Property:Project summary
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L
This is a multi-benefit project aimed at improving in channel morphological diversity, reducing the amount of diffuse pollution and sedimentation entering the main river Chelmer. It will also increase the amount of riparian habitat along the River Chelmer and enhance the resilience of the wet woodland.
This project was funded by the Catchment restoration fund, as part of the Essex Healthy headwaters scheme. The earthworks were undertaken in late Summer, early Autumn 2014.
The aims of this project were achieved in the first instance by the creation of a new 280 backwater channel with three settling ponds and a sluice structure. The back channel connects with the river and an existing culvert/drainage point off the nearby main road. The ponds and back channel in the first instance allow for any nitrate and phosphate heavy water coming through the culvert to be settled and filtered. The back channel is also excellent in times of high flows at providing fish refuges, especially for fish fry which are in danger of being washed downstream in flood events. It will also provide an interface between the river and the bank side which will allow some interesting and diverse flora to develop. Finally, by connecting the river with the floodplain it creates additional riparian habitat and has a small but meaningful impact on flooding by increasing storage in the floodplain, outside of Chelmsford.
The other aim of the project, namely to increase the resilience of the wet woodland. Was created by installing a sluice at the far end of an existing ditch. Unlike the other sluice this captures rain water and holds it back on the landward side, this has been set at a level that is higher than previous levels and will effect a raise in water off approximately 50 centimeters. The increased water levels have also allowed for additional planting to be undertaken that will extend the water by over half a hectare, there has also been some limited earthworks to spread the water over a wider area.
These works will keep the woodland wetter in the summer months, keeping Bramble under control and allowing a further establishment of the flora normally associated with wet woodlands.
2
This is a river and floodplain project including 15ha of floodplain and 2kms of main river. Reaches of the River Frome have been improved through removing raised embankments and hard stone bank protection. This allows for natural river processes to occur and reconnects the river and floodplain during high flow events.
Existing floodplain ditches have been re-profiled improving their habitat value while others have been created in a network including new scrapes.
Over 22,000 trees were planted in the project area as part of the wider project utilising Forestry Commission funds through the English Woodland Grant Scheme. +
B
This is a summary of a project undertaken by Aberdeenshire Council to restore a section of the Burn of Balmaleedy, upstream of the village of Marykirk. The restoration aims to restore the natural fluvial morphology of the section of the burn to reduce sediment mobilisation and transport, bringing benefits for flood management in the local area.
The Burn of Balmaleedy is a small tributary of the River North Esk. The burn flows roughly 3km southwest from its source into Marykirk, where it passes through two culverts under the A937. It then flows a further 1km along a low gradient section to the south to join the main river. From anecdotal evidence, a 300m section of the watercourse was previously straightened in the mid-late 1990’s. The canalised section of the burn exhibited a steep gradient, accelerating flows through the reach, resulting in channel incision (down to a depth of 3m) and bank erosion. This led to an increased amount of sedimentation occurring downstream in Marykirk, particularly around the A937 culverts and in the low gradient section of the watercourse. As a result, the conveyance of the channel has been greatly reduced, increasing flood risk in Marykirk and to the A937.
The project aims are:
• To restore the natural fluvial morphology of a previously straightened 300m section of the Burn of Balmaleedy
• To reduce the mobilisation and downstream transportation of sediment
• To reduce flood risk in and around Marykirk
The Burn of Balmaleedy Restoration Project has been undertaken by Aberdeenshire Council. SEPA's Water Environment Fund has also contributed to the problem by providing some of the funding.
We welcome any comments.
For any further information regarding this project please contact:
Gavin Bissett - Flooding and Coast Protection, Aberdeenshire Council, Carlton House, Stonehaven AB39 2QP (01569 768475) +
E
This is an action that will address the full decontamination of the channel and to solve problems of ecosystem degradation and pollution caused by surface water and groundwater so that the natural action is capable of, in the future, retrieve and maintaining good ecological conditions of the middle and upper reach. The project is based on performances in the Magro River and in its tributaries.
The main objective of this project is to improve ecological quality of Magro River and its tributaries, ensuring its future maintenance. The project has a total budget of 3.879.909 € and is financed by the Ministry of Environment. +
F
This is an ambitious initiative to remove the tidal sluice structure & adapt flood defences to maintain protection. Length of project depends on planform design. The tidal sluice at the confluence with the Thames produces poor water quality and prohibits fish and eel migration +
R
This is an integrated restoration programme in a Mediterranean catchment with a significant conservation value. R. Odelouca drains about 520 km2 and flows along 83 km from an altitude of 509 m, discharging at about sea level into the Arade estuary. The basin drains mainly schists and greywackes from the Carbonic period. The climate is Mediterranean with oceanic influence, with warm to hot, dry summers and cool, wet winterThe construction of the River Odelouca dam for improving water supply in the Algarve region of south Portugal, located in Natura 2000 protected area, involved the definition of a variety of compensation measures including environmental requalification of selected river segments not affected by the reservoir. We cover the whole sequence of the project: a) characterization and selection of reaches to rehabilitate based on the definition of physiographic units and the relative quantification of impacts; b) implementation of soil engineering techniques for improving riparian habitat, bank stability and to control invasive species c) defining best river channel habitat improvement options for endangered endemic fish populations using two-dimensional hydraulic modeling (R2D); d) post-project appraisal and monitoring of floristic succession, fish, benthic fauna and habitat . +
This is an intervention to restore a wetland on the agricultural land of the "Giardino di Ninfa" Regional Natural Monument. This project was managed by the Italian Center for River Restoration (CIRF) and funded by the Lazio Region and the Caetani Foundation.
It concerned in particular the Ninfa area and was designed to improve the aquatic ecosystem as a whole.
In particular, interventions carried out were:
(i) creation of new habitats conducive to the recovery and conservation of regressed plant and animal associations;
(ii) reconstruction of a small portion of the original landscape of the Pontine Marshes where the medieval city of Ninfa was located;
(iii) realization of a concrete reference experience in the field of environmental recovery of agricultural areas, artificial canals, riparian zones, as supporting elements for the creation of ecological networks of different scale.
The restoration plan was started in the mid-1990s of the last century. The realization of the wet areas took a long time in 2003. The project was completed in 2009, the year in which Pantanello became usable for a conscious and sustainable tourism. The intervention, although not expressly planned for this purpose, succeeded in expanding a core area of the ecological network (the site IT6040002 "Ninfa - aquatic environments") which was rapidly colonized by many species of interest, demonstrating the strong propensity in the Agro Pontino to re-naturalization.
In a nutshell, the project actions implemented were the following:
- morphological remodeling
- realization of the new hydraulic structure of the area
- completion of the planting of plant plants
- creation of structures to attract wildlife
- creation of facilities for the visit and educational use of the area
- restoration of Podere Pantanello
- restoration of the Podere Ninfa II
- complete conversion to a natural layout of the riparian strip of the Ninfa River.
The basins: The shore line of the 5 basins was traced according to the original topography; in this way it was necessary to carry out content restorations of material only for the basins D and E, near the overflow threshold. The first 3 ponds (A, B, C) have a maximum depth of 0.5 meters, with an intermediate isobath of 0.2 m (B) and 0.3 m (A, C), while basins D and E reach and exceed 1 meter in depth. The morphometric trend of the laminar ponds and of the deepest one (sinuosity of the isobaths, relative distances and progressive depths) is such as to reproduce the natural wetlands; also the water lines connecting the basins are traced with the same naturalness criterion; especially for the section between the basins C and E, almost 200 meters long and with a 2-meter difference in height, partly through design indications and partly due to natural evolution, a lotic environment has emerged characterized by small pools and insights, useful for the ascent of the fish fauna. In basin E, intended mainly for the development of avifauna, a portion emerged (islet) of about 30 cm above the water level; the contour of the shoreline, very jagged and oriented against the prevailing winds coming from the southern quadrants, was designed to allow the poultry fauna, step or sedentary, to find the ideal conditions for nesting.
The marshes: Along the riparian strip of the Ninfa river, subjected to a landscape constraint for a width of 150 meters, no earth movements were carried out that could alter the morphology of the land. However along the most depressed sector of this area, contained in the 21.5 m islet in the areas not served by the surface drainage grid, in the seasons of greater rainfall, a natural tendency to swamping is observed, which has been further emphasized following the abandonment of the current network of school girls created for the previous agricultural management of the funds in question. This evolution has made it possible to recover, for naturalistic purposes, a not inconsiderable portion of the area, without interfering with the binding regime, thus recreating "swimming pools" and marshes, paranatural environments of extreme interest since substantially regulated by seasonal, evolved weather and climate conditions , over the years, towards conditions of self-reliance.
The perimeter embankment: Its function is to obtain the necessary quotas, where the topography is more depressed, to set the shore line of the basin E to the 22.5 meter height, thus avoiding a greater deepening of the excavation to reach the required liquid volumes. It develops for a length of about 1,200 meters, has a trapezoid section, with slope slope of less than 10%, width of the driveway of 4 meters and a maximum height of 3.5 meters from the ground level (average h of 1 , 5 meters). The choice of the soft profile satisfies two different needs: on the one hand it minimizes the impact created by an elongated relief on a flat morphology, on the other it allows the use of a significant amount of material coming from the excavations.
The observatory: It consists of an embankment built with the redundant earth movements not used for the perimeter embankment of basin E. It is located near the Arboretum and reaches a height of about 5 meters from the ground level (on the south side) of about 5 meters in order to offer a panoramic view over the whole area. The ascent to the observatory and the descent towards the Lestra, have the gradients contained within 8% in order to allow access also to the disabled. The south-facing slope is shaped with larger slopes to allow the nesting of some rupicolous species.
The recovery of the Casale Pantanello and the artifacts associated with it concerns the western summit of the property at a distance of about 1000 m from the SCI limits. The action also involved the reclamation and redevelopment of the area surrounding the Casale. In addition to the removal of crumbling materials and structures, the abatement of unstable and / or diseased plants, an adequate soil tillage was carried out with the addition of vegetable soil, the creation of natural lawn (according to the principles of "wildflowers"), the creation of shrub arboreal hedges along the street front and along the consortium canalization at the back of the house, in addition to the formation of small shrub tree shrubs at the planting of isolated plants.
The recovery of Podere Ninfa II, destined to host the operational-educational center on the ground floor and the accommodation for the caretaker on the first floor.
B
This is an urban project, which aims to return an on-line boating lake on the Ballymoney River, to a productive salmonid stream. The impetus for the project was the ongoing cost of dredging the boating lake, which stimulated broader thinking towards a more sustainable plan for the site. Following a flood risk assessment, a scheme was agreed which entailed; the removal of a low weir, the restoration of a natural channel width, the restoration of natural substrate , the creation of in-channel features and the creation of wetland floodplain habitat which will provide flood storage.
The project will be used as a demonstration site for multi-benefit restoration in an urban environment, and as an example of multi-agency working and funding.
Works included: Removal of low weir to permit natural sediment transport. +
This multi-award winning partnership project built on a £4.5 million flood and coastal risk management (FCRM) scheme to improve the integrity and capacity of this flood storage washland, providing better protection to over 570 homes and businesses. The scheme provides a large, wildlife-rich, community parkland in one of east London's most deprived communities ((Map 1). This includes 12.6ha of Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) habitat, 150m of remeandering on the Wantz Stream, 600m of reprofiling and 300m of in-channel features on the River Beam. The project was completed in 2012; maintenance is funded and delivered by partners.
Increasing the storage capacity of the existing washlands from 433,000m3 to 458,660m3 provides a standard of protection to downstream properties for (approximately) up to a 1 in 25 year flood event. The provision and operation of the pumping stations provides an enhanced standard of protection of up to 1 in 150 years. This reduces the risk of flooding to 570 homes and 90 businesses. The flood risk regulation benefits of undertaking this project provide a gross asset value of avoided flood damage benefits worth £591,000 per year compared with £193,000 per year before the scheme was constructed.
'''Socioeconomic/historic context'''
Eftec (2015) states that:
'Beam Parklands is a multi-use community space and flood storage area situated in the south-east of
the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham. The site lies on the borough boundary between
Dagenham and South Hornchurch. Historically, the land has been used for a variety of different
purposes. In the Victorian era, a smallpox isolation hospital was constructed on part of the site.
However, for the majority of the 20th century, the site was open space and was eventually designated
as part of the Green Belt to protect the openness of the corridor along the Beam River'.
Before the recent flood risk management scheme discussed here, the majority of the land area (Beam
Washlands) was owned and managed as a flood storage area by the Environment Agency. A smaller pocket of land was owned by the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham for use as park space. This was largely unmanaged with low levels of accessibility for some nearby communities, contributing to high levels of deprivation in the area, and subject to instances of antisocial behaviour.
'''Flood risk problem(s)'''
The River Beam is a tributary of the River Thames, which flows through east London. The river starts in
Essex and flows as the Bourne Brook and River Rom before its confluence with the Ravensbourne.
From there, the River Beam flows south to the River Thames, joining the Thames at Dagenham. The
River Beam forms the boundary between the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham and the
London Borough of Havering.
The River Beam catchment is a relatively small area and the river has a ‘flashy’ (quick) response to
heavy rainfall events. The river level will rise relatively quickly, but will also fall quickly if floodwater can
drain into the River Thames freely. However, if water levels in the River Thames are high, there is a ‘tide-lock’ effect on the River Beam, meaning that water is not discharged and the volume of water in
the river channel increases.
The lower reaches of the River Beam are heavily urbanised in the south Dagenham and Dagenham
Dock areas. The land use is mixed including residential, education, leisure and recreation, retail and
industrial property. Beam Parklands (the washlands) provides an upstream flood storage area which
protects the south Dagenham and Dagenham Dock areas from fluvial (river) flooding from the River
Beam. Downstream of the confluence, the River Beam and Wantz Stream sluices along the A1306
road can be closed during periods of high tide in the River Thames (which prevents discharge from the
River Beam via the tide-lock effect). This causes water to spill into the washlands from the River Beam.
When the washlands are full, water is returned to the river via a spillway. If the fluvial flow were to top
the washlands, pumps are operated at the Beam Tidal and Gores Brook pumping stations
M
This phytoremediation project aims to rehabilitate 100 m of the riverbanks in the Matanza-Riachuelo river which was characterized in 2013 by Green Cross Switzerland as one of the ten most polluted sites in the World. Nowadays, the river basin is subjected to different types of contaminants from agricultural and urban runoff, industrial effluents, sewage treatment plants and leaching from domestic garbage dumps.
Through the enhancement of native vegetation with high phytoremediation capability the project aims to improve 1) the quality of life of the urban residents through the revitalization of public space; 2) the environmental recovery in all its components (water, air and soil). +
D
This pilot retrofit SuDS project was a result of collaboration between the Environment Agency, Nottingham City Council, Groundwork Greater Nottingham and Severn Trent Water. The construction phase was completed in May 2013.
The scheme was designed to achieve the following objectives;
•Document and evaluate the design and construction of a series of rain gardens within an existing highway setting.
•Maximise surface water interception, attenuation and infiltration.
•Test the effectiveness of rain gardens in managing surface water from the public highway.
•Encourage participation from local residents in the design and future management of the rain gardens.
•Evaluate the effectiveness of the scheme as an engagement tool around the sources of urban diffuse pollution and flood risk.
•Highlight the role that retrofit SuDS can play in improving the quality and reducing the volume of surface water flowing to urban watercourses.
Increase community awareness of urban catchment challenges. +
C
This project aimed to overcome a barrier to migratory fish to allow access to over 10km of habitat. A feasibility and options report led to the selection of removal as a preferred option. Design of the removal option took place in Winter 2015/2016, and the removal process began in August 2016 (completing within one month).
There were significant volumes of sediment that had accumulated behind the weir so the project had a strong element of hydromorphological restoration, as well as enabling fish passage. Any large stone located within the sediment was reused to create rock steps in the new channel, with the remainder being disposed of in line with waste regulations. These also acted as bed checks to guard against upstream incision, although in reality plentiful bedrock outcrops also served this purpose.
A disused sluice gate downstream of the weir site was also removed to ensure effective fish passage.
Finally, the left bank of the river channel is relatively steep and a public road is situated at the top of it. In order to stabilise this bank and guard against erosion, mixed seed-impregnated erosion protection matting has been installed. +
R
This project aimed to stabilise a highly erodible bank consisting mainly of colliery shale by using a green, visually appealing method. Rock rolls and live willow bundles (faggots) were placed to protect toes. The upper bank was protected using high performance erosion control mats and native willow cutting. Locally occurring riverside grasses and rushes were planted to revegetate the marginal areas.
The River Restoration Centre would like to thank David Holland from Salix River & Wetland Services Limited for providing the information and photographs for this case study. +
O
This project aimed to:
(1) Remove 480 kg P per year – equals ¾ of the total Phosphorus loading to Kul Lake;
(2) Remove 18 tons N per year or 114 kg/N/ha per year;
(3) Stoppage of vegetation cutting and dredging;
(4) Removal of all dams/weirs in the entire watershed;
(5) Ensure habitat for the orchid Coralroot (Corallorhiza trifida) and Western marsh orchid (Dactylorhiza majalis;
(6) Improve habitat for the European brook lamprey (Lampetra planeri) and Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra; and
(7) Open the area to the public for recreation – 37 km of trials.
The restoration activities in the first 65 hectares included:
(1) Restoring 1.3 km of stream;
(2) Raised the stream bed 50 – 80 cm;
(3) Crushed/removed 25 drain systems and 7 ditches;
(4) Spawning grounds every 20 meters in the stream – 650 m3 gravel;
(5) 15.2 hectares of permanent/semi-permanent wetlands;
(6) 8.5 hectares of seasonally flooded wetlands;
(7) 6 hectares of seepage wetlands from removing drains; and
(8) Area is fenced to allow grazing over entire area – special agreements between land owners.
The River Restoration Centre would like to thank Matthew William Cochran, from ORBICON, for providing the information and photographs for this case study. +
R
This project aimes to improve the habitat conditions of fast-growing sea trout (salmo trutta) in the Grobruelva river in the Lier municipality (Viken). They are impaired by re-routing of side arms, regulation of the main channel and pollution (roads and agriculture). First measures to counter pollution have been implemented (new pipe for sewage runoff). Habitat improving measures are planned, but have not been conducted yet. More information is expected soon and will be updated. +
M
This project aims to improve the WFD status of all 15 water bodies in the Midlothian Esk catchment by easing barriers to migratory fish. It is at the first stage of gathering information and scoping out what easements are possible.
The project is funded by the Water Environment Fund. The first phase of the project involves scoping studies on the main barriers in the system, and planning a phased approach to barrier easements over the 2nd River Basin Planning Cycle.
All 15 water bodies in the Midlothian Esk catchment are downgraded to poor for fish passage, where there are 8 known barriers for fish migration. All barriers are high up SEPAs priority list: the priorities range from number 7 to number 16 on the list.
At least 41 other weirs occur within the catchment and these will also be visited to ensure there are no other barriers missed: it is highly likely that some of these will prevent fish migration. +
B
This project aims to improve the morphology, biodiversity and flood risk management of the Boghead, Bog Burn and Logie Waters which are tributary of the River Avon (Falkirk) which run through Bathgate, West Lothian. The watercourses are currently categorised as Bad for morphology under RBMP and have multiple other issues including fish passage (being addressed separately) as well as flood and amenity issues. This project therefore brings together SEPA, West Lothian Council, Forth Fisheries Trust and the local community to improve the water course.
The project is currently at scoping stage to assess the works required. it is likely that the works will be delivered with a mixture of engineered and low tech solutions.
Part of this work is funded by Heritage Lottery Fund as part of the Almond Avon Reconnection Programme.
Now part of the RiverLife: Almond & Avon project. Two sections involve remeandering the channel and one includes instream woody debris and berms.
Works have been put on hold due to land contamination, although designs are complete and we are hopeful that works will start later in the year.
The RiverLife: Almond & Avon Project is a Scottish Government, SEPA, West Lothian and City of Edingburgh Councils and Heritage Lottery Funded collaborative project managed by the River Forth Fisheries Trust and includes multiple capital projects including the Bathgate Water, Easement of 7 barriers on the Almond, works on the Upper Avon and Killandean. The project is planned to continue from Summer 2016 to Summer 2020. +
O
This project aims to incorporate and tackle many important issues through a integrated approach to catchment management. The core reason for the project was to setup a demonstration site for Natural Flood Management, however, this project also delivers a wide range of multiple benefits. It also identified the mechanisms that enable effective deliver by working with multiple landowners in a small subcathment. Collectively, working towards a natural capital approach which enables a wide range of public goods to be delivered through a multiple funding sources.
The main deliverables for this project has been:
installing leaky dams,
construction of earth bunds,
increasing riparian buffer strips,
tree planting,
scrape creation.
We have run engagement events to a number of groups (farmers, flood effected communities, other rivers trusts and partners), to increase awareness, inspire and encourage more Natural Flood management and partnership work to be delivered. +
A
This project aims to restore the morphology and habitat of a 600m section of moderately high energy river and its floodplain by removing significant artificial constraints (man made embankments and boulders. Over the years these have canalised the water course from a multi braided to a single channel. By kick starting the process the intention is that over time the watercourse will do its own work to re-establish a natural equilibrium. In September 2012, five artificial embankments were lowered by the removal of over 900m3 of material. In stream boulders were removed and replaced with large wood structures. Additional wood structures were introduced in key locations and some of the extracted gravel was graded and stockpiled ready to be used for sediment reintoduction. Culvert pipes were removed from the floodplain and one large drainage ditch was in filled. +
B
This project builds upon two previously successful restoration projects in partnership between the EA and National Trust (landowner) that involved channel narrowing and adding gravel riffles. Its aims were to further increase floodplain connectivity and complexity, create wetlands and to restore natural river processes. To help the river come out of bank and onto its floodplain more frequently woody material jams were created using a combination of willow and alder along with discrete areas of floodplain lowering. The floodplain complexity was improved by adding fallen wood across it along with tree planting to ensure longer term wood supply for the river. Floodplain willows were hinged both into the river and on the floodplain. Shallow scrapes were dug to create areas of standing water and imitation Beaver Dam were installed to encourage areas of deeper wetland. Frequently wetted, lowland floodplain is a very important but rare habitat type that delivers many ecosystem services benefits. Its restoration usually involves the movement of lots of spoil at high cost. This work is innovative in that it involves the use of lower cost, less intensive and more natural methods. +