In the middle of June, Latvian Fund for Nature bought a reed-cutting machine to fulfil the needs of the project “Implementation of the Management Plan for the Lake Engure Nature Park (LENP)”. The machine is manufactured in Sweden. On its way to Latvia, this important cargo was accompanied by an expert Torbjorn Hahlin who came to Latvia to introduce the machine to Latvian project staff and share his experience in reed cutting.

This reed-cutting machine is multifunctional. It is possible to cut the reed in summer as well as in winter. 1.5 m is maximum depth for underwater reed cutting. If it’s necessary to deepen the lake in shallow places, the cutting blade can be replaced with digging unit. In summer it is also possible to use different cutting blades, in case there is need to cut not only reed, but also bushes and grass

This summer it was rather hard for reed cutting. Due to extremely hot weather, water level of lake Engure has lowered for more than 1 meter, and stones that previously were under water now are close to the surface of water or even above it. Because of those difficulties, less than 3 ha were cut per day this year, instead of foreseen 6 ha per day. Totally 90 ha of reed have been cut until the end of August.