Property:Project summary
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G
In April 1998 there was a breach in a tailings pond in the Guadiamar River area, causing a spill of 6 million cubic hectometres of sludges with a high concentration of heavy metals (zinc, lead, arsenic, copper, antimony, thallium, cadmium).
The objectives of this project were the Guadiamar River ecological restoration, removal of sludge and effluent pollutants, and creating a green corridor. In addition, we conducted a strategic planning for the different communities of macroinvertebrates, fish, reptiles, birds... The project included several monitoring programs and analysis, in particular, water quality, to see if the level of pollutants had decreased.
This project of restoration and recovery of the area was carried out between 1998 and 2005. The total budget for carry out the rehabilitation and restoration of 62 Km of the Guadiamar River was 165.396.261€. The financing came from the MARM and the Consejería of Environment, Andalucía. +
R
In August 2006 the Foundation's work extended into the English side of the border: A project to increase angling tourism to the river Wye and its tributaries in Herefordshire was approved by Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). With falling numbers of anglers (and, as a consequence, investment) the infrastructure of many middle Wye fisheries had fallen into disrepair - eroded croys, lost paths and tracks, derelict huts, overgrown banks etc were all too common sights.
Part-funded through the (DEFRA) Rural Enterprise Scheme (RES), the Foundation facilitated work to restore neglected infrastructure and to promote angling on this section of the Wye. Increased visitor numbers increased revenues for fishery owners, encouraging re-investment into the river. Also more business was brought to local accommodation providers and other angling related businesses. 42 fishery infrastructure sites on the Herefordshire Wye were improved within the project, with priority given to those fisheries that offered better tourism opportunities (i.e. those not held for private use or limited syndicate), either through the Passport scheme or their own marketing scheme. In addition, 6km of river habitat improvement was completed, chiefly in the Lugg and Arrow catchment.
Achievements
• 6.8 ha of Fish Habitat Restoration
• 43 Capital Improvements to fishery
infrastructure sites
• 35 New Beats to Passport Scheme
- Booking Office
• 1,436 Angler Days Sold in England (sold in England from August 2008 to July 2010)
• 26.9% of fishing beats let from
Hay to Monmouth
• 30 Accommodation Providers assisted
• 3 FTE jobs created
The fishing of the middle Wye has been an important addition to the 'Wye & Usk Passport' scheme. For salmon anglers, being at the right part of the river at the right time is crucial and often difficult to achieve. Salmon fishing is now available over 100 miles of the Wye under the Passport scheme. The RES project also tapped into the huge coarse fishing potential of the middle river to provide fishery owners and local accommodation providers with much-needed 'year round' revenue.
Other achievements included the innovative use of modern technology. For the first time, anglers can now view river heights and clarity via the Foundation's website, giving them a much clearer idea on the kind of conditions that await them. The project funded 4 cameras: two on the Wye; one on the Monnow and one on the Lugg and Arrow system. In addition, the project funded the development of our first Online Booking System, enabling anglers to quickly secure their fishing with a few clicks of a mouse.
The RES Project provided a much needed boost for the fisheries of Herefordshire, which had declined to their lowest economic level in recent history. Anglers from across the UK and abroad are now aware of what the Herefordshire Wye and tributaries has to offer. From this very encouraging start, generated in a mere 8 months from a very modest budget, we can confidently predict ongoing growth with significant future economic benefits to the County.
A
Austria cross-border section - River widening measure Gosdorf I (Interreg IIIa Project "Maßnahmen Unteres Murtal" 2002-2007) +
In Gosdorf along a 1,000 m long and 150 m wide stretch, the Mur restored natural riverbed structures such as side-arms, undercut and slip-off slope banks, gravel banks, potholes and fords. Optimal conditions were created for the development of a natural river, bank and alluvial forest areas. The gravel carried in by floodwater stabilises the bed of the river Mur and thus, the ground water level. The construction of a side-arm and the tipping of the excavation material into the river Mur (in total: 150,000 m³) have speeded up the developments described above.
During the construction work threatened species already started to inhabit the new structures: The Nose Carp, a rheophile (current-loving) fish, spawned in the side-arm, Sand Martins were able to utilise an undercut bank for their nesting tunnels while Common Sand Pipers nested on the newly-formed gravel banks. In future also new structures with their typical natural colonisations will be formed again in harmony with the flow conditions of the river Mur, due to the renaturation of extreme and deficient locations. Within the next years, further 750,000 m³ of gravel may be mobilised by dynamic riverbed erosion during higher water flow of the river Mur. Thus, the gravel, which is missing in the cross-border catchment, will be compensated and thereby contribute to the stabilisation of the riverbed and the groundwater balance.
At the location of the river widening an observation tower offers the chance to take a bird´s eye view of the entire restored area at a glance. Step by step, the visitor may range over the individual “storeys” of the alluvial forest.
GerambRose 2010:
The measure river widening Gosdorf of the project Interreg IIIa Project "Maßnahmen Unteres Murtal" 2002-2007 was awarded on 17.09.2010 with the GerambRose.
The GerambRose is awarded in Styria in appreciation for services that maintain or create high-quality architecture. Neither the owner, the designer nor the performers, but their collective effort, the building, is the focus point of the price.
The theme of the GerambRose 2010 was dedicated to the "public spaces". Together with the river widening Weyern (Upper Mur) and Schladming (Enns) a prize was awarded.
K
In Keent, a nature area was developped. The former river bed was partly dug out and connected to the Meuse River. Keent was made into an island, surrounded with water and nature. The result of the project is a wide gulley in the middle of forests, valleys, swamps and recreational facilities. Also the water level in the Meuse river was lowered by 3.5 cm. Horses and cows graze the area to combat the growth of trees and bushes. +
F
In March 2010 the Foundation started a 21 month EAW Wild Fishing Wales funded project on the Afon Llwyd. In partnership with Torfaen County Borough Council, Cwmbran Angling Association and Pontypool Angling Club, the project was designed to improve salmon, sea trout and brown trout stocks in this lower Usk tributary that joins the main river just upstream of Newport.
Once one of the most polluted rivers in the UK, Afon Llwyd was "cleaned up" in the '80s and though it receives the occasional mine water discharge, it is now able to support salmonids. Recently, Environment Agency Wales completed a fish pass to allow fish to ascend the first weir upstream of the tide at Pontymoel.
The project has involved litter removal, invasive weed eradication and other habitat improvements such as coppicing and erosion-preventing revetments. The EAW's Wild Fishing Wales program's objective is, as the name suggests, to increase fishing opportunities. Within FOAL, riverside paths have been made safe and assistance provided for partially disabled anglers. Some the Llwyd's fishing has also been included in the Foundation's Wye & Usk Passport.
One of the first actions under the FOAL project was to lower a weir that blocks the path of migrating fish further upstream at Tynantddu, Pontypool. This was followed by work to the weir upstream at Cwmafon. In addition, we have increased the salmonid spawning habitat of the river, little of which existed upstream of Pontypool, by constructing 'V' weirs to trap gravel and create suitable areas.
Progress:
2010
March
Meeting of partners. Consents applied for weir removal at Tynantddu.
April
First litter clearance. Upper catchment survey.
May
Weir removed at Tynantddu.
August
Weir at Cwmafon removed.
September
Japanese Knotweed spraying.
October
Revetment to repair erosion at Llanyrafon.
December
Coppicing trees below Cwmbran.
2011
The coppicing for the winter period concluded, it was time to reflect on the successes of 2010 and set the stage for work in the second phase of the project during 2011.
March: In partnership with the TCBC and EAW it was deemed necessary to mitigate for the loss of Torfaen’s only known Sand Martin nesting site at Llanyrafon. The site was lost when the eroded riverbank was restored to prevent further loss of playing fields. This was unknown territory for everyone concerned with the project and definitely a first for the area. Following advice and with plans from the Sand Martin Trust, the Foundation had two artificial nest boxes manufactured by a local fabricator. Just before the migratory birds were due to return to Torfaen, the boxes were set in place on the revetment site where the old natural nest site used to be. Within two weeks the Sand Martins had returned and immediately took up residence in them. In fact, there seemed to be more pairs in residence than in previous years at the old site. The nest boxes were a huge success for the project and proved that with care and planning, environmental risks can be mitigated when a project such as the riverbank revetment takes place.
April: Volunteers sprayed Giant Hogweed at certain locations in Pontypool and Cwmbran. No further sightings reported. Sites surveyed with Cwmbran Anglers for best places to construct disabled fishing access ramps and platforms.
May: Survey Afon Lwyd with EA staff to decide on sites for gravel traps. Local farm contractor constructed four log gravel traps in the Afon Lwyd below Cwmavon.
June: Litter pick at Llanyrafon with KWT and volunteers. 1 skip full of rubbish removed. Disabled fishing access platform and ramp under construction. Site sought for erection of the WFW plaque.
July: Afon Lwyd litter pick in the boating lake area. 30+ bags rubbish collected along with shopping trolleys etc.
Disabled angling platform and ramp completed and checked.
Mount for WFW slate plaque manufactured by local woodworker and woodcarver.
WFW plaque fixed adjacent to the river at Northfields car park, Llanyrafon. Local volunteers involved in the ground preparation and fixing.
Disabled angler signs erected near platform and access ramps. The WFW plaque unveiling at Northfields car park was very well attended by local dignitaries and project partners.
August: Surveys undertaken with local authority staff to determine sites for forthcoming Japanese Knotweed spraying and coppicing season. Plans put in place to construct an artificial otter holt in the grounds of Pontypool Park. This project would be undertaken by local volunteers. Litter pick at Pontypool Park with KWT and volunteers. 2 skips filled, one with rubbish and the other with scrap metal. 12 volunteers gave up their day to help with this clean up.
September: An artificial otter holt constructed from logs was constructed on the riverbank within Pontypool Park. 16 volunteers, including 8 local scouts, participated in this event. Japanese Knotweed spraying on both banks of the Afon Lwyd through Cwmbran Park with WUF staff and volunteers. Electrofishing Afon Lwyd with EA staff took place with varying results. It was encouraging to find salmon fry in the river upstream of where the Tynantddu weir was altered.
October: The Japanese Knotweed spraying programme continued and showing excellent results. Coppicing of mostly alder and sycamore started at upper end of Cwmbran Park by a WUF habitat team 2 gravel traps constructed in the main river at Abersychan.
November: Coppicing and spraying programmes completed early in the month. Gravel traps surveyed with EA for amount of clean gravels required to complete the project.
C
In May 2006 the low level of the reservoir Buendia caused that the dam used to supply the town of Alcocer became an insuperable obstacle to the cyprinids, which prompted the Provincial Delegation of MN and D.R. of the province of Cuenca and various groups, asked for help from the Tagus River Basin.
The main solution was the construction of a fish scale to overcome the weir and allow passage upstream of cyprinids. +
G
In November 2007, the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation granted funds to the Wye & Usk Foundation for an invasive weeds eradication project in the Wye and Usk catchments. The three year project was supported by the Environment Agency Wales, Countryside Council for Wales, Natural England and Keep Wales Tidy.
Our catchments are under a very considerable threat from at least three species of invading weed. Rivers and streams are the ideal vector for carrying seeds and plants downstream. They can, however invade upstream via a number of vectors. Our concern is for the loss of biodiversity and, since these plants smother the native species that armour the river banks, the increased erosion that will occur.
The invading trio of species includes:
Giant Hogweed - Heracleum mantegazzianum
• Perennial – grows 5 -7m.
• Member of parsley family.
• Arrived in UK 1893 from Caucasus.
• Sap causes serious rashes when skin exposed to sunlight. Can cause blindness.
• Can be controlled by spraying, grazing, cutting or digging- up.
• Spraying with Glyphosphate (Round Up) is a successful treatment.
• Spread by rivers and seeds last 3 or more years.
Japanese Knotweed - Fallopia japonica
• Arrived in UK (South Wales) late 19th century.
• 2 – 3m height but spreads 7m horizontally.
• Perennial Rhizome.
• Edible (the early shoots!).
• Female only in UK but can Hybridise with Himalayan Knotweed.
• Can be spread via small cut pieces.
• Estimated to cost £1.56 billion to eradicate in UK (2007).
• Significant issue for developers (eg Olympic grounds).
• Can be sprayed with round up but can prove resistant.
• Can hybridise with Himalayan Knotweed which has male flowers.
Himalayan balsam - Impatiens glandulifera
• Arrived UK in 1839.
• Annual - grows 2m typically on river banks.
• Suffocates native plants if unchecked.
• Approx 800 seeds can last 2 years.
• Can be treated by spraying, pulling or cutting.
• Causes increased erosion to river banks.
Giving up the Weed: How the project operated.
The grant was used to pay for:
• Plotting of all Invasive weeds on a database as currently known and received from reports (years 1-3).
• Training five staff in the techniques of spraying (year 1).
• Eradicating Giant Hogweed in the Wye (Glasbury downstream for over 80km in the spring (Years 1-3).
• Eradicating all Himalayan Knotweed in both catchments (year 1).
• Eradicating all Japanese Knotweed starting from extremities of the Usk and Wye (years 1-3).
• Developing volunteer networks to manage Himalayan balsam.
• Investigating the legal position in respect of liability for spread.
• Study the effects of fencing out buffer strips and the effect on invasive weeds.
Budget:
The Esmee Fairbairn Foundation grant of £94,000 over three years was added to contributions from WUF, Environment Agency Wales, Countryside Council for Wales and Natural England to give a total budget of just under £150,000.
Project Results:
The project enabled the development of a logistical system to manage the massive problem of Giant Hogweed and Japanese Knotweed in the Usk and Wye. In the first three years, over 125km of double bank was sprayed for Giant Hogweed (4,000+ plants), with 337 stands of Japanese knotweed, 3 stands of Himalayan knotweed and 1 stand of Lesser knotweed also sprayed.
The project also extended to mink and Signal crayfish trapping in areas of Wales where water voles may still be present and WUF also publicised the spread of other invasives such as the Killer Shrimp (Dikerogammerus villosus), which have been found in Cardiff Bay and a lake near Port Talbot.
2011 Onwards...
Since 2011, the invasive species eradication programme has continued with funding from Natural Resources Wales, Natural England, Beacons Trust and riparian owners. Enemy number one - Giant hogweed - has almost been seen off although seeds can remain in the soil for more than eight years. Vigilance is therefore required to ensure any emerging seeds are dealt with before developing into seeding adult plants.
Japanese knotweed is reducing following our regular autumn spraying and we have found that spraying when the plant is in flower gives a much greater chance of eliminating it. Checking for regrowth is an important part of it – we rely on anglers, walkers and owners to keep us informed of any new stands.
Thus far we have treated 3,336 stands of Giant hogweed covering over 455km river, 488 stands of Japanese knotweed, 4 of Himalayan knotweed and 4 of Lesser knotweed.
Himalayan Balsam
Once it seemed that Himalayan balsam (HB) would continue its spread unhindered. Not only was it extremely successful in spreading downstream (and even upstream) but it is spreading inland from rivers too. However, the warm, dry spring of 2012 caused seeds to sprout early and young plants were first hit with a sharp April frost, killing any early germination. Then successive floods throughout the year put paid to later plants within the flood zone. Plants further away from the river did well but not everywhere: the Monnow Rivers Association, assisted with funding from this project, have sprayed all HB plants in their catchment and all they have to do now is mop up any missed stragglers.
Eradication can therefore be achieved with determination but for owners of the many hundreds of miles downstream of an infestation, managing the HB on their bank needs to be considered differently: spraying a section can lead to seeds finding it even easier to germinate on bare soil.
Following trials over several years, these are our recommendations for managing HB in these circumstances:
• Cut or pull plants in June/July and leave them where they fall.
• Follow up in early September - there’s always one or two plants that survive or recover.
• Using a hedge trimmer makes this less of a chore. It also deals with brambles, grasses, nettles and small trees.
• Following cutting, native plants recolonise unsprayed areas much more quickly.
• The majority of next year’s infestation comes from the seed of plants growing in the immediate vicinity.
When balsam plants die back in autumn, none of the native bank armouring plants are there to resist winter floods. Controlling total balsam cover will therefore help to reduce erosion. When all the Hogweed and Knotweed is under control, we will be focusing our efforts solely against balsam.
R
In Serquigny, the Charentonne is an urban river split into several strongly altered channels, due to hydropower production. The arm where the restoration works were carried out is fed by a weir upstream and underwent several dredging operations that left it overwidened, with a very low slope, morphologically homegeneous and affected by significant eutrophication. It is now located in a public garden of the town and within the Natura 2000 site "Risle, Guiel, Charentonne".
The weir was restored in order to ensure a minimum flow of 300 L/s and a fish pass was installed. Accumulated fine sediments were extracted and used to create vegetated terraces, protected with bioengineerng techniques; a narrower, low flow channel was recreated, with higher slope. +
W
In Wettingen there is a great example of a small nature-like bypass channel at the weir Wettingen on the Limmat downstream from Zurich which surmounts the very big height of 18.30 m. Nature-like bypass channels total length is 620 m, discharge 0.4 m³/s and additional attraction water is 0.6 m³/s. Total difference in water level is 18.30 m with high mean slope 3 %.The lower section consists of a technical fish.
Whereas a near-nature water course was formed in the upper section, a rocky-cascade fishway with a height of 10 meters surmounts the biggest part of the altitude. Due to the limited space the
lower section consists of a vertical-slot-pass which is converted into a collection-gallery at the power house.
Leading back the water course to the power house is not possiblewhen it comes to bigger bypass channels.
Splitting the water into two branches offers a good solution for this small channel. The main branch continues towards the tailwater as a near-nature water course and ends further downstream, where a connection to the natural river bed is possible. The smaller second branch diverts from the main branch towards the power house and is formed as a vertical slot-pass.
The nature-like bypass channel has a trail on its side, so the residents can enjoy the lovely scenery and see some trouts when passing by. +
B
Bio-engineering and creation of side channels along the rectified section of the Scarpe River in Arras +
In a partnership with the Artois-Picardie water agency,
CUA launched ecological-restoration works on a
section of the Scarpe. The reaches most affected by
anthropogenic pressures were seen as the priority,
namely the entire section between Arras and SaintLaurent-Blangy.
A study by a specialised consulting firm recommended restoring natural banks
with a slight slope and improving the riparian
vegetation.
The metal sheet piles, initially installed for bank protection,
were deemed unsuitable and removed.
The banks were graded to a slight slope and stabilised
using techniques suited to the hydraulic constraints
weighing on each sector:
- helophyte rolls or calcareous landfill with geotextile
fabric in areas where the constraints are not severe;
- mixed techniques (gabion bed and vegetated geomats)
in areas subjected to greater constraints.
A total of 1 750 metres of bio-engineering bank-protection
techniques were installed.
A number of measures were taken for the riparian
vegetation, including planting of helophytes at the
foot of banks, seeding of work areas with a mix of
herbaceous plants, restoration of wooded areas by
planting white willows and elimination of the invasive
species found on site.
The top of the white willows was cut to encourage
the growth of buds and of the tree trunks. This pruning
technique will produce cavities that birds, small
mammals and insects can use.
A lagoon was also created as an alluvial “annex”
with two reed beds measuring 1 000 and 1 450 m² on
the site of the former turn-around point for péniche
barges in an effort to restore habitats for different
species, notably pike. +
A
Austria/Slovenia cross-border section - Interreg IIIa Project "Maßnahmen Unteres Murtal" 2003-2008 +
In accordance with the division designated for the INTERREG IIIA Project, the Lower Mur Valley habitat encompasses the Austrian border segment of the Mur River between Spielfeld and Sicheldorf (the “Grenzmur”), which forms the border to Slovenia, as well as the alluvial and cultural landscape bordering it to the north, with a total area of approx. 137 km². In western and eastern direction the area extends from Spielfeld all the way to the Austrian-Slovenian state border near Bad Radkersburg. This region encompasses the “Styrian Grenzmur with the Gamlitzbach and Gnasbach streams” European nature reserve, as well as, in part, the “Parts of the South-East Styrian hill country, including Höll and Grabenland streams” European nature reserve.
During the 5-year project (2003-2008), 220,000 m³ of bed load were added along a total stretch of 1,800 m in order to prevent any further depth erosion of the riverbed of the Mur. Furthermore 32 ha of dynamic Mur and alluvial habitat were created as well as a total of 45,000 m tributary streams were reactivated and/or extended. The total value of this four year project was 3.8 million €. 50% of the project was financed by the European Union (Interreg IIIa), whereas national contributions are distributed variably between project applicant and co-financers. +
R
In light of the winter 2013 to 2014 flooding, farmers asked the National Farmers Union (NFU) for assistance in developing pragmatic options to help reduce flood damages to agricultural businesses and rural communities. In an attempt to build consensus on developing community driven approaches to flood and coastal risk management (FCRM), a 2-part investigation based on the River Ray catchment in Oxfordshire was made by NFU South East.
• A survey of the attitudes of farmers in the catchment to conventional and novel approaches to flood risk management received responses from approximately 47% of all catchment landowners.
• A hydrological modelling study considered the relative impacts of various land use and land management scenarios on the severity of flooding events. Scenarios included comparisons between watercourse maintenance, pond creation/enhanced flood storage, soil compaction, urbanisation effects and climate change predictions.
The unconstrained modelling scenarios predicted:
• damage reductions of 61% (agricultural) and 64% (property) from watercourse maintenance
• 31–37% reduction in agricultural damages from additional pond storage
• ±34% (agriculture) and ±166% (urban) damage sensitivity from unconstrained soil compaction
• 15% damage increase from climate change
These are not 'real world' predictions but indicate the relative gains possible from a combination of approaches where consensus can be reached. +
N
In order to implement this scheme, and buy the majority of the Noard-Fryslân Bûtendyks summer polder complex, the NGO It Fryske Gea obtained funding from the EU LIFE nature programme(some €4.5million), and match (and additional) funding from the Dutch Directorate-General for Public Works and Water Management, the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality and the Province of Friesland. WWF and It Fryske Gea raised €0.5million. The Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality handled the land purchase. The objective was to transform a summer polder into a grazable saltmarsh – a semi-natural landscape with high vegetation diversity and as many (natural salt marsh) plant and animal species as possible. Most of the summer polder complex is to be realigned in stages over the 50 years or so (300ha are still in private hands, as the farmer did not want to sell). It Fryske Gea has decided on this staged approach as the summer polder complex is an important feeding ground for geese, and as a realigned polder takes a few years to develop goose-preferred vegetation; this approach will ensure relatively small amounts of feeding grounds are temporarily unavailable at any one time. The next stage, which will be implemented over the next 5 years, will amount to some 200ha (personal communication).
The Noorderleech realignment cost some €600,000 in total – €2,000 of which were spent on permits, and €20,000 on plan production. It Fryske Gea alone spent at least 5,000 man-hours on implementing the scheme. +
R
Reactivating river dynamics in the Vieux-Rhône River (non-navigable section) at Cornas, Roubion and Petite Île +
In order to improve the functioning of the river system
and facilitate the passage of flood waters, it was
decided to directly address the cause of habitat degradation
and lateral disconnection by removing the structures
created during the 1800s.
The experimental work undertaken was intended to
reverse the trend toward aggradation of the banks
and the river margins, still in progress even today, in
order to restore the hydraulic and ecological dynamics
of the river.
The study of historic aerial photos in June 2005, pertaining
particularly to the morphological evolution of the
Rhône around the city of Montélimar, revealed that
certain sites:
• had a number of favourable characteristics for work
to reactivate the river margins;
• did not appear to have any major vulnerabilities
concerning their ecological value or any heritage issues.
The mobilisation of sediment (self-dredging) by the
current appeared to be sufficient. Consequently, three
sites (Cornas, Roubion and Petite Île) were selected for
removal of the lateral dikes. +
S
In order to reduce eutrophication problems that severely impair the quality of the Venice lagoon waters, the local government
(the Veneto Region Authority), more than a decade ago,established a series of targets for the the reduction of nutrients that
flow into the lagoon. As a detailed example, The “Salzano wetland” restoration was completed by the consortium which was, until the mid-1980s, subject to mining of clay. Since this period this 60 ha site has gradually been restored. Today this site is characterized by a mosaic of habitats of different spatial extent. The main actions of the project were:
a) to create a system of new banks around a dry and with low ecological value portion (20 ha wide) of the extent wetland, and later to connect this area with the adjacent watercourse using gates to manage flows; b) reshaping the net of canals, ponds and pools inside this area to find the optimal residual time of the water to assure an efficient nutrient reduction; c) re-establish rare and endangered aquatic vegetation types (Carex elata, Cladium mariscus, Allium angulosum, Cirsium canum, Senecio paludosus, Typha laxmannii, Iris pseudacorus and Nuphar luteum) and monitor their development; d) create a new net of small channels to connect this restored wetland to the other portions; e) create a net of path and observation structures accessible to the public for recreation, educational and technical-scientific purposes. +
C
In partnership with the Environment Agency, the aim of the work was to improve downstream passage for young salmon and sea trout as part of the multi-million-pound LIFE Dee River project, led by Natural Resources Wales (NRW).
Located at the tidal limit of the Dee, Chester weir is 150 metres in length and 3 metres high. An existing canoe and fish gate was in place in the weir crest that had not functioned for over 20 years.
Prior to the work, young fish were often delayed on their downstream journey by the weir, particularly at low flows in the spring when there was not enough water to help them pass over the structure.
Unable to swim over such a large man-made barrier, fish would congregate above the weir and were more vulnerable to predation from birds and larger fish.
Work to dismantle the existing gate and surrounding structure was carried out during low tides by experienced local contractors, using a pontoon to transport materials across the river.
A new, specially fabricated stainless-steel gate was installed which is operated by a winch on the bank, allowing it to be opened and closed easily at key periods throughout the year. +
D
In the 1950s, the river Dommel was straightened, the water levels became lower and changes in land use practices led to increased input of nutrients, afforestation with exotic tree species and abandonment of extensive uses. Habitats and species decreased in variety in consequence.
The ‘Dommeldal’ project aimed to establish an ecological corridor between the heath habitats of the Hoge Kempen and the heath habitats in North Brabant by restoring habitats along the valley, supporting species migration along the river.
The project resulted in the restoration of valuable habitats from Peer in Flanders up to Valkenswaard in the Netherlands. Typical Campine nature, such as land dunes, heathlands, ponds, irrigated grasslands (‘vloeiweiden’), orchid-rich hayfields and alluvial forests, were restored, and new opportunities were created for threatened species, such as the European nightjar, the natterjack toad ( Epidalea calamita) and the alcon blue butterfly (Phengaris alcon).
As part of the project, many lots were swapped with local farmers to stop soil degradation and area loss. A total of 130 000 m3 nutrient-rich soil was removed and land topography was restored. A dozen ponds were created along with the easing of smooth transitions towards drier sandy land.
Around 25ha of uniform softwood stands at Hageven-De Plateaux were removed to restore heath habitats.
Hiking paths were reconstructed and new visitor guides were created to ensure local involvement. Also much information has been disseminated in the area, by means of information panels and exhibitions. Local farmers and volunteers associated with the beneficiary will be involved in the management of the area after the LIFE project. +
B
In the 1970s and mainly 1980s, the large scale regulation of water regime in the landscape was carried out over the whole country (at that time it was Czechoslovakia). The purpose was to increase self-sufficiency in agricultural production, which was desired by the communistic government. As a part of this effort (in many cases not cost beneficial), the water regime of Borova brook and its catchment area were also regulated.
In a large-scale drainage project (done in 1982-1984), the orginal meandering stream of the Borova brook was straightened and reduced. The stream bed was over deepened to a depth of 1.2-1.8m and stregthened by concrete blocks. At the same time, argricultural land in the catchment area (17.8 km2)of the brook was drained. The result of the intervention was a serious disturbance of the water regime in the whole catchment area and led to the degradation and decline of natural and semi-natural communities
The restration was undertaken in two phases. During the restoratio the length of the stream increased by 6.3 km. A shallow meandering streambed, where sections of speedily running water alternated with sections of a slow stream were created. The project was fully funded from the program for revitalization of river systems by the minitry of Environment. +
O
In the Guil and Durance Basin, side channels and off-channels features within the floodplain provide vital habitat to many juvenile and endemic brown trouts. Besides relatively sheltered rearing habitat, floodplain features provide important low velocity refugia during periods of high flow when fish remaining in the main channels are washed away.
these groundwater fed channels can be restored to provide valuable off-channel rearing habitat for trouts when these areas will no longer be created or naturally maintained as a consequence of hydro-modification, development, levee construction, incision or bank armoring that limit flooding and channel migration or dry the off-channels.
The key element of these sites is their perennial flow of generally cooler water in summer and warmer water in winter that increases fish survival and growth.
This restoration is particularly attractive for the high-energy Guil or Durance streams where flow extremes and channel instability often make it impractical to attempt rehabilitation of the main channel. Off-channel habitat rehabilitation can also be a
worthwhile option in the interior, where winter conditions may be severe in the main channel +
In the Oude Leij river, experiments are carried out with different techniques and frequencies of bank vegetation removal. The aim is to find out if a more extensive mowing regime can improve the river's ecological quality. To this end, the banks have been divided into 50 meter long blocks, in which vegetation is not removed for a period of one or two years. A block can be situated on just one side of the river or on both sides. +