Golena Ca' Pisani

The Ca' Pisani floodplain in Porto Viro is an area that was previously used as a fishing valley, later abandoned due to low fish productivity. Thanks to a thoughtful restoration project, the fishing valley environment has been restored, creating a favorable nesting area, and hydraulic works and fish-catching structures have been rebuilt using ancient artisanal techniques and traditional materials such as reeds, wood, and bricks.

The Ca' Pisani floodplain represents an environment of considerable importance due to its rich and significant avifauna presence. It is indeed possible to observe: Little Egret (Egretta garzetta), Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea), Great Egret (Egretta alba), Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea), Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides), Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus), European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster), Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus), Little Grebe (Podiceps capsicus), Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus), Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopus major), Hoopoe (Upupa epops), River Warbler (Cettia cetti) and other more common species.

From a vegetation standpoint, the area is characterized by typical riparian vegetation. The predominant species is the Common Reed (Phragmites australis), accompanied by various herbaceous halophyte species. The forested areas occupy the emerged land along the Po di Maistra: the dominant species is the Willow (Salix alba), followed by Poplar (Populus alba), Black Alder (Alnus glutinosa), Ash, and Turkey Oak (Quercus pedunculata). Also common are the False Indigo (Amorpha fruticosa), Black Locust, and Bramble (Rubus ulmifolius). The floodplain is equipped with paths and observation points for birdwatching and is set up for school visits for educational purposes.

Currently, the floodplain is managed by the Veneto Region, through the Regional Forestry Service in collaboration with the Veneto Regional Park Authority of the Po Delta. Using community and regional funds, in recent years, several paths have been created in the floodplain area, birdwatching observatories have been built, and a small visitor center (casone) has been established, in addition to the reconstruction of traditional fishing structures. Before its acquisition by the Veneto Region, the area, privately owned, was a typical example of a fishing valley used for breeding mullets, sea bass, and eels.

Internal embankments and sluices had therefore been created to control the water flow coming from the nearby Ca' Pisani Valley and the Po di Maistra. The excess water from the Po di Maistra had created problems for the fish fauna, making the valley less productive. Hunting activities were also carried out in the area, which is now prohibited.