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R
Several actions are performed to restore river continuity.
Obstacles (weirs, sluices, dams) are opened,
removed or fitted with fish passes.
Before the first fishway on the Calonne in 1982,
some fifteen or so obstacles in the Touques basin
had already been dismantled or opened to facilitate
flood evacuation. Almost 30 years on, 71 other obstacles
have been redeveloped, i.e.:
• 33 weirs removed, lowered or opened including the
removal of the Lisieux flap gate dam (implementation:
2007, project owner: commune of Lisieux - see
the corresponding example from the collection).
• 38 weirs equipped with fish passes including a
multi-species fishway on the Breuil-en-Auge dam
(implementation: 1999, project owner: Fishing
federation of Calvados) and the development of
4 fish passes on the Cirieux (implementation: 2008,
project owner: commune of Saint-Désir) <br>
As progress has been made, grants received by project owners have supported this programme: The Ministry of the Environment, Conseil supérieur de la pêche (CSP - now Onema), the départements of Calvados, Orne and Eure, the fishing federations of Calvados and Orne, European funds. Currently: the Seine-Normandie and the Region of Basse-Normandie water agency +
Sharpsbridge is a road bridge, with two culverts that carry flow under the road and an island in the channel downstream. The footings of the road bridge are formed of a solid concrete slab which acts as a weir, backing up flow. The height of the drop between the concrete slab and the water level was causing a barrier to fish passage. Previous work was undertaken to place rubble rock at the downstream extent of the concrete slab to enable fish migration; however, this began to function as an additional barrier. The aim of this project was to improve fish passage in one of the culverts, to allow free movement of fish upstream. In order to eliminate the barrier to fish passage, the water levels in the downstream weir pool were raised by the addition of a rock ramp structure.
Preparation
* The western channel was blocked using temporary dams and pumps to move water through the eastern side of the bridge. During high water flows, the dams were periodically removed to prevent flooding.
Works
* The existing rubble rock weir was removed.
* A 4.5 m wide rock ramp was constructed in-situ, using granular fill and geotextile at the base, concrete at the upstream end, and rock armour forming the surface of the ramp.
* Kentish ragstone (a hard limestone) was used for the main perturbation boulders because of its durability.
* Rocks were positioned approximately equidistant, with increasing height of rocks upstream, to ensure a smooth gradient of flow over the former head drop.
Post-construction works
* Works to rectify the site compound were undertaken. Signs were erected to divert canoeists around the eastern channel. +
S
Sheephouse Wood mine water treatment scheme addresses a long-standing coal mine water pollution problem associated with the Sheephouse Wood adit, in South Yorkshire, England.
The mine water treatment scheme is built on the site of the former Hand Bank Colliery, which closed in the 1930s. Fireclay was also previously mined on the site.
The original discharge was via a drainage adit running under the site located at a depth of 30 metres. This adit discharged into a drainage channel, which extends for approximately 2km bypassing the Underbank Reservoir.
In February 2002, a sudden outrush of contaminated mine water occurred which damaged a section of the major trunk road between Sheffield and Manchester (A616).
This was caused by a collapse in the adit, leading to water pressure building up in the workings. Remedial works were carried out on the adit and to repair the road but in 2005 another blockage in the adit led to water levels rising. This resulted in the majority of the flow emerging from a second discharge located a short distance to the north. Flow from this discharge affected a stretch of the Little Don River.
The Coal Authority stepped in to construct a scheme to treat the mine water and control water levels and pressure, in order to prevent significant outbreaks of pollution which had occurred at this site in the past. The scheme comprises of two lagoons and a reed bed to remove iron from the water prior to it being discharged into the local watercourse. +
R
Shopham Loop is a section of the river Rother, West Sussex between Coultershaw Bridge and Shopham Bridge. A cut was created in the 18th century to bypass the meander and enable passage of boats upstream. However after navigation ceased, the locks were removed and the cut became the main river course with the meander (Shopham Loop) remaining as a backwater. Land use change to an intensive agricultural regime in turn led to shallower soils and increased siltation and the loop entrance became blocked with deposits preventing any flow from the Rother. +
S
Source to Sea Programme – 9. Kent, Leven and Duddon Estuaries beach cleans and volunteer ambassadors +
Significant areas of the Kent, Duddon, and Leven estuaries currently fail to achieve even moderate WFD status, predominantly due to water quality for shellfish. Discarded rubbish and plastics are also significant problems in these areas. There is poor public awareness of the issues affecting our estuaries.
This project will build awareness of the issues and build volunteer capacity. Volunteer teams led and hosted by Morecambe Bay Partnership will carry out beach cleans removing litter, especially plastics. The project will focus on coastal sections of the Bay that are currently failing. Additional training will be supported so we develop a network of volunteer champions/ ambassadors who will communicate constructive message with the press and with their local communities, raising awareness of water quality issues and able to highlight actions to address these.
Community Involvement - Engagement activities will include public consultations, practical volunteering activities like beach cleans, and tree planting, and awareness-raising through media and face-to-face contact. +
Silverån flows through northern parts of Småland and southern parts of Östergötland. The river os 75 km long and the catchment area (702 km2) has only few lakes, so the water level can change quite rapidly in the river.
Silveråns nature reserve area is located near Jönköping where the river meanders in the shadows of variable forest areas and steep ravins. The water quality is high and the river has a unique and rich water fauna because of the high currents and multiple biotopes. Trout and pearlmussel populations have many breeding areas due to the stream bed that consists of sand, gravel and rocks. Also the strandzone provides vital substance for the stream ecosystem. +
R
Since early 1900´s until early 2000´s there has been major river regulation measures done in the Kalajoki River. The river was dredged, straightened and embanked because of flood control, hydro power and log floating which significantly changed hydrological and morphological conditions in the river and affected the river as a habitat of aquatic organisms.
Since late 1970´s court ordered incorporated studies on effect on regulation measures on water quality, fish stocks and fishing into the rulings. Court also ordered compensational measures like fish stocking and rehabilitation measures which also included observation of the success of these measures. The river was restored to improve breeding conditions for lamprey and crayfish. Plan was to restore rapids total of 55 ha area in the lower reaches of Hamari. The aim was to create more natural conditions for migrating fish and other aquatiq organisms by building bypass channels, adding stones and gravel as and improving bank and bed of the river. The most significant restorations have been stocking of 4.7 million one summer old white fish in 1988-2010, restorations to improve reproduction conditions for creyfish and lamprey and stocking of 30 000 mature creyfish in 2003-2006. There has been also follow-up done to evaluate the effects of the restorations on crayfish, lamprey, fish stocks and the River Kalajoki as a habitat for aquatic organisms.
The government has been major actor in almost all of the water management projects in the River Kalajoki. Restorations were managed by Finnish environmental authority (Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment for North Ostrobothnia). Restorations were done in co-operation with municipalities, local people and non governmental organizations. Estimated costs were about 1 million euros. +
M
Since its foundation in 1973, the Hortobágy National Park has aimed to restore and rehabilitate the Great Plain
landscapes that has been transformed for centuries by human activities.
The first habitat rehabilitation programme in Hungary was initiated in the Hortobágy region. The landscape level
rehabilitation programme of the Egyek – Pusztakócs marsh system stand out of all similar restorations.
The first phase of this programme (1976–1997) involved the rehabilitation of the marshes and meadows after
the hydrological reconstruction of the water supply system. The second phase, which is still on going, focuses
on the restoration of grasslands and on the management and protection of the already revitalised marshes.
The Egyek–Pusztakócs marsh system that used to be regularly flooded by the river Tisza has been drained
gradually since the early 19th century. However, the regulation of the river Tisza, which has occurred since the
1860s terminated the most important source of water supply to the marsh system. The construction of the
system to drain inland waters, which started in the 1900s and accelerated between 1930 and 1950, has drained
most marshes, and led to the sinking of the ground water table and to the emergence of a general water deficit
in the habitats. Canal constructions, done as part of the Egyek area melioration programme in the 1980s, have
led to a near-fatal drought, and an almost irreversible degradation of the marsh system.
As a result of river regulation, flood control and drainage works, the sources of natural water supply have
almost vanished. The drying was mainly caused by theses changes, and was only exacerbated by the extremely
long low-precipitation period between the late 1970s and early 1990s. Most of the natural water catchments
of the marshes were ploughed and the connections between the marshes were terminated by filling upof the
former natural depressions which connected the marshes.
Parallel to the drying of the area, ploughing broke up an increasing amount of grasslands and meadows, and
the proportion of arable lands have gradually increased. In addition to the reduction of wetland habitats,
characteristic edge habitats and zonal transitions (e.g. dry grassland-wet meadow-tussock meadow-marsh) have
disappeared. In many areas, patches of homogeneous habitats separated by sharp, sudden, non-transitional
edges have appeared.
The aim of the rehabilitation was to construct and operate a water supply system that could mimic the flooding
that had been characteristic to the area before river regulation, and to achieve a hydrological reconstruction
and revitalisation of the marshes. The construction of the water supply system was started with Fekete-rét
(1976) and continued with Kis-Jusztus, Bőgő and Meggyes marshes, and was completed in 1997 with Hagymás
and Csattag marshes. The canal system has brought the water of river Tisza back to the marshes.
The habitat-level changes following the hydrological reconstruction have caused a regeneration and
revitalisation of the marsh habitats. In a few years, the areal extent of marshes has approached the level
estimated before human activities had started to transform the area (Fig. 2). Today the marsh system is
characterised by a mosaic-like landscape structure, the most im-portant elements of which are the ancient
riverbeds running mostly from N to S, the loess covered higher grounds between the marshes, the meadows in
the edges of marshes, the alkali grasslands and pastures, and the small pockets of woodlands, tree lines and dry
loess grassland fragments.
The overall objective of the project was the large-scale restoration of grasslands and the protection of marshes in the Egyek-Puszakócs area. In particular, the project aimed to reduce the negative effects of grassland fragmentation and the impact of intensive agriculture on natural grasslands and marshes.
Specifically, the project aimed to:
Eliminate goose farms that degrade surrounding grasslands and restore arable land to grasslands;
Develop grazing capacity in the area;
Increase the diversity of marsh habitats using grazing and fire management;
Protect and improve the habitats of Annex I waterfowl and birds of prey.
Grasslands and marshes were expected to reach a favourable conservation status. The successful implementation of the project would also lead to greater public awareness of conservation and of the role of the Natura 2000 network. <br>
Funding - EU CONTRIBUTION 700,302.00 €
R
Since the 11th century, the River Bièvre and its catchment area has been very heavily modified. Numerous mills were built along its course, which led to the straightening of the river. Increasing urbanisation and the establishment of industrial and craft activities along the Bièvre transformed it into an "open sewer". Starting in the 18th century, the river was gradually culverted. Today, the Bièvre forms a rainwater system. It has become an alternative means of transportation for wastewater when the sewers are out of action.
In the framework of the Bièvre renovation policy, a pilot project in order to reopen the river was carried out, in the "Parc des Près" in Fresnes, a three-hectare area that remained undeveloped.
The former river bed, i.e. the current rainwater system, was retained for use in the event of the sewers being out of action. A meandering stretch of water was created in order to favour the development of aquatic life. Aquatic and semi-aquatic species were planted in several areas. At the same time over twenty direct wastewater connections to the Bièvre were eliminated. +
B
Since the Middle Ages man has been altering the Berkel. At first to make it navigable and from the 1930's onwards to reduce flooding. Over the years the Berkel has thus been modified into a straight monotonous river. Now, some of the natural characteristics of the area will be restored. This will allow many more species of plants and animals to live in and around the Berkel, and the water becomes cleaner.
The measures that will be taken are:
* remeandering and introduction of woody debris to create more variety in stream flow, water depth and plant growth;
* cascading fish passages will be made on the Besselink and Warken dams;
* land consolidation, to move production lands away from the low lying (thus wet) river banks, and closer to the farms, thus reducing distance travelled by farmers;
* a swimming pool and a walking path will be made, in order to better facilitate recreation. +
R
Since the advent of mechanisation, removing sand and gravel from rivers and streams as a cheap source of material for tracks and buildings has become an increasingly common practice. Some extraction is, of course, legitimate but much is illegal. In other circumstances it is misjudgement in timing or site. There is by no means common agreement amongst statutory bodies as to the precise application of existing regulations or legislation. On top of that, such legislation and regulations that are in existence appear impossible to enforce.
The effects of these extractions can be catastrophic for channel stability, spawning fish and invertebrate life in rivers that are already facing huge challenges from other adverse land use practices. It is perceived, however, that of all aggregate removal in the UK, that from rivers and streams remains some of the most environmentally damaging.
RASP is funded by The Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund, the Environment Agency Wales and Countryside Council for Wales and will ...
1. Work with Statutory bodies and specialist solicitors Guy Linley-Adams & Fish Legal we have established the current position with the law and regulation in respect of the damaging activities recorded.
2. Establishing with scientific advice what is acceptable in respect of timing, quantity, method and choice of site.
3. Produce, with Statutory bodies, Bi Lingual information and "Best Practice" guidelines (click for English or Welsh) that would guide and reduce damaging extractions.
4. Discussions with persons exercising their rights identified to be unacceptably detrimental.
5. Follow up and monitoring.
The project will reconcile extraction needs with knowledge about the sensitivities and potential damage to river ecology. Success in managing this in the Usk and Wye could lead to a pan England and Wales application. +
A
Site is location of a historically successful Barbel fishery. Recent deterioration has been noted by EA and Anglers at this location. Surveys have shown that the decline is likely to be a result of increased sediment load from collapsed banks undermined by signal crayfish activity, along with historic modifications that have reduced the natural resilience of the river.
Measures undertaken and planned at this site include:
- Tree planting (started April 2014)
50 Willow whips planted in margins of river.
- Further tree planting (Completed in Feb 2015)
100 Alder, 50 Hawthorn, 25 Oak, 25 Maple and other species, to be planted along this section of river with support from Woodlands Trust.
- Bank stabilization( October 2014)
2 sections of bank stabilazation completed using brushwood bundles, staked into bank.
- Riffle enhancement(started October 2014)
1 riffle enhancement installed in October 2014. (2 Poplar logs staked and tied with fencing wire).
1 riffle ehancement installed in additional location in Feb 2015 (5 Poplar logs 2-4 m in length secured with 20mm re-bar. Logs to be in alternating orientations to maximise variation in scour patterns).
- Channel narrowing (expected 2015)
All work undertaken by Environment Agency with assistance from local volunteers. +
C
Situated just to the east of Tower Bridge on the south bank of the River Thames, Chambers Wharf was for many years one of the capital’s major cold stores. Having fallen into disuse, the site, owned by international property development company St Martins, now has planning permission for 587 new homes; 180 of these homes will be affordable and there will be some retail units at ground level, fronting Chambers Street. Demolition of the former cold stores has been completed and the new scheme is scheduled to be finished in 2013. +
R
Siuruanjoki River is located Northern part of Finland and is one of the tributaries of Iijoki River. The project ”Siuruanjoki kuntoon” (Making Siuruanjoki River Fit) objective was to apply various means of mitigate the diffuse loading impacts of a large watershed area within three municipalities in Northern Finland; i.e. within the Provinces of Lapland and Ostrobotnia. The project was carried out in Ostrobothnia in the years 2000-2006.
The project aim was to improve the quality of the water in Siuruanjoki River and the condition of the water system in such a way that it would be better suited to meet the needs of recreation, fishing, and tourism. The project was accomplished by mitigating the impacts of diffuse loading, restoring parts of the water system, and tending the river bank areas. The diffuse loading was mitigated by reducing the external loading from agriculture and forestry, and by improving the waste water treatment solutions used with regard to the rural population and holiday-home users. Lake Saunajarvi in the area of Pudasjarvi was restored by means of intensified fishing aimed at ridding the lake of undesirable and excessive fish species. In addition, the project included the central objective of adding to the environmental awareness and sense of responsibility of the local people.
Among the achievements of the project were the formulation of overall forestry-related plans for the protection of the water system, trials with new peat-production-related methods of treating run-off water, formulation of property-specific plans for improving the treatment of waste water, and nutrient balance studies were created for farms along with the conducting of environmental assessments.
The project was mostly managed by Regional Environmental Agency of Ostrobothnia Pohjois-Pohjanmaan ymparistokeskus in close co-operation with local actors. The project had a total budget of € 630,705. +
S
Skårhultsdammen pond was built in 1920th century and was used as water regulation for Kvarnekulla power plant. Local farmers were using water from Skårhultsdammen for irrigation which made water level downstreams unnatural low. There were also other negative effects of the pond for the river. One of the biggest problems for the ecology of the Knipån was the outlet of the pond which made the migration difficult for fish like trout and greyling. Also coarse fish which thrivdes in the pond had negative effects for migrating fish.
In 2009 and 2010 started the project as the aim of improving ecological and hydromorphological conditions of the River Knipån. The longest bypass channel in Sweden was constructed for making fish migration possible and making hydromorpological condtitions of the water closer to natural state. All and all 55 000 m2 sediment was taken away which increased the water volyme from 25 000 m2 to 80 000 m2. Total cost of the restoration was about 230 000 euros. +
R
Slowing the flow, managing bank erosion and sky lighting a section to encourage macrophyte growth +
C
Small deflectors placed within the channel, which could help to encourage the creation of some pool riffle sequences within the channel. There is potential to re-profile some sections of the river bank along recreation ground, which would create shelves for aquatic planting. By re-profiling the banks it would be possible to reconnect the river to its floodplain. This stretch of the Rom possesses natural banks and bed, though in the past it seems to have been straightened, demonstrated by a uniform channel throughout. The river is overly straight where it runs between Carter Avenue and Turpin drive, but is beginning to restore itself in places. The natural gravel bed is evident. Where the river enters the recreation ground it is also straight lacking much geomorphological diversity, the banks are overly steep and uniform. +
S
Soaring connections is the umbrella title for the Leicester FRMS and various community projects in the city focusing on the water environment. Together they form an innovative project, reducing flood risk to over 2000 properties whilst improving Green Infrastructure (GI) and reconnecting communities with their local watercourse.
The EA and LCC are working together on a 6 year programme of work to reduce the risk of flooding in the city, with a particular emphasis on bringing wider benefits through environmental enhancements, public space improvements and regeneration.
The Leicester FRM scheme has transformed under-used public open spaces in the city by improving public access, recreation opportunities and creating new habitat along the River Soar corridor. The scheme works by removing barriers to the movement of flood water and improving the capacity of the floodplain to store water.
In 2008 the use of traditional flood protection methods was investigated but found to be unviable. The decision was made to take a more innovative approach, one that would provide multiple benefits for people and wildlife as well as being a catalyst for regeneration within the city. Using the hydraulic model of the catchment constrictions in flow were identified that were causing increased flood levels in Leicester. Combining this with Leicester’s Green Infrastructure Strategy areas of underused public open space including areas of closely mown amenity grassland and sports pitches of low ecological value along the River Soar corridor were targeted.
Entering construction in 2014, Phase 1 and 2 of the scheme are now complete and focused on reconnecting the river with its floodplain through the Aylestone and Birstall areas of Leicester. This has been achieved through removing constrictions, land lowering and wetland creation. As well as reducing flood risk, the scheme has delivered significant environmental enhancements with the creation of new wetland areas, wildflower meadows, tree planting, habitat improvement, cycle path improvements and new public seating areas.
Community projects including Shared Waters and Waterside Care work across the city to deliver educational sessions and practical habitat work focused on the water environment. This ranges from retrofitting SuDs in schools to hold back and clean water to water themed yarn-bombing and a water themed play developed by Leicester college pupils. All aim to re engage the diverse population of Leicester with their watercourse, telling its story in their own words.
Works included: <br>
- Creation of backwater to allow storage of water and act as fish refuge<br>
- Habitat improvements including wildflower meadow creation and tree planting to improve habitat diversity within river corridor<br>
- Change in topography through earth movement to lower areas adjacent to river and raise those further away e.g. moving sports pitches onto newly raised ground away from the river<br>
- Change in management of public open space and newly created wetland areas to maintain greater habitat diversity<br>
- Control of Himalayan balsam and Japanese knotweed<br>
- Community projects including SuDs in schools & community clean ups<br>
- Public & stakeholder engagement on design<br>
- Community habitat management sessions on improved areas of public open space<br>
- Sediment fingerprinting study to identify inputs into the River Soar catchment
G
Softening of river banks – possible removal of any toe boarding and replacement with softer edges (Garratt Park Allotments). Enhance banks for biodiversity +
T
Transboundary Management Programme for the planned 5-country Biosphere Reserve “Mura-Drava-Danube” - COOP MDD +
Spanning across Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary and Serbia, the riverine landscape of the lower courses of the Drava and Mura and related Danube sections forms one of Europe’s most important bio-corridors. Since 1993, NGOs and public authorities have cooperated to work towards the protection of this unique landscape as a UNESCO Transboundary Biosphere Reserve “Mura-Drava-Danube” (TBR MDD) - the“Amazon of Europe”.
However, the lack of operational cooperation for harmonising management practices between 12 single protected areas in the 5 TBR countries threatens the ecological integrity of the planned TBR MDD. Coop MDD aims to overcome these obstacles by establishing a strategic and operational framework for transboundary nature protection, restoration and management of the Mura-Drava-Danube river corridor in Austria, Slovenia, Hungary, Croatia and Serbia as the basis of a well-managed TBR MDD.
Through workshops, study visits, capacity building, awareness-raising activities and pilot implementation of concrete actions in the field of restoration, stakeholder participation and environmental education, the cooperation of PA authorities and cross-sectoral stakeholders for management of TBR MDD will be established, and a wider acceptance by local stakeholders, inhabitants and visitors for establishment of TBR MDD will be achieved.
The main project output - the Transboundary Management Programme for River-Dynamic Corridor Development - will be taken up by the 5-country ministerial Coordination Board as their baseline strategic and operational work programme towards establishment of the TBR MDD.
This will set a solid foundation for-long term functional implementation of the 1 million-hectare, 700 km long TBR MDD in the context of transboundary nature conservation, making it Europe's largest protected river corridor and world's first penta-lateral UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. +