Property:Lessons learnt
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G
Channel reconfiguration can be effective in mitigating fine sediment flux in headwater streams but the full value of this may take many years to achieve whilst the fluvial system slowly readjusts.
The channel is continuing to adjust to the diversion with evidence of continuing local instability. It is therefore recommended that this approach to reducing the fine sediment flux of upland rivers should not be adopted as standard practice.
However, where significant modifications to upland channels are made, comprehensive in-stream monitoring and geomorphological assessments should be regularly conducted to evaluate the response of the river to the new conditions.
This research has highlighted the importance of ensuring appropriate controls on sediment release during in-stream works and effective installation and maintenance of grade control (drop) structures. If these measures had been rigorously applied the overall goal of reducing fine sediment flux through the fluvial system could have been achieved in a more timely fashion. +
R
Close liaison with permitting and enforcement colleagues is essential to establish suitable restoration sites, and ensure that flood risk is not increased. +
L
Communication:
- Consultation and communication of the vision and the business plan is
key to success.
- Groups of individuals representing a stakeholder interest do not response to
communication events equally. The communication style must be chosen to reflect
differing responses to change and different personalities types
- Professional communications teams should be used to establish methods.
- Use experts within the project team for example an agricultural expert to work with the farming community to assess pros and cons of project for the land owners;
- Detailed records of events and outcomes of consultations should be kept and widely
shared.
- More than one consultation event should be held and tailored to the required outcome.
The event should specify what it is not consulting on as well as what it is.
Techniques used:
- There may be the need to revisit if monitoring results indicate methods have not been
successful in delivering specified outcomes. Partners have a duty of care to landowners
and riparian rights owners to ensure that if a risk based approach has been used and
accepted, future tweaking may be required to achieve the desired outcome.
Localism and Trust:
- Those affected by the project need to trust those carrying out the project. They will still be farming the land in 20 years or fishing the banks. Trust is incredibly important. Local
people should be utilised on the steering group and through the delivery of the project.
Doing too much too quickly:
- Delivering too much too quickly could cause problems for benefits realisation and local trust in the project. River restoration is mostly constrained to seasonal work in channel and on the flood embankments due to ecology, social and working conditions. Establish working window and ensure if work cannot comfortably be completed before the window ends; complete it
next year or when funding is available.
Changing opportunities:
- Constantly review opportunities of outcomes and funding options. New schemes, political
agendas and ways of working rapidly change. Funding may not be available for some
opportunities but working with a wide range of partners enables shared use of skills and
resources.
C
Community engagement
- Early and consistent community engagement is key
- Posters aren’t enough. Leaflets, presence at community events, word of mouth and meeting with councillors are all useful engagement techniques.
- Communicating nuance is difficult. Conversations around flood risk, biodiversity and water quality require care and patience. The importance of using language that is easily understood cannot be understated.
Logistics
- Construction site difficulties/ break ins. Securing the site was difficult with frequent break ins and vandalism.
- Deliveries to parks are difficult, especially here as a tunnel under the railway track restricts the vehicle size.
- Close relations with the council and contractors is key for support. +
D
Complex "post industrial" zones, despite appearing to be greenspace can be complex locations to undertake engineering due to subsurface utilities, contaminants and historic refuse material. However by careful design and management natural river form and function can be achieved providing more resilience for the river and its wildlife. +
R
Complimentary catchment walkover and remote sensing approaches are increasingly being used to understand the issues facing a failing catchment. The most challenging aspect of the River Worfe Restoration Project has been the survey logistics, whether on the ground or in the sky. In order to survey such a large area in a relatively short space of time, good preparation is vital. To ensure successful capture of all potential sources at the walkover stage, the entire catchment must be surveyed, which can be supported by the use of high resolution imagery. GIS software is used along with detailed maps at the preparation stage to ensure that all of the watercourses within the catchment are covered, before leaving the office. This approach enabled large areas to be covered systematically and efficiently. There were also logistical challenges at the sampling stage of the process, as not only was a large team required to sample 51 individual sites throughout the catchment in the space of a few hours, but also the weather conditions had to be favourable.
Gaining the trust of stakeholders and land owners to make changes was key. It took time to build trust with them and this only occurred when we had credible evidence, presented in an understandable way which demonstrated clear improvements. Understanding the business of arable farming in the Worfe catchment and the practical challenges was key to gaining the trust and respect of stakeholders. High resolution digital imagery from APEM’s aerial surveys of the entire Worfe catchment proved to be a very effective tool for engaging interest and understanding among stakeholders. We also spent time developing an ongoing relationship with stakeholders using a continuity of people in contact with them. +
C
Consideration of weather conditions during construction and possible delays
Consider public access once the new channel is completed
Need to monitor to analyse success in the future +
W
Correcting diffuse pollution is best achieved by working at the appropriate scale (farm by farm) in a catchment context. This delivers real and measurable benefits to WFD status as well as improving farm profitability.
Our revised SCIMAP is proving an invaluable tool in addressing problems of excessive overland flow and top soil loss to water. +
G
Cumulative benefits can be achieved through undertaking managed realignment schemes for habitat improvements which also form part of the local areas flood risk management strategy. +
Delivery of a large programme of works to deadline through COVID has been challenging but works came in within budget. Working in an urban environment is difficult and successful project delivery relies on engagement with the many stakeholders from the outset, particularly the local community. If new project officers are picking up the delivery of works and were not involved in the initial project development, then it is important that a through handover of work takes place. +
S
Despite all approvals and permissions being in place it was only when the contractors came to the site it was discovered that the only viable access to the site was over bridges with a limited weight capacity. this meant changing designs from six 3-metre square culverts to twelve half-size ones. All approvals and permissions then had to be re-sought against tight time limits, and with the weather deteriorating - the River Roeburn can rise extremely quickly. +
H
Discussions with partners can often identify opportunities for projects giving multiple benefits- continuous work with the IDB on similar restoration schemes. +
C
Early communication with permitting bodies and involvement of local communities is essential to deliver successful projects in a short timescale. +
L
Early negotiations with landowners are crucial! +
T
Eel tiles not strictly needed, as tide over-tops weir, so the aim was to allow eels to pass when the water level is below the weir crest. No formal monitoring but no issues, so far, apart from accumulating debris (August 2013). +
R
Engagement and collaboration is key. We are restoring and rivers, and finding places to protect nature within a farmed landscape. The concept is unfamiliar to many landowners and stakeholders. Naturally functioning rivers that are connected to their floodplain create habitats, store water and trap pollution. Yet they take up space, especially when in flood. Farmers and landowners in the Mease historically would farm right up to the bank top, and are reluctant to lose productive land. It can take several years for a farmer to agree to a scheme. It needs to blend into their wider farmer management, utilising buffers, margins and field corners. It might include areas that lie wet. Schemes are best secured with a grant such as a Countryside Stewardship Scheme or Sustainable Farm Incentive.
Allow time to talk to the farmer / landowner.
Look at the site from the landowners' perspective, understand where they are able to amend their management, and what grant revenue might offset any production losses.
Survey for ecology, archaeology and services, they all can have a big influence on how a scheme can take shape.
Present plans to the farmer at an early stage.
Look for wider benefits in addition to river restoration, such as trapping pollution or flood storage.
Engage with the regulatory bodies early, such as the Lead Local Flood Authority or the Environment Agency. It can take time to get the permissions in place.
The best time for capital works is June to September, outside of bird breeding season, the fish spawning season and when river levels and flood risk is low.
Talk to a contractor early, get an indication of price. Make sure your funder is aware of the constraints and timeline. Allow some extra budget for contingency. Usually something doesn't go quite to plan! +
Ensure that all soil testing is undertaken months ahead of any scheduled groundwork. +
Equipment and materials are highly vulnerable to storms during construcion and their storage must account for 100 yr storm events. +
Expect the unexpected: Planting carried out in the winter of 2011 was followed by an exceptionally dry spring and summer, which placed the planted native species under considerable hydric stress and presented a real threat to their survival during the 1st year. However, surveys carried out in 2013 show that although the plants had a “rough start”, most of them have survived. The Mediterranean climate is characterised by notable annual and interannual variation in precipitation levels as a result of different phases of the North Atlantic Oscillation or NAO (Hughes et al., 2012; Trigo et al., 2004). Negative phases result in higher precipitation levels while positive phases result in higher temperatures and lower precipitation levels. Although these large scale climate patterns are beyond the control of any rehabilitation or NWRM project, they must be taken into account as part of the programme of measures.
Poor local stakeholder engagement: The implementation of the characterisation programme and subsequent rehabilitation programme along the river banks was initially met with much suspicion and some resistance by local farmers and land owners. The local farmers’ general perception was that land that was subject to intervention was being taken away from them, that risk of flooding would be increased, that project personnel were “trespassing” although, according to Decreto–Lei 54/2005 (República, 2005), the river banks and channel are in the public domain (although access has never been refused, local residents and land owners remain suspicious) and that the native plants planted along the intervention zones were of no commercial value and should be replaced by fruit trees, for example. Future actions to alert and educate locals to the value of lotic ecosystems, the presence of threatened species and NWRM must be more effective and interactive. +
Felled poplar trees provided locally won woody material but required substantial fixings to prevent their movement due to the porous and buoyant nature of the wood.
Cattle were observed to avoid the reject gravel ford crossing and walk across the existing softer bed material, causing erosion and mobilising silt. Formal cattle crossing designs and drinking points need fencing to prevent livestock from choosing their own routes. +