in the first years/decades after its formation with the associated risk of aeolian deposits reaching vegetated areas. In accordance, Landsvirkjun has monitored erosion proceedings at the Hálslón reservoir. Coastal areas have been walked and mapped to include erosion areas and mineral composition of the reservoir coast; erosion at the highest reservoir level has been monitored, and aerial photos have been taken regularly. Also, the coast has been geodetically measured in several transects, which helps to monitor the long-term development of the coast. Simultaneously, aeolian deposition is monitored above coastal areas. In addition to closely observing the progress of the coastal areas, erosion and encroachment defences have been installed (see pictures above). The vegetation strengthened east of the Hálslón reservoir to survive the blowing sand better. A method to clean the sand of grown land has been developed. In 2014, the Soil Conservation Service of Iceland (Landgræðsla ríkisins) was asked to assess aeolian deposits at Hálslón reservoir and, at the same time, design a system to monitor long-term aeolian depositions. Concurrently, three measuring stations were set up at the Kringilsárrani area to monitor and measure aeolian deposition.

Further information on countermeasures and observations at the Hálslón reservoir can be found in reports under the "Further reading" tab (only in Icelandic).

Findings from inspection 2022:
In 2022, the aeolian deposition at Hálslón was appraised July 4-6. In Kringilsárrani, examiners walked the coastline and examined all aeolian deposition areas, and their distribution was measured by walking with a GPS device (accuracy ± 2-5m) along their edges. At the same time, photographs of most of the measuring fields and measurements made in selected areas were taken.

At the eastern shore of Hálslón, the distribution of all aeolian deposition areas was GPS measured in the same way as in Kringilsárrani, and photographs were taken of most fixed measuring fields. In addition, selected measuring fields where aeolian deposition has been measured were re-measured several times.

The survey in the summer of 2022 showed that there was little or no new aeolian deposition and that the total extent of aeolian deposition areas had decreased from 6.8 ha in 2021 to about 3.7 ha in 2022.

On the east coast of Hálslón, little or no new aeolian depositions had entered the areas, and the active aeolian depositions areas had decreased, i.e. from 0.7 ha 2021 to 0.5 ha 2022 on Lindabunga and Kofaalda from 4.0 ha 2021 to 1.5 ha 2022. In Kringilsárrani, the distribution of aeolian depositions areas will decrease from 2.1 ha in the summer of 2021 to 1.1 ha in 2022.

All wooden fences in Kringilsárrana were taken down in the summer of 2022, as their useful life has passed, and in addition, they have created a danger for reindeer. Putting up new fences instead of the ones that were taken down is not considered necessary.

Figure 1. Hálslón and surroundings. The black line shows the area covered by the monitoring and the yellow line shows the areas along the coastline that are measured. Blue crosses indicate the location of automatic measuring instruments that measure the aeolian deposition.

Figure 1. Hálslón and surroundings. The black line shows the area covered by the monitoring, and the yellow line shows the measured areas along the coastline.

Updated: October 5, 2023
Source: Landsvirkjun (2023)

Metrics, Targets and Monitoring Protocol

What is measured?

Coastal areas of Hálslón reservoir in spring and autumn. Areas where sand has drifted from the coast are recorded, their size estimated/measured as well as sand thickness (project effect: direct).

Monitoring Protocol

Visual monitoring. Data gathered after the reservoir is filled. Regular visits will be made to the area following storms.

Targets

No aeolian deposition east of the reservoir

Possible countermeasures

Landsvirkjun initiates countermeasures to prevent aeolian deposition.

Updated: January, 6th, 2016

Changes of indicator

At the annual meeting of the initiative on May 6 2015 the following proposed amendment was passed.

**Table 1.** Changes accepted in annual general meeting 2015
Original text	Changed text
Volume of aeolian deposition from the east coast of the reservoir.	Coastal areas of Hálslón reservoir in spring and autumn. Areas where sand has drifted from the coast are recorded, their size estimated/measured as well as sand thickness (project effect: direct).

Rationale for changes: The monitoring protocol states analysis of volume of aeolian deposition east of the reservoir. It is technically difficult and not realistic to measure volume but possible to estimate area. In addition, the protocol only mentioned the East coast of the reservoir but Kringilsárrani area is also monitored and should be included in the monitoring protocol.

This indicator was originally number 26.2. It was then named Blowing Sand from Halslon Reservoir and can be found under that number in documents of the project from 2005 and 2006.

The indicator number has been changed twice.

**Table 2.** Changes to name and number of indicator
Year	Nr.	Indicator name
2020	2.2.4	Sand Encroachment by Hálslón
2007	2.29	Sand Encroachment by Hálslón Reservoir

Baseline

The map to the right is a rendering of the reservoir in beginning of June on an average year. The water level is then 580 meters above sea level or 45 meters under the highest water level. During this period 16 km², of the reservoir bed, are above water level on the east side of the reservoir. The right side of the map, shows the reservoir in early August during an average year. The water level is then 615 meters above sea level or 10 meters below the highest water level. During this period 4 km² of the reservoir bed are above water level east of the reservoir and the potential for wind erosion has decreased. The thickness of the soil is estimated to be in average about 2-2.5 meters east of the reservoir. The area will be categorized according to land slope in order to evaluate beforehand where it is most likely that sand piles will form.

Research are ongoing on the stamina of the vegetation in the eastern part against aeolian deposition and how to react to possible deposition of minerals.

Rationale for Indicator Selection

Part of the reservoir shoreline area or approximately 15 km² is covered with around 2.5 m thick soil coated with thin layer of vegetation. With time this volcanic soil can wash into the reservoir through water erosion and wave action, but also drift to surrounding area causing soil thickening and even vegetation loss.

With time wave erosion removes soil from Hálslón reservoir shoreline. The erosion rate is dependent on the slope of the shore area and the intensity of wave action. The erosion rate is highest on steeply sloping shore areas and slowest on flat plains on the shore.

On these gentle sloping planes the vegetation might disappear after a few years of reservoir operation, leaving only soil. On steeper shoreline areas erosion slumps can form in the soil before it is removed by wave erosion. These conditions may prevail during the first one or two decades of reservoir operation.

During dry storms from the south and southwest the exposed dry soil may be picked up by the wind and the largest particles drift onto adjacent vegetated area forming sand piles above the highest water level. In wetlands this risk is however greatly reduced. The east side of the reservoir is specially prone to aeolian deposition. On the west shoreline, windblown sand drifts chiefly to the reservoir during strong wind from South or South-West and therefore no sand piles are formed.

While soil prone to erosion remains, various operations are planned to prevent aeolian deposition to damage vegetated areas in Vesturöræfi wilderness. Sand traps were setup along vegetated areas by the east shoreline of the reservoir. Irrigation, dust binding and sand fences are planned as means to control drift of soil.

Measures to strengthen vegetation east of the reservoir, are also being considered.

Original Rationale for Indicator Selection

The area that will be inundated once Halslon Reservoir is created has relatively thick volcanic soil beneath the vegetation. With time, the vegetation by the reservoir shoreline will disappear and this will leave the soil unprotected from wind and wave erosion. The soil could be flushed into the reservoir or blown to surrounding areas, causing the thickening of the soil or even destruction of vegetation. The smallest particles create dust but do not have negative effect on vegetation. The larger particles that move on the surface in sand piles pose a greater threat since they can suffocate vegetation closest to the reservoir.

When wind is strong, it usually blows from the southwest. Soil from west of the reservoir will therefore blow into the water but soil from the east side could blow over the vegetation on Vesturoraefi if no mitigation measures are taken. This danger is greatest in the first half of summer once the surface has dried up from spring thaws and the reservoir has not yet filled. Wetlands are less affected by wind erosion since groundwater keeps the soil wet.

Part of the soil that creates the wind erosion threat will slide into the reservoir with time. This will happen first in areas where slopes are greater than seven percent. Landsvirkjun plans to remove the soil from the flattest areas by pumping it into the deepest part of the reservoir. If those plans succeed, the soil on the east shoreline of the reservoir should be gone about 10 or 15 years after the dam starts to operate because of erosion or pumping

During the time soil erosion and creation of sand piles are still an issue, several mitigation measures are planned to prevent sand from piling up and destroying vegetated areas on Vesturoreafi. These measures include special protection walls, sand traps, fences, and sand erosion banks. Measures to strengthen vegetation east of the reservoir, in case of damage, are also being considered.

From phase I/II report on indicators and baseline from April 2005