Ca' Pisani Flood Plain

Ca' Pisani Flood Plain covers an area of about 43 ha, which was purchased in 1997 by Regione del Veneto, thanks to an EEC financing (LIFE Delta del Po).
The Flood Plain includes a bankside on the left bank of Po di Maistra, some wetlands delimited by inner small embankments, about 4 ha of woodland formations (mainly willows), areas which were cultivated in the past and are now no longer cultivated.
Currently the flood plain is managed by Regione Veneto, through the Regional Forest Service, with the collaboration of Ente Parco Regionale Veneto del Delta del Po.

Thanks to Community and regional funds, several routes have been created in the flood plain area, together with birdwatching observation huts and a small visitor center ("casone"). Moreover, the traditional fishing structures have been restored.

Before the purchase by Regione Veneto, the area - which was a private property - was a typical example of fishing lagoon used to farm Grey Mullets, Basses, and Eels. Afterwards, small inner embankments and locks were created to control the flow of water coming from the nearby Valle Ca' Pisani and from Po di Maistra.
The exceeding water supply of Po di Maistra had created problems to the fish fauna, to the extent that the lagoon was not very productive. In the area, hunting was practiced too: it is now forbidden.

Ca' Pisani Flood Plain represents a rather important environment for the presence of a rich avifauna. As a matter of fact, you can observe: the Little Egret (Egretta garzetta), the Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea), the Great White Egret (Egretta alba), the Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea), the Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides), the Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus), the Bee Eater (Merops apiaster), the Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus), the Little Grebe (Podiceps capsicus), the Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus), the Night Heron (Nycticorax nictycorax), the Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopus major), the Hoopoe (Upupa epops), the Cetti's Warbler (Cettia cetti), and other more common species.

As far as vegetation is concerned, the area is characterized by the typical fluvial vegetation.
The dominating species is the Common Reed (Phragmites australis), growing together with different herbaceous halophyte species.
The woodlands cover the strip of land emerged along Po di Maistra: the dominating species is the White Willow (Salix alba), followed by the White Poplar (Populus alba), the European Alder (Alnus glutinosa), the Ash Tree and the English Oak (Quercus peduncolata).
The Desert Indigo (Amorpha fruticosa), the False Acacia, and the Elmleaf Blackberry (Rubus ulmifolius) are widespread.