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T
The Ciobarciu Wetland Project is an ecological rehabilitation project in the valley of the river Prut.
In order to prevent flooding and to extend agricultural surfaces, the common floodplain of Prut and Jijia was embanked. Jijia river course was deviated by digging a channel to the Prut at Chiperesti. The last 56 km of the Jijia river, which is parallel to the Prut, has been cut-off (it is now known as the Old Jijia). The Old Jijia can be supplied with water from the Jijia by the hydrotechnical knot at Chiperesti when needed. Otherwise, the Old Jijia is only supplied from its own river basin by four small tributaries with intermittent flow.
The Ciobarciu Wetland was created in October 2006 after first flooding of this area. +
A
The Clwyd (Photo 1 and Map 1) is a large catchment in north-east Wales, discharging north into the Irish Sea. The confluence of the Afon Clwyd with the Afon Elwy is downstream of St Asaph, which in November 2012 was subject to severe flooding resulting in a fatality. The impact of flooding from the Afon Elwy, which flows through the town, was exacerbated by the backing up of flow at the confluence with the Afon Clwyd, which was also in spate.
In 2015, Natural Resources Wales commissioned AECOM Consultants to identify potential Working with Natural Processes (WWNP) in the Elwy catchment which would provide climate resilience to the proposed improvements to engineered flood defences in St Asaph (AECOM Consultants 2015). Following the study, AECOM wanted to develop techniques for rapid assessment of WWNP that could be applied to different types of catchments. AECOM used EU innovation funding to test techniques in a number of catchments, including this study of potential WWNP in the Vale of Clwyd.
A systematic review of the aerial imagery, Ordnance Survey (OS) mapping and flood zone/flood extent information was carried out to identify the most important morphological features in the catchment and to identify locations where the WWNP measures could potentially be implemented across the catchment. In contrast to the Elwy, the identification process included an assessment of implementation and shortlisting to streamline the process.
The overall impact of the modelled WWNP is a reduction in peak flow and an increase in time-to-peak (TP). Peak flow reduction was approximately 6% for the 5-year design event and approximately 1% for the 200-year design event. +
R
The Colostre, a tributary of the River Verdon, is a typically Mediterranean river, with very low water levels upstream of Riez and flash flooding due to storms. The Colostre constitutes one of the only breeding grounds for brown trout. The beaver has also been recorded in this area.
In the 1960s, following exceptional summer flooding, hydraulic improvements were made in order to modify the longitudinal profile of the river (resizing, straightening of the river and creation of weirs). These developments degraded the habitats of the river and caused significant erosion of the river banks.
In response to this situation, in 1996, state fishing institutes and the local fishing association, initiated a protection Plan with the aim of free movement of salmonids and rediversification of habitats. The restoration measures formed part of the implementation of this plan.
Thirteen meanders were restored. The disconnected meanders had not been filled in and instead had been left uncultivated; most of them thus remained identifiable. The first stage consisted of restoring access to the meanders by removing the poplars planted during the resizing of the river. Next, the current was diverted towards the old meanders which remained visible. The entrance to the straight channel was blocked using a submersible weir (consisted of timber billets covered with gravels, geotextile and protective mesh). The downstream part of the straight section was not closed off in order to allow for the dispersal of floodwaters. In areas in which the meanders were not identified, various experimental habitat diversification developments were carried out and weirs were removed or modified. +
A
The Commission consists of eight members. Each Contracting State appoints four Commissioners, each of them with one substitute. Both members of the governments and of the local water management departments are represented. Thus, integration of the state guidelines as well as of the regional interests and concerns is ensured. The major share of the cooperation activities are supported by the local services, which thereby also take the main coordination load between the contracting parties. By proceeding that way the water management in the border region servers as successful example of subsidiarity and european cooperation in cross-border regions.
The Commission holds regular conferences once a year. Extraordinary meetings may be convened by the chairmen of the delegations by mutual agreement.
The meetings are chaired by the Delegation of the organizing State. The negotiation languages are German and Slovenian. Decisions of the Commission require the approval of at least three members of each delegation. Decisions must not be executed if one government raises an objection. The governments of both countries are presented with the minutes of the meetings for approval. If neither of the two governments raises an objection against a decision taken by the Commission within three months, the decision shall be approved by the two governments. +
P
The Consorzio di Bonifica Acque Risorgive (drainage authority) is located within the pumped drainage landscape of the Venice Lagoon. The Consorzio was involved in some restoration projects aimed at developing a catchment strategy to reduce nutrient loads entering the Venice Lagoon from its rivers. The bed of Pagana Canal (3.5 km) was covered with cement, and thus its contribution to the biodiversity of agricultural-forest habitats and to the reduction of N and P loads to Venice Lagoon was almost non-existent. The restoration project carried out these actions:
# '''''Total removal of concrete covers:''''' concrete (240 cm wide on the bottom and 320 cm wide at the top, with 150 cm high sidebanks) was completely removed in a 1.5 km long reach.
# '''''Partial removal of concrete covers:''''' near buildings concrete was left in place or only partially removed, creating a flooding area and banks with reduced slope.
# '''''Widening and diversification of the reaches:''''' the new section of the Pagana Canal is variable in size, with long reaches 12 m large and larger size in the central section (15-70 m). The presence of wide banks with reduced slope allowed reducing erosion and increasing the number of vegetation species in the riparian area and, more in general, a larger water-vegetation contact zone. Morphological changes in the riverbed enhanced biological complexity thus increasing the buffering actions on nutrients, which enter the food-web of the wet biotopes.
# '''''Creation of ponds and wetlands:''''' ponds and wetlands of different depths were constructed at the joining with the main tributaries. The presence of wetlands along the watercourse allowed to further enhancing biodiversity with increases in water quality and the landscape and natural value of the area. +
Z
The Consorzio di Bonifica Acque Risorgive (drainage authority) is located within the pumped drainage landscape of the Venice Lagoon. The Consorzio was involved in a large programme aimed at developing a catchment strategy to reduce nutrient loads entering the Venice Lagoon from its tributaries. To achieve this goal, the Consorzio planned a major river restoration project for the Zero River, which drains into the lagoon.
The main restoration actions carried out regarded: banks widening, increase of aquatic vegetation on river terraces, creation of lateral and inflow wetland (ponds and lakes) and creation of wooded riparian area irrigated by river water.
Within this project a pilot experimental system was built along the Zero River, to evaluate in particular the buffering efficiency of the wooded areas on non-point pollution sources of nitrogen.
On the experimental site, represented by a newly-established riparian woodland, the hydrology of the woodland is totally regulated through a series of pumps which irrigate the woodland with water coming from Zero River, through a series of parallel ditches (irrigation and drainage ditches).
The results of this study provided useful data and know-how for improving the management of riparian buffer zones. +
C
The Cumbria River Restoration Strategy was developed to help deliver the joint Natural England and Environment Agency obligation to improve the quality and function of the Eden, Derwent and Kent SSSI/SAC catchments. This partnership functions by working with the River Trusts (Eden, West Cumbria and South Cumbria respectively) who plan and deliver these projects in their respective catchments. Most of the rivers within these catchments are designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Special Areas of Conservation (SAC). These are recognised as being the best examples of this type of river throughout Europe for the river habitat and the species they support. Because of their importance for conservation, they are designated as Protected Areas under WFD. WFD requires ‘Measures’ to be put in place
to deliver ‘favourable condition’ for each Protected Area. Favourable condition includes restoring near natural processes to the river which includes flow and sediment transport. +
E
Environment-friendly Reduction of Flood Risk in the Multi-thread Reach of the Czarny Dunajec River +
The Czarny Dunajec River in the Vistula River basin in southern of Poland was restored as the aim of reducing the erosional threat to a nearby road. Initial plan was to reduce the flood risk in the reach through river channelization, rejected and replaced by the proposal to re-activate the flow in side channels and stimulate a natural cut-off of the main channel bend. The object was to increase number of low-flow channels and habitat variability in the reach and to open inlets to side channels and directing the flow to them by deflectors made of gravel. Work was done in summer 2011.
After restoration storage of wood debris in the unmanaged, multi-thread river reach, increased and the risk of channel plugging by the debris in downstream, urbanised valley sections was reduced. +
R
The Dadon is one of the last free flowing tributaries of the Lower Cheran. The Dadon watershed is concerned with two areas of industrial activities ( Alby -sur- Cheran and Rumilly) on its downstream sector, the rest of the watershed is occupied by farm land (55 % of the area ) and forest (13 % ).
The main pressure factors on the Dadon are the following:
* accidental pollutant releases in the industrial areas;
* organic pollution from farms and food processing factories;
* over-widening, straightening and embankment of its course, causing habitat depletion and lowering of the water table in its downstream stretch.
These factors greatly reduced the initially existing connections between the Dadon and the Cheran, thereby significantly lowering the ecological value of this naturally rich confluence area.
The main goals of the project were to restore the original riverbed of the Dadon, and to diversify flows and habitats, especially increasing water depths at low water flows. It was also aimed to stabilize banks and restore riparian vegetation.
The works consisted of three steps:
* 2004 (involved length 350 m): rock sills and groynes to promote diversification of habitats; construction of vegetated log cribwalls, associated with geotextile to ensure bank stabilization (the restoration of a natural lateral dynamics was not part of project goals); creation of a narrower and meandering river bed;
* 2006 (involved length 475 m, downstream the previous stretch): the stream is returned in its original sinuous bed, as it was before the 90’s;
* 2009 (involved length 175 m, further downstream): introduction of blocks, stone sills, wooden groynes.
The works were carried out within the framework of the river contract brought by the Syndicat Mixte Interdépartemental d’Aménagement du Chéran (SMIAC). The local angling association strongly supported the action. +
N
The Danube-Auen National Park lies between the European capitals Vienna and Bratislava. With over 9,300 hectares area, the park protects the last remaining major wetland environment in Central Europe. For a distance of just over 36 km, the Danube flows freely and is the lifeline of the national park. The dynamic rise and fall of water levels - sometimes up to 7 meters - mean that the wetlands landscape is constantly recreated and reformed. In this way, the flow of the Danube creates habitats for a large number of plants and animals.
With the founding of the Donau-Auen National Park in 1996, this area was made an international refuge for posterity. Here, an ecosystem can blossom free of commercial constraints, thus guaranteeing that future generations may also experience first hand its power and beauty.
The Donau-Auen National Park extends from Vienna all the way to the mouth of the March River (also called Morava) on the border to Slovakia. Thirty-eight kilometres long, at its widest point the Danube measures only around 4 km; the wetlands are only found directly on the Danube. To the north of the national park are the broad plains of the Marchfeld. To the south, the boundary is formed by the breakline of the Vienna Basin. The Lobau area has always been a popular recreational area, especially for the Viennese. Running through the national park are both the long-distance rambling trail 07 and the Danube Cycling Path, which comes from Passau and continues to Hungary via Hainburg. +
T
The Dee (N.Wales) transitional waterbody is currently at moderate potential, with levels of Dissolved Inorganic Nitrate (DIN) identified as the Reason for Not Achieving Good status. As a transitional waterbody, the vast majority of water quality issues are inherited from upstream. With only a short stretch of the River Dee sitting within our catchment partnership area, we focussed on reducing water pollution on the small coastal waterbodies sitting on the English side of the border: Finchetts Gutter, Shotwick Brook and Burton Brook, as well as the unclassified land bordering the eastern coast of the Estuary (West Wirral), which features a designated Bathing Water at West Kirby. The Estuary features designated Shellfish Waters (Dee (West) and Dee (East)) and is internationally important for wildlife; as reflected in its designations as an SAC, SPA and Ramsar site.
The Tidal Dee Catchment Partnership has identified misconnections and poorly managed septic tanks as a significant pollution issue within these waterbodies, particularly due to the lack of mains sewerage on Burton Brook and Shotwick Brook and due to the urban nature of Finchetts Gutter. These issues are reflected in the Reasons for Not Achieving Good Status for our 3 target waterbodies and the Dee (N.Wales) transitional waterbody. Finchetts Gutter also sits within a Nutrient Sensitive Area.
The Tidal Dee Catchment Partnership, through stakeholder engagement, has identified a general detachment from the estuary amongst local communities – particularly a lack of understanding of how personal actions affect the water environment. Learning from the successes of the Environment Agency/United Utilities/Keep Britain Tidy “Love my Beach” project, we want to use water pollution issues as a way to inspire stakeholders towards greater stewardship of the water environment as well as achieving a greater understanding of the importance of water quality on wildlife amongst local communities.
Whilst advice is available on water pollution issues with leaflets often offered, tailored advice packs for different sectors do not currently exist. Not knowing which organisation to seek what type of advice from often leads to issues with getting across simple, succinct and relevant advice.
We are aware that these issues are far from unique to this catchment, so we wish to utilise this as an opportunity to scope best practice in order to help towards the reduction of water pollution nationally.
Work included educating the community on environmental protection and promoting environmentally-friendly behaviour.
The Deerness catchment, located west of Durham City, covers 53 km2 and includes the small colliery towns of Ushaw Moor, Esh Winning and Cornsay. Land use is largely agricultural, with woodland cover and several reclaimed open cast and landfill sites. A significant part of the catchment fails the Water Framework Directive for fish, due to the cumulative effects of barriers to the upstream and downstream movement of all fish species and also because of water quality issues (principally phosphate) reflected in altered phytobenthos.
The outcomes of the project are the following: enhanced habitat connectivity throughout both catchments allowing all fish species, migratory and non-migratory, maximum scope to spawn and feed; improved knowledge of fish populations and behaviours through baseline and post-implementation monitoring and evaluation; progress toward/achievement of Good Ecological Status and focus on any residual water quality issues required to achieve good status; establishment of partnership working and joint delivery to be ex-tended under the auspices of the Wear Catchment Management Plan.
Further funding from the Catchment Restoration Fund as well as Durham County Council and Durham University allowed for the provision of a rock pool fish easement at a road culvert on at Cornsay Colliery located on Hedleyhope Burn (a tributary of the River Deerness), completed in September 2012. Hedleyhope Burn is 9.2km in length. The road culvert has been cutting of fish access to 5km of good quality habitat, as under most flow conditions the culvert becomes impassable. This 30m corrugated steel pipe has rapid and shallow uniform flows when water levels are low, and concentrated high velocity flows at high water levels. An extensive erosion pool at the downstream exit to the culvert exhibits the force of water leaving the culvert. A wide concrete step 15 to 20 cm above the surface of the water also obstructs fish passage into the culvert. The solution was to replace the existing scour pool with a series of rock pools to provide a variety of flows for fish, as well as drowning out the concrete step by increasing water levels back into the culvert and creating a slower and deeper flow, improving fish passage. Flood risk was not increased as the site is in a deep depression with no buildings close by. The site is owned by Durham County who also contributed half of the cost. The Wear Rivers Trust helped with the design of the rock pool easement. Due to the location in a high rainfall upland area, 2-3 tonne rocks were used to form a continuous line of bank protection to protect the site a high flow levels. Larger gravels were also used, and willow spiling is due to be installed at a later stage.
D
The Deurningerbeek is a tribuatary of the Oude Bornsche Beek, which is in turn a tribuatary of the Linderbeek. This stream is already a site for traditional stream restoration. The bed was realigned to a meandering trajectory. In addition, the water authority wants to experiment with a thirty year suspension of maintenance. +
The Dinkel is a semi-natural river in the east of Twente. The water authority is optimising its flow for WFD and Natura 2000 purposes. To do this, the river was restructured in such a way that a great variation in substrate could exist without much maintenance. These substrates would inclde small riverside beaches, steep banks, carrs (broekbos), and abandoned meanders. Part of the design was completed in 2019, but the larger project is still ongoing. +
The Djupsund stream is a very small but very important stram for sea trout in the fjord Mefjorden (Sandefjord municipality), and it has been described as "a small sea trout machine". The upper part of the stream was culverted with pipes that were too small, and this caused problems for crossing way when strong rainfall episodes occurred. Around 80 m of the stream were daylighted, and a new 1 m diameter pipe was installed under the way in December 2020. Gravel was used to cover parts of daylighted stream and the bottom of the pipe under the crossing way.
We intend to restore the riparian vegetation along the daylighted stream during spring 2021, in cooperation with pupils from a nearby school. +
R
The Doquette is a small salmonid river, tributary of the River Sienne. The river is home to brown trout and bullhead; it is also likely to be colonised by Atlantic salmon.
In the 1970s, a part of the Doquette was moved into a straight channel at the edge of a field. The original bed was retained and transformed into a drainage ditch. The river, now in a “raised” position, deteriorated. The flow patterns became uniform and the habitats of the low water channel became homogenised. Since being moved, the Doquette flowed over the bedrock and could dry out during the low-flow period.
In application of the multi-annual restoration and maintenance programme for the catchment area of the River Sienne, there were plans to erect fencing along the raised river. The landowner, who had two channels on his plot, requested modifications in order to avoid the erection of fencing along both the raised river and the drained river. This double intervention would indeed have posed certain problems relating to the use of this land. The local institute in collaboration with the departmental fishing federation, thus proposed to restore the Doquette to its former bed, which would then be the only section to be fenced.
The original river bed was wider (mean width of 4.5 metres). 136 tonnes of aggregates were brought in from a quarry and deposited in the river. 77 tonnes of stones and pebbles (from 0 to 250 mm), were used to form the armour layer, with the remaining 59 tonnes being used to reconstitute the alluvial mattress. A connection was made with the river, while the existing connection with the straightened bed was blocked. The old, spring-fed channel was not filled in. Both banks of the restored river were fenced and a ford crossing and drinking trough were installed. +
D
The Dorset Wildlife Trust CPAF projects delivered results through a series of specific projects, tailor-made for issues found on the ground across Dorset in a variety of locations.
Projects on the Stour linked to the receptor coastal water bodies as well as supporting refuges for coarse fish populations. Projects on the Corfe showed proactive work and how small scale land management projects can benefit the water course. Projects on the Frome were linked to existing restoration plans and will engage with farmers of the future.
Frome (lower) - This project enhanced the wildlife value of the floodplain and slowed the flow of water with simple water control structures. Complementary works to increase light to ordinary watercourses through tree management and in channel enhancements to benefit fish interest were also undertaken. The project improved the floodplains link to the river during times of high flow and increased nutrient loading capacity.
The Corfe River - In 2014, FWAG SW undertook a scoping study of the waterbody to identify problems, restoration habitat opportunities (both in-channel and on adjacent riparian habitat) and potential land management change opportunities. From this, some simple and quick-win restoration projects were identified to help reduce bank erosion, create marginal habitat, and increase light to the watercourse. Pasture pumps and drinking troughs have been installed, Drinking bays fenced off, River margins fenced and Trees crowned to let light in and promote marginal vegetation growth.
Bourne Stream - Only Rain Down The Drain; A solution was needed to help Bournemouth town centre businesses (specifically food outlets to tackle the issues of surface water contamination leading to negative impacts on bathing water quality. The project focussed on improving understanding of what can and cannot be poured down surface water drains, the negative impact pollutants put into the drain can have on bathing water quality directly and the wider social and economic impacts to the area if poor bathing water quality is recorded at Bournemouth beaches. Businesses were motivated to change behaviour around surface water drains so that only rain goes down the drain.
Tarrant: The project is trialling techniques to successfully establish wetland plant/meadow communities in high nutrient conditions. The project will develop a bespoke species rich floodplain grassland/meadow seed mix and sow in a floodplain with the seed bank, soil fertility, site hydrology and ecology monitored over a 5yr period.
Stour: The project excavated and cleared a partially blocked ditch of dense vegetation and trees to produce a new shallow channel with a gentle gradient down to the river edge; a perfect habitat for maturing coarse fish fry.
The objectives across all the sub-projects are:
• Restore 1400m of river habitats
• Restore 700m of ditch habitat
• Undertake works to reconnect/re-wet 5ha of floodplain habitat, helping with flood alleviation
• Reduce tree cover and excessive shading along 250m stretch of river
• Reduce silt entering waterbody and habitat enhancement at 8 sites covering in total 340m
• Contact 200 food business and provide information to reduce the amount of chemicals that go down surface drainage gullies.
• Reduce the amount of urban diffuse pollution entering 80% of the gullies that enter the Bourne Stream
• Restore river corridor habitat and buffering by allowing the conditions needed to reinstate a natural green cover and increasing wetland plant diversity in and adjacent to 500m of watercourse
• Sow 1.5ha floodplain sward with native floodplain meadow mix
• Provide 6 case studies and demonstration sites of enhancement works locally to engage other landowners within the catchments and act as a catalyst for future improvement work.
R
The Drugeon is a 35 km long mid-mountain river, tributary of the Doubs.
Moraine deposits allow the presence of many wetlands .
The Drugeon valley is biologically very rich: 48 species of protected plants including 3 in Europe, 54 species of dragonflies including 4 protected, 80 species of butterflies including 7 protected species, 280 bird species observed (123 nesting ), 3 included in the Habitats directive. Between the late 50s and early 70s, heavy hydraulic works were carried out. Marshes and bogs were drained due the straightening and dredging of the Drugeon and its tributaries. These works, allowing to transform into agricultural land only 200 hectares, reduced by more than 8 km the length of the river and led to riverbed incision, degradation of habitats, warming of water, inducing in its turn algal development. As a result large Plecoptera and freshwater crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes) totally disappeared and the fish abundance collapsed.
From the 1990s on, awareness of environmental damage by local actors, naturalists, anglers, academics and public officers of the Ministry of Environment allowed the establishment of the " Drugeon valley protection" LIFE project, that was carried out between 1993 and 1997. After this, other restoration works have been implemented in the framework of a multiannual programme.
The main goals of the restoration activity were to restore the morphology and functionality of the Drugeon and its tributaries and to improve their water quality.
Depending on the constraints (land availability, social issues) and main biological goals, different strategies were applied:
• at the sources of Drugeon , measures to diversify the flow by adding roughness;
• in the upstream stretch , where the former meanders had been bypassed but not filled, the straightened bed was filled and the meanders reconnected; no bioengineering protection was used, except at intersections between the old meanders and the straightened channel, where willow fascines were installed;
• in the middle stretch , many meanders are reconnected and recreated ; in some cases the straightened channel is filled, in others it remains active, and a hydraulic work splits the water flow between the meander and the straightened channel;
• in the lower Drugeon valley, until the confluence with the Doubs , present land uses did not allow to restore the old river course; however, the section was diversified, with the creation of a high flow and a low flow bed, the latter lined with berms , blocks and groynes; in parallel, river bed recharge with gravel and pebble taken from the former banks was carried out.
B
The Dutch Upper Dommel is a stretch of the river Dommel from the Belgian border to the city of Eindhoven. The river flows through two nature reserves and several urban and agricultural areas. Large scale stream restarion was not possible because of pollution in this part of the stream. As a small scale measure to improve biodiversity, tree stubs and trunks were introduced on the banks. In additon, extra trees were planted to provide more shade. +
M
The EU Directive on the assessment and management of flood risks (2007/60/EC) presents a new approach to tackle flood risk management, based primarily on the prevention, protection, and preparedness, with the promotion of measures for river restoration, prediction of floods, civil protection or land management. This represents a shift over the traditional, structural approach, to the principle of avoiding unneccessary deterioration of river ecosystems, as set out in the Water Framework Directive. The project on the river Órbigo responds to these premises. The actions have been aimed at the recovery of the river area and of the functionality of the floodplain to increase the efficiency in the dissipation of floods, and to start the self-ecological recovery by connecting the river with related riparian areas.
The project was one of the IRF European Riverprize finalists in 2013. +