Hydrogeology and Hydromorphology: a proposal for a dual-key approach to assess the Geo-Hydrological Heritage Site of the San Lucano Valley (Belluno Dolomites)

Hydrological features are fundamental components of the whole "geoheritage" of a site. It is indeed possible to identify the part "water heritage" linked to the value of water and related phenomena: recent studies were carried out in the San Lucano Valley (Belluno, Italy) and its geological, geomorphological and hydrological observations can help to perceive some natural occurrences as "hydrological heritage" and constitute a solid background in order to analyse and bring into evidence the exceptionality of the hydrogeological features of this site. San Lucano Valley indeed, with its numerous springs and with its particular morphology characterized by steep slopes and crest rising up above the valley floor, represents a unique ''window'' in the core of a karst carbonatic aquifer: this peculiar topographical setting enables a 3D view of the groundwater flow, from the recharge areas to the spring and alpine stream from its headwaters to become a tributary of a bigger river. To classify the springs of the valley and to underline their peculiar hydrogeological features, several surveys were performed, discharge in streams and springs was regularly measured using current meters and water level was monitored on site in reference cross-sections (this activity is still in progress). In order to assess the stream hydromorphology, the geomorphic method of Rosgen 1994 (RSC) has been adopted collecting a series of detailed survey datasets along the entire watercourse. Following the path indicated by Simi? et al 2014, adapted to the specific case, the whole hydrological and hydromorphological system has been assessed and it could be proposed as a Hydrological Heritage Site "valuable" for geotourism in the Dolomite's Unesco Area3.