Property:Project summary
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R
The river restoration has introduced habitat features which will lead to the restoration of the hydromorphology of the WFD watercourse. Priority species this project may benefit include water voles and eels. +
M
The river restoration project at Millfield plantation builds on the work also being undertaken at Bocking Blackwater local nature reserve, Ironbridge Farm and Plough Hill farm. All the projects are linked both thematically and geographically and are focused on improving the status of the river under the water framework.
Currently the river Pant is failing under WFD, a number of issues have been identified including physical modification, fish passage and both point source and diffuse pollution. This manifests itself in a manner of ways, most notably with a heavily modified channel which has been deepened and in places straightened but most importantly disconnected from its floodplain by large artificial bunds. The land use is predominantly arable and this can lead to some pollution events both diffuse and one of such as oil and other contaminants. It should be noted that Essex and Suffolk water have done a huge amount to improve the status of this river by landowner interaction and education and this project aims to build on this.
After a period of consultation and a professional assessment looking at the feasibility of the project a plan was designed to start improving the water body. This will involve installing a pipe at the mouth of an old channel, we do not know exactly know what the original purpose of this channel was but it is likely to be an old mill race that due to historical management has been increasingly separated from the original channel. However, it now offers a unique chance to reconnect the floodplain and contribute to water quality via the installation of a new 300mm culvert and simple pipe.
This will allow the back channel to go from being inundated a handful of times a year to up to 15 or 16 times. This will only be transitory inundation, we are not planning on installing anything that will hold water back but it should be enough to kick start some changes in the vegetation structure promoting semi-aquatic and marginal vegetation. It will be this vegetation as it develops that allows the water to be filtered, silt will also be given the chance to settle out on the floodplain, further improving the condition of the river and its value to invertebrates and fish.
In addition to the back channel connection there will also be installation of several bits of woody debris further downstream to kick start geomorphological processes in the river such as riffle creation, berms, flow dynamics and some bank erosion. It also has a part to play in diffuse pollution removal by pushing water through soil which removes nitrate via dentrification.
All the consents are now in place for this project and earthworks as due to commence in August 2015, completing soon after. Once complete, we should start to see the benefits in the following winter.
R
The river restoration work carried out on the River Glaven at Hunworth was done with a view to returning the river to a more natural state. The scheme involved a number of organisations, including the Environment Agency, the Wild Trout Trust, the River Glaven Conservation Group and the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture. A variety of techniques were employed, including channel reprofiling, the reintroduction of gravels and the installation of cattle drinks.
Since the works were completed in 2010 the River Glaven (Waterbody ID: GB105034055780) has improved from Moderate ecological status (as designated in the Anglian River Basin Management Plan) to Good ecological status, with specific improvements in macroinvertebrate and fish populations. +
S
Sustainable management, at local level, of the alluvial aquifer of the River Tordera, through the reuse of waste water +
The rivers of the Mediterranean countries are subject to intense human occupancy that causes problems in the exploitation of their resources. The overuse of water resources (urban, industrial and agricultural) leads to the following impacts on alluvial [[term:aquifer|aquifers]]: The water table is lowered and the capacity of the bores is reduced; the drought period is extended, leaving the river bed dry for increasing periods; groundwater quality is reduced and urban water supply sources become polluted; protected wetlands dry up, biodiversity is lost and conservation problems arise.
The Tordera Aquifer project will strive to reverse this trend by improving water management in the Tordera municipality. The objectives are as follows: improve quality of the sewage system; recycled treated water for conservation (aquifer recharge, establishment of wetlands); use of renewable energy and low-maintenance, soft treatment systems in the processes; serve as a pioneer example for other communities in the same river basin which can manage their water resources in a similar way.
This project counts with the support of local, regional and European institutions. The financing comes from the LIFE initiative, the Tordera City Council and the Government of Cataluña. The total budget is 1.409.139€ (LIFE support 338.101€). +
H
The sand dunes at Hightown north of Liverpool (Photo 1 and Map 1) were eroding at a rate of 0.5–1m per year. The structure protecting Blundellsands Sailing Club had less than a 10 year life span remaining, and 125 properties and the sailing club were at risk from coastal erosion. Using Section 106 money, a scheme was developed to buy more time by reinstating the dunes to the position they were in 30 years ago.
Prior to the project this section of coast was losing, on average, 1,000m3 of sand a year. Post project it is losing the same amount, so by moving 28,000m3 of sand 28 years of time has been bought back. +
T
The scheme focussed on a stretch of the River Tarell, an important tributary of the River Usk SAC (Special Area of Conservation), and aimed to restore the river’s natural processes by re-introducing wood into the river channel.
Led by the Natural Resources Wales (NRW) Four Rivers for LIFE project and the River Restoration Centre (RRC) – the scheme is part of a wider nature restoration project by the National Trust at their site. Much of the upper part of the River Tarell catchment flows through land under National Trust ownership at their Ty Mawr Farm site in the Brecon Beacons.
The work saw 40 trees winched into a 600 metre stretch of the river channel to create 14 large wood structures. These were strategically positioned to encourage floodplain reconnection and improve habitat, whilst maintaining access for migratory fish.
The trees were wedged into the riverbank to minimise the risk of them becoming displaced during high flows. Ash dieback had affected a significant number of trees in the area, so these were the first trees to be used in the scheme. +
D
The scheme was implemented by the Environment Agency with the co-operation and agreement of the adjacent landowners (Matthew and Melanie Robinson and Alister Brooke-Clarke) and in-kind support from the Welland Rivers Trust and the Wild Trout Trust.
Summary of Techniques: Faggot, woody debris and coir roll flow deflectors; channel pinching using faggots,
woody debris and coir rolls; introduction of gravels to augment and create riffles; bank toe protection using rock and
coir; new cattle drinkers; riverside fencing; selected tree works including crown-lifting and pollarding; new tree and
shrub planting; artificial otter holt construction.
Background
During the 1970s the River Welland was significantly modified. The natural river morphology was altered to
improve land drainage and flood water discharge. The river was deepened; many meanders, pools, riffles and
glides were removed; and the river was constricted within high, straight banks. High winter flood flows and poor
land management practices now cause significant bank erosion and sedimentation. Prior to modification a high
proportion of these nutrient-rich sediments would have been deposited on the floodplain, providing rich grazing
pasture, but, as a result of the flood defence works, a large proportion of these sediments now remain in the
channel, degrading habitats including fish spawning gravels. +
B
The scheme, delivered by Natural Resources Wales’s (NRW) Four Rivers for LIFE Project, will see a new smolt (young salmon) pass installed in the weir. Brecon Weir is currently recognised as a significant obstruction to young salmon migrating downstream on their journey to the sea. Once completed, the new smolt pass will help young salmon and other fish species to move freely down the river.
Recent fish tracking work has shown that Brecon Weir can significantly delay salmon smolts on their downstream migration in the spring, especially in low flows, making them more vulnerable to disease and predation. Accumulations of smolts have been observed around the weir during spring low flows. A new smolt pass will be installed in the face of the weir which will improve the hydraulics and flow velocities for fish passing the weir. The design will include a u-shaped notch, a bell mouth pass entrance, and an approach ramp. +
P
The sea defences at Pevensey Bay in East Sussex (Map 1) are managed by Pevensey Coastal Defence Ltd (PCD) under a 25 year (2000 to 2025) public–private partnership (PPP) contract. The scheme is funded day to day by PCD. However, the contract is flexible enough to accommodate change. The sediment deficit of 30,000m3 on the Pevensey frontage is replenished in 2 ways:
• Recharge from offshore – as dredged material from Owers Bank (near Littlehampton) is rainbowed onto the beach at the western end of the frontage.
• Bypassing of material accumulated against the southern harbour arm around Sovereign Harbour (Photo 1) by road lorries – some 4,000–25,000m3 are moved per year with an annual average in recent years of 9,000m3. Under the PPP contract, PCD expects to receive 5,000m3 of material and pays for any over this amount.
In addition:
• Dredged material from the navigation channel adjacent to the harbour entrance is deposited below low water springs (this material is finer than material taken from the beach). This dredging is done by harbour owners, Premier Marinas, and not by PCD. PCD works with Premier Marinas to try and ensure suitable sediments are beneficially reused. About 40,000m3 have been reused in the last 2 years rather than being dumped at sea.
• Recycling from the eastern end of the frontage westwards – this is done piecemeal, moving material various distances but rarely the full length of the frontage. Recycling volumes average about 100,000m3 annually.
Other flood risk management measures carried out by PCD on the frontage are beach profiling, constructing/maintaining retaining walls to hold beach material in place and maintaining around 7 groynes. The remaining 150 groynes on the frontage are not being maintained and had already deteriorated to a poor standard before the project started.
The hybrid scheme improves responsiveness, flexibility and sustainability. The South West Beach at Sovereign Harbour is a highly volatile section of coast and sediment can build up to a point where it should be removed in days. PCD is best placed to initiate bypassing works at short notice. Bypassed material is only available between October and March, when dredgers generally find conditions are too rough for them to operate. Recharge and bypassing both represent Working with Natural Processes (WWNP).
E
The section corresponds to restore the stream of Ruby as it passes through the town from which it takes its name. In this section, the stream is strongly modified by the concrete walls built in the margins and along the breakwater that covers all the main channel and high water.
Using previously vegetated materials and introducing local plant species, the objectives seek to: minimize the impact of the various works carried out within the stream, improve the quality of riparian ecosystems conjugating with the need to maintain hydraulic capacity and restore the banks the level that allows cleaning of exotic species and the planting of willow and herbaceous riparian own.
The project has a total budget of 15.960,47 € and is financed by the Municipality of Rubí. +
A
Austria cross-border section - Monitoring sediment transport and Habitat modelling (ETZ-Project “DraMurCi” 2009-2013) +
The sediment transport monitoring made in this project was the first monitoring of this kind in Austria and was as successful as it was expected to be.
“At the border section of the Mur River between Austria and Slovenia, systematic river training and hydroelectric power plants have led to a channel incision with considerable ecological and technical consequences. A sediment transport model predicted further incision if no countermeasures are implemented. The thin gravel layer (≈0.5 m) poses the threat of a river-bed break-through, calling for urgent action. In a Basic Water Management Concept, several types of ecologically oriented countermeasures have been proposed. Recently, one measure that combines self-initiated riverbank erosion with sediment input from a newly constructed side-arm has been implemented. To determine the success of the measure, we conducted a detailed survey along with particle tracking by telemetry. The results show the anticipated response. So far the Mur River showed the intended response to the measures with respect to self-initiated bank erosion and distribution of the inserted gravel. The introduced monitoring program proved to be suitable for the assessment of the measures.”
(Abstract: 4th ECRR Conference on River Restoration Italy, Venice S. Servolo Island 16-21 June 2008 - Institute of Water agement, Hydrology and Hydraulic Engineering, Department of Water, Atmosphere and Environment, University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Vienna)
To identify the major impairments for the ecological status of waters and aquatic habitats at Drava and Mur, a scientific monitoring of habitats and species was carried out. Particular attention was paid to the wolf spider Arctosa cinerea, the beetle species Cicindela hybrida, and the bird species Actitis hypoleucos and Charadrius dubius.
In the area of Bad Radkersburg, Drauchenbach up to the border a fish-ecological evaluation has been conducted at the river Mur.
In the area of the measure Gosdorf I, an Interreg IIIa (2002-2008) project, a detailed monitoring and habitat modeling as well as an investigation of habitat types and species, visitor pressure and neophytes was done.
The pre-and post-monitoring-results show a remarkable development of existing and new habitats of the studied protected resources.
The dynamic river engineering projects have significantly promoted the development of all habitats concerned and a substantial improvement of habitats and animals has been documented.
E
The shallow and maritime peatlands of Exmoor in south-west England (Map 1) have been heavily influenced by human activity over many centuries, with significant areas drained in the 19th and 20th centuries in an effort to improve agricultural productivity. Water is no longer stored as efficiently in the peat. During periods of high rainfall, more water runs off the land and flows downstream into already swollen rivers. In dry periods, river baseflows are poorly maintained. The peatlands have become dry and consequently are losing more carbon (via both fluvial and gaseous pathways) than they accumulate. The quality of water leaving the peat bogs is also deteriorating. The holistic, multiple benefits approach provided by the Exmoor Mires Partnership is helping the peatlands to recover to their more natural ecohydrological structure and function.
* Cost: £4.5 million (2010 to 2020) to restore 3,000ha of peatland, with 1,400ha achieved by December 2016.
* Water storage: A rise in the water table level of 2.65cm on average across the areas monitored and up to 21cm in some deeper peat locations.
* A 33% reduction in storm flow leaving the restored sites, equivalent to 6,630 Olympic-sized swimming pools when extrapolated across the total restored area.
* Examination of the hydrograph and flow duration curve at the Spooners monitoring catchment shows a clear increase in base flow levels post restoration.
* Water quality: An overall reduction in the total carbon yield from the restored sites of up to 50% since restoration.
* Biodiversity: 31% of Exmoor peatlands were restored to their ecohydrological function, contributing 1,400ha by December 2016 to the national Priority Blanket Bog habitat restoration targets. +
U
The site is located on the upper River Nairn, just west of the settlement of Croachy. The study section is 4 km long, extending upstream to where the channel exits from its steep headwater zone. The gradient of the channel generally decreases as it transitions into a floodplain zone, currently managed for agriculture. Under natural conditions, the study site was a highly dynamic alluvial fan with multiple channels. However, because of historical engineering for land management, natural physical processes in this part of the upper Nairn were significantly altered. The channel had been straightened and constrained between embankments, becoming ‘perched’ above its floodplain due to aggradation of its bed. The river corridor lacked the physical features and associated habitats that would naturally occur, mainly through the lack of morphological variability but also limited tree cover and large wood material in the active channel. As a result, the water body was classified at poor ecological status under EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) classifications.
Following a ‘process-based’ approach, an ‘assisted recovery’ design strategy was adopted, permitting the river to self-adjust towards a quasi-stable ‘dynamic equilibrium’ morphological condition. The aim was to reinstate a greater potential for the development of lateral channel variability (through the evolution of alluvial bar forms and associated bank erosion processes) and connectivity with wetland/ floodplain environments. Initially a series of conceptual design were developed from which, after stakeholder engagement, a preferred option was identified. A detailed design phase then followed, supported by high-resolution 2D hydrodynamic and morphodynamic (i.e. sediment transport) modelling. An iterative modelling-design process determined the optimal restoration approach for the different river sections.
Three different design strategies were proposed in discrete sections of the site. Due to practical site constraints, the design in the upstream sections of the site could only involve the localised reprofiling of the river corridor (mainly the removal/ re-grading of existing embankments) while, in the downstream section, channel realignment and the reinstatement of ‘online’ wetlands were implemented. Almost 1 km of channel length was realigned into a more sinuous course through a lower elevation area. Importantly, this connected a series of three online wetland areas before tying back into the existing channel course downstream. Furthermore, to mitigate the lack of large wood (LW) processes through the site, riparian planting was conducted in conjunction with the installation of ‘bar apex’ LW structures at appropriate locations through the realigned channel.
Whilst the primary objectives of the restoration project were to address the issues of excess sediment accumulation (and associated channel ‘perching’), flooding/ land drainage and reduced habitat quality, improving the WFD classification status of the River Nairn was also a key objective of the Project. Currently, the waterbody (River Farnack confluence to source in the River Nairn catchment, Waterbody 20306) has been classified by SEPA as being at poor status, primarily as a result of morphological and hydrogeomorpholocial pressures on the waterbody resulting from modifications to the bed and banks of the river. Through the River Basin Management Planning Strategy, SEPA has identified and prioritised water bodies where improvements are required to enable good ecological status to be met. As part of the second cycle of the River Basin Management Planning Process, SEPA has identified the River Nairn as a priority catchment and as part of a national strategic plan, the URNRP will help national objectives to be met.
I
The situation of the Frieira dam is at about 68 Km from the flow into the river Miño in the Atlantic Ocean and constitutes the first transverse obstacle for the movement of the migratory fish. Until the construction of the dam, it was only crossed by a limited number of eels that were crossed by a small scale of poor efficiency. The rest of the migratory species (Atlantic salmon, sea trout or reo, lamprey, alosa and sábalo) saw their reproductive migration water up stopped, being out of their reach the traditional spawn zones.
With the execution of this project it is being trying to correct the environment impact produced by the exploitation of the Frieira installations, reinstituting the free circulation of the migratory fish water up the storage dam; In this way, it has been recuperated for these populations courses of the basin that were used for the reproduction and breeding before the dam construction.
This project counts with the support of local, regional, national and European institutions. The financing comes from the LIFE initiative and the Government of Galicia. The total budget is 1.278.875€ (LIFE support 291.342€).
Works included: Installing fish scale of more than 250m. +
E
Environmental restoration project of the river area of the Ripoll River as it passes through the municipality of Ripollet (Vallès Occidental) +
The stretch of the River Ripoll in which the project is located, is bounded longitudinally by longitudinal structures (walls and breakwaters) amending river morphology and determine the formation of river banks. The river also has transversal structures. The existing vegetation does not correspond to the potential vegetation due to the high population pressure on land that has suffered over time. There is an important agricultural pressure and few spaces are not occupied by gardens.
The main objectives of this project are: remove the set up gardens in the area of the project; restore the original profile of the channel prior to the installation of the orchards; minimize the impact caused by waste, trash and debris; eliminate the presence of alien species; recovery hydrological, landscape and ecology of the river; encourage the stabilization and protection of river banks against erosion; enhancing the role of River Biological Corridor; inform the public about the river area as well as the objectives and work involved in the project. +
B
Basic proposals for restoration and enhancement of the stream of Vilamajor in Sant Antoni de Vilamajor +
The stretch to restore is near the town center, which has led to the channeling of the river and the installation of auxiliary structures. On the other hand, it has increased the proliferation of alien invasive species and it has retreated riparian vegetation.
The main actions in this project are: the use of new bioengineering elements in order to stabilize slope banks; naturalize space by planting trees, shrubs and heliophilous; management of drainage of surface runoff by constructing a rainwater collect.
The project has a total budget of 20.354,29 € and is financed by the Municipality of Sant Antoni de Vilamajor. +
The three main objectives of the proyect are: 1) wetland management, 2) study and conservation of aquatic birds and 3) ambiental restoration. +
P
The trial aimed to test a new approach to beach replenishment in Poole Bay on the south coast of England. The concept was to make use of locally dredged sediment and place it in the nearshore, allowing the prevailing waves and tidal currents to move the material toward and along the beach. This approach is used in the Netherlands and more recently in Denmark. The trial is the first of its kind in the UK.
Although it was proven that there is a sediment transport connection between the nearshore and the adjacent beach (that is, nearshore deposition can replenish the beach), it remains difficult to assess the long-term fate of the material.
It is likely that both a larger quantity of material and more time are needed for sediment dispersal at this site to demonstrate the long-term viability of nearshore replenishment as an alternative to traditional methods. +
W
The unfavourable ecological condition of the River Wensum SSSI/SAC has arisen over the years through a series of adverse modifications in hydromorphology of the River Wensum, leading to failure of Waterbody GB105034055881 to achieve ‘Good Ecological Potential’ under the WFD. Diffuse water pollution to River Wensum from both agricul-ture and urban sources and disconnection of the River Wensum from its floodplain have also led to consequent eco-logical impoverishment of the floodplain.
The River Wensum and Floodplain Restoration Project is therefore designed to implement restoration measures to restore the form and function typical of a Norfolk Chalk River (e.g. channel narrowing, restoring gravel beds, in-creasing sinuosity, increasing woody debris). This will Improve fisheries, invertebrates and plant communities within the SSSI and SAC and restore the connectivity of the floodplain and floodplain wetland habitats; including the restoration and creation of reedbed and fen habitats. Water quality of urban run-off from Fakenham and adjacent agricultural land will also be improved before reaching the river.
Significant and measureable improvements in habitat for designated features of the River Wensum SSSI/SAC (as identified in the River Wensum Restoration Strat-egy) are key objectives of the project. +
U
The upper River Mun close to Northrepps suffers from chronic pollution. This has reduced the wildlife diversity in the river, and is almost certainly the cause of the periodic death of fish in a downstream lake, Little Broad. Often pollution is invisible, even when quite severe. However, in this case it is plain for the eye to see. Nutrients coming down the stream, predominantly from the Anglian Water sewage treatment works, are causing a condition called eutrophication. This is the extreme growth of plants and algae due to nutrient enrichment. This causes the death of fish and other aquatic organisms in a boom and bust cycle. At the height of algae and plant growth in the spring the water becomes “super-saturated” with oxygen (the oxygen “boom”). As the oxygen tries to force its way out of the water, this causes bubbles to form in blood-vessels of the fish, similar to the condition “the bends” in divers. This causes distress and often death. In the autumn, the algae dies and rots (the oxygen “bust”) and there is now not enough oxygen.
Pollution also has more subtle effects. Elevated levels of nutrients also cause a loss of plant diversity, because dominant “greedy” plants and algae out compete others. A lake (and in some cases rivers) without a diverse plant community is like a rainforest where all but one species of tree are cut down in the sense that this causes a reduction in diversity of all over groups of organisms as well. In short, the upper Mun has a impoverished community of plants and animals due to pollution and this effect is also likely to be passed on down the stream.
However, the Norfolk Rivers Trust are working on plans to reduce the nutrients by routing the effluent from the Sewage Treatment Works through a series of wetlands. This would not be possible without the incredible generosity of the landowner who is prepared to sacrifice land in order to help wildlife and improve water quality. The wetland will remove the nutrients by biological and chemical processes. NRT are taking advice from several universities including University College London, Cranfield and Saint Mary’s University in order to ensure that the project delivers maximum benefits. This project will happen in early October and we are looking forward to seeing if our efforts and those of our outstanding volunteer group in the area can reverse the fate of this damaged little river.