The action aims on improvement of more than 200 ha reed stands, growing in the flooded peat ponds’ by cutting 20 ha too dense reeds and reducing total area of the flooded reed stands. Two methods will be applied: a. cutting of the reed from the edge and reduce coverage of the ponds by reed; b. cutting of the flooded reeds by the „belt“ method, when reeds are exterminated on the two meters wide belts with a distance up to 10 meters between them. This method was selected because such reed fragmentation should attract waterbirds, including Bittern* and Spotted Crake. Those expectations are based from the similar practise on the fishponds in the aquaculture farms. Applying both methods the reeds will be cut underwater using special machinery – motor reed cutter. For this purpose, special services will be procured, which covers both rent of the machinery and its operational service. Usingn underwater cutting method reed stands almost gone after the only attempt. This is why
project foreseen the only one-time action.
This Action will be implemented in several peat ponds only, because of special conditions for the motor reed cutter: the depth in the pond should be at least 30 cm, although the recomendations are not less than 50 cm. Because special machinery will be used for the reed cutting, the position of the experienced driver is foreseen and he will be employed because of special licenses for operating of such kind of machinery.
All management areas are already selected and presented on the attached site management scheme. Cutting activities will be performed outside bird breeding season – in August-September. Permit for reed cutting will be issued by the Siauliai Regional Department for Environment Conservation (SRDEC) only.

This action addresses threat 2 (Overgrowing of the flooded ponds with dence reed stands). Reed stands growing in shalow water is a breeding habitat of many waterbirds including Bittern* and Spotted Crake. However, if reed stands becoming too dense, birds leaving such areas. From the another hand, reed's areas close to open water always attracting more waterbirds. This is why reed stands' management is very efective tool for increasing number of waterbird local population including Bittern* and Spotted Crake. From the another hand, underwater reed cutting is a very effective measure to control reed distribution even after one year of the management efforts. At the same time, an effect of such efforts is for at least 3-5 years.