Property:Project summary
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I
The Inturia dam was removed in four stages due to the size of its infrastructure and
the large volume of sediment accumulated in its reservoir. A staged demolition is more
natural since it involves a gradual restoration of the solid flow regime. In each
performance, 3 meters high are removed from the wall of the dam.
Before the first demolition stage, the useful volume of the dam was estimated at
70,500 m3 as the sediments had filled the dam. The flooded area of the reservoir was
between 38,000 and 40,000 m2. The three existing drains placed in the bottom of the
dam did not work.
The pre-demolition works was aimed to protect the Bertxin dam, located downstream,
from the released sediments. In addition, it was proceeded to partly emptying the
dammed area by gradually opening the bottom drainage.
The removal works of the Inturia dam lasted four years, one for each stage of the
project. In this way, the changes that have occurred in the river between stages can be
evaluated. The actions were performed in summer when the flow is low, except in the
stage 4 that was done in January.
The reservoir accumulated about 236,000 m3 of sediment. The river mobilized about
60,000 m3 in each stage.
In order to start the works, it is necessary to first make a land access to reach the river.
Approximately 300 m3 of material was used to make these roads. This material was
removed after the work and was re-used in the following stage of the removal process
(a year before).
After the last phase, a path was made along the right side to allow fishermen access to
the river. Finally, a viewpoint has been created where a plaque has been placed with
photos and data explaining the process and the importance of this removal. +
T
The Irwell Rivers Trust and partners aim to deliver a range of weir removal, culvert removal and fish easement projects on the Kirklees Brook to improve the Brooks WFD HMWB status (to Good) +
I
The Isar Plan Project is a river restoration project on a stretch of 8Km in the inner city of Munich. The Project was initiated in 2000 and the last site was completed by 2011. The three main goals of the project were:
1) Flood protection
2) Enhancing Species diversity and ecological restoration
3) Improving leisure and recreation +
R
The Jarama River is completely anthropized. Changes in land use have reduced the space available for the river, and thus its loss of functionality (decrease the width of the banks, regression of natural riparian vegetation, alteration of channel morphology, disappearance of sandbars, etc). The gravel extraction involves the appearance of lagoons, although they are important habitats for waterfowl, are a major source of water loss by evaporation, affecting river flow.
Main actions and works are lowering of lateral slopes and riparian tree planting to recover river dynamic.
The project has a total budget of 558.453,5 € and is financed by the Community of Madrid. +
J
The Jufferbeek is a very small stream with an irregular discharge. It is a tributary of the Deurningerbeek and Regge. Parts of the stream are still meandering, but other parts, that are close to urban or industrial areas, have been straightened. In 2006, dead wood was introduced in this stream. The purpose of this exercise was to restore the circulation of organic detritus and provide a habitat for particular species. It was also meant to raise the streambed and increase the retention capacity. +
B
The Keersop has its origin in the Elzenloop, then flows past Luyksgestel, Bergeijk, Westerhoven, Dommelen and finally discharges into the Dommel near Westerhoven. The main purposes of the planned measures is to make the straightened stream more natural again and increase the flow velocity in certain stretches. A secondary purpose is the restoration of the water depleted natural areas around the Keersop and Beekloop streams. Finally, the water authority will cooperate with farmers to improve water management in the area, as part of the integral desirable ground and surface water regime (NL: Gewenste Grond- en Oppervlaktewater Regime (GGOR)).
Several restoration measures were carried out over the full length of the Keersop, varying from traditional stream restoration to Building with Nature. Building with Nature measures were implemented at trajectories 147, 148, 150, 151, 160, 161, 162, 163 (Factsheet NL27_BO_3_2). +
W
The Kennet and Avon canal and the River Dun run parallel and in a number of places use the same channel and connect via overspill weirs. There have been concerns about the condition of the River Kennet and the associated impact of canal water on the ecology of the Rivers Dun and Kennet. Poor water quality is caused by diffuse pollution, nutrient enrichment and slow flowing water. Objectives: From upstream to downstream, bypass weir structures adjacent to seven locks along the Kennet and Avon canal to improve water quality and environmental enhancement within the River Dun catchment (including the River Kennet and the Kennet & Avon Canal). This will effectively retain the turbid water in the canal avoiding discharge to the river. The project will result in a reduction of canal & river interaction in the Dun valley, reducing the impacts of rural diffuse pollution within the River Kennet SSSI and River Dun part of Freemans Marsh SSSI over several miles of watercourse. It will also contribute towards achieving good ecological status of the Rivers Dun and Kennet (currently moderate), particularly for fish, with the benefits particularly evident during early spring and throughout the summer when river ecology is at its most sensitive. +
K
The Kleine Beerze is a small stream that merges with the Groote Beerze. Currently, the flow velocity in the channel is too low as a consequence of straightening. This sometimes leads to the stream falling dry in periods with little rainfall. Biodiversity in the Kleine Beerze is rather low. Main channel mowing was used as a strategy to enhance diversity in flow velocity, macroinvertebrates and vegetation. In addition to this small-scale building with nature measure, efforts are made to recreate a meandering trajectory for the stream. Furthermore, effects of waterbed pollution are also being researched and various barriers have been made passable for fish. +
R
The Kocksbybäcken brook is a tributary of the Ingarskilanjoki River in Degerby village in the municipality of Inkoo. The catchment area of the brook is 11 km2. Kocksbybäcken brook was restored in the as the aim of enhancing the habitat diversity of the brook for migratory trout. The object was to support the natural development of the brook by adding sinousity and width and depth variation. Also stones and gravel were added and replaced to create habitats for the brown trout. The restored part was 330m Brook serves as a drainage channel for the surrounding agricultural fields
In the case of Kocksbybäcken brook, only few trouts were found in the research section in 2005 before restoration. However, the number of juvenile trouts in the reference section downstream was exceptionally high, with 300 juveniles per 100 m². After restoration in 2006, only few trouts were found in the reference section and none in the restored section. One reason was that the year was too dry for juvenile trout production. In 2007 trout number increased in the restored section +
T
The Koffiegoot is a stream running from the Haaksbergerveen to the river Berkel that is named after the brown color it gets from its peaty substrate.
Water authority Rijn en IJssel will re-design the stream and its surroundings. This is supposed to improve the opportunities fort he natural stream system to develop, retain more water and make the natural features more prominent.
The landscape should develop into a small-scale landscape with pools, heathland, grassland and patches of deciduous woodland. The pools will be conncected by a narrow stream that gradually widens and starts to meander. Vegetated earth walls and local bogs create a varied landscape. +
R
The Koskenkylänjoki River is located in south-east of Finland and it runs into The Gulf of Finland. The River was restored year 2006. Restorations were done as the aim of improving the River for migratory fish. Nature-like fishways were constructed and breeding habitats were created by adding stone and grave material into the river bed. +
L
The LIFE+ project ”Conservation and Recovery of Austropotamobius pallipes in Italian Natura2000 Sites" provides for the implementation of specific actions for the protection and conservation on the species Austropotamobius pallipes. CRAINat was funded under the EU LIFE + 2008 program. CRAINat provides for the implementation of specific actions for the protection and conservation on the species Austropotamobius pallipes (also known with its common name of white clawed crayfish), species in a high conservation priority, included in Annexes II and V of Directive 92/43/EEC "Habitat".
The project includes over 60 actions and will be carried out in the same time in two geographical areas, northern Italy (Lombardy Region) and central Italy (Abruzzo Region, Provinces of Chieti and Isernia and National Park of Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga), within more than 40 SCI.
The initiative is the natural continuation of previous projects also supported by EU's LIFE program; its mean objective is the preservation / increasing of native crayfish populations through actions that will be realized in nature and actions of ex situ conservation.
In fact, in addition to reconnaissance of the watercourses in the SCI of Lombardy, Abruzzo and Molise territories, activities will be carried out on genetic characterization, monitoring actions and containment of non-native species, maintenance actions, habitat restoration, as well as specific actions to spread young individuals in suitable surface water bodies in the involved SCIs.
For the above mentioned activity of introduction/reintroduction, structures for captive reproduction will be built and adapted in Lombardy, Abruzzo and Molise territories , in which reproductors will be placed for coupling and produce the juveniles to be released in suitable watercourses.
These actions of protection and conservation will be accompanied by the experimental realization of source areas, sinuous channels parallel to watercourses, which can slow down the water flow, to allow the reproduction of individuals housed and at the same to spread the connected water bodies.
The Lactariabeek is a small stream in a natural stream valley. The surrounding area is composed of woods and agricultural land. It has been straightened in several locations. Six packages of dead wood were introduced in the wooded part of the Lactariabeek stream. The water board performed this experiment to get more experience with dead wood after the successful Snelle Loop experiment. +
LakeAdmin - Chadwick lakes - Plan to improve the surface water quality and reservoir restoration in the Chadwick lakes area +
The LakeAdmin Project (Interreg IVC) consists of ten partners from nine countries including Finland, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy and Malta. The LakeAdmin project aims at an exchange of good water management practices to support the implementation of the Water Framework Directive in each of the partner regions and to produce case study collection on restoration and management experiences and water quality data from the relevant lakes in each partner region covering the last 30 years. All participating regions have identified lakes as important elements in their regional development policies.
The Chadwick lakes are a succession of artificial dams built by a colonial engineer, known as Sir Oswald Chadwick. This originally man-made environment progressively evolved into a natural haven. The water system represents one of the best examples of rainwater-fed watercourses on the island, and still today, the area still provides a good flood protection and a water service system for the irrigation of fields. Apart from that, the area is a naturalistic spot used for recreational activities. Inland surface and transitional waters often are of great ecological importance because they harbour a number of species and habitats of conservation value. Indeed, many inland waters in Malta have been scheduled as Areas of Ecological and/or Scientific Importance, and are also part of Natura 2000 sites designated under the EU Habitats and Birds Directive. In the case of Chadwick Lakes, there is a significant lack since the area is not scheduled as a Natura 2000 site and is not even present in the water quality assessments carried out by the Water Catchment Management Plan.
The Chadwick Lakes area embodies great naturalistic value and plays an important role in the ecosystem balance of the island. Moreover, is it a tourist/leisure attraction of unique beauty. For a better conservation and restoration of the whole area, a holistic management plan is necessary, together with the update of policies and the implementation of restoration measures.
Concepts and overall strategy of the Plan:
1. WATER MANAGEMENT:
1.1. Structural restoration and maintenance of reservoirs
1.2. Natural water purification systems
2. LANDSCAPE RESTORATION:
2.1. Naturalisation of shoreline and watercourse rehabilitation
2.2. Vegetation management plan
3. SITE MANAGEMENT
3.1. Creation of a good system of access points, paths and tracks
3.2. Provision of new facilities addressed to the community and visitors
3.3. Organization of events, environmental education, visits for students, hiking tours
4. MONITORING
4.1. Drafting of a monitoring plan
4.2. Installation of weather stations and water level stations
4.3. Sampling campaigns for monitoring of chemical, physical and biological parameters
4.4. Periodical control on chosen indicators
4.5. Co-operation with University and Analysis Laboratories
5. GOVERNANCE
5.1. Involvement of authorities for the definition of policies and actions
5.2. Organization of workshops and courses involving local farmers and other stakeholders
5.3. Awareness-raising activities targeted to local citizens and schools
D
The Leek and District Fly Fishing Association (LDFFA) undertook work to remove an artificial weir in an attempt to restore a more natural flow to the river. The river was also 're-wilded' to introduce woody debris and other material to enhance fish habitats.
Warning signs provided to stop public removing debris or rebuilding weirs. +
B
The Leerinkbeek water body is classified as a river under the WFD system. It is an R5 category water body: slow-flowing middle/lower reach on sand. The entire Leerinkbeek is managed by water authority Rijn en IJssel. The water body is located in the province of Gelderland, municipality Berkelland. It is 8,4 km long and has a catchment of 4051 hectares. The water body consists of a single channel. The water body originates in the Hupselse Beek, near the loam pits at Zwilbrock. The Leerinkbeek discharges into the Berkel. Water levels in the Leerinkbeek are managed with six adjustable weirs. None of these weirs are passable for fish. In the Leerinkbeek water body, a single maximum water level is pursued for each managed stretch, for which the weirs are used. In dry periods, the 44 upstream stretches of the water body run dry. There are no sewage treatment plants present in the catchment of the Leerinkbeek.
Five bundles were introduced over the full width of the stream. This was mainly done as an experiment with the introduction of dead wood in streams. +
L
The Lek river is one of the major Rhine tributaries in the Netherlands. The river is channelised and groynes are present to keep the river suitable for navigation purposes. Also, banks are fixated to avoid sediment input into the main channel. The specific site of this project is situated near the town of Everdingen. The area is characterized by continual passing of ships and barges. This causes disturbance of the water flow which in turn is thought to disturb the biota in the groyne areas.
To avert the disturbance in the water flow caused by passing ships a number of groynes were shielded off by artificial structures placed in front of the groynes. These structures were made of two rows of wooden poles with branches in between them. The reasoning behind this measure was that the coils in the water would be stopped by these poles and a more suitable habitat, primarily for macrophytes, would be established in the groyne fields. The presence of macrophytes would in turn increase habitat availability for fish and benthic invertebrates. Benthic invertebrates were thought to also be able to benefit from the newly available substratum of the wooden poles. In some of the groyne fields the bank fixation was (partially) removed so that more knowledge of the effect of the shielding could be retrieved from monitoring efforts.
The goal of the project was to stimulate the development of shore and waterplant vegetation. This may also positively affect the other WFD BQEs, namely benthic invertebrates and fish. No definitive values were determined for the success or failure of the project or the respective BQEs at the start of the project. The BQEs were all monitored and evaluated by experts in their respective fields. +
U
The Limestone Becks are located over a 3,000km2 limestone ridge in the west of Lincolnshire and are supplied by consistent flows of high-quality groundwater. They are isolated and unique, and if in good condition, have potential to support a rich aquatic flora and fauna, rarely found in Eastern England.
Cringle Brook is a 12km limestone beck exemplifying both good and poor river habitat. The lower sections of the Brook remain relatively natural whilst the Upper Cringle Brook, historically straightened and deepened, faces a range of pressures including deterioration in habitat quality through changing management practices and diffuse pollution from the wider catchment, damaging it to such an extent it is substantially poorer ecologically.
The current overall WFD status is moderate with invertebrates and macrophytes at moderate (2019 classification).
Cringle Brook is also a catchment for supply of public drinking water, currently closed due to elevated pesticide concentrations. The site is also downstream of Skillington village waste-water treatment plant where phosphate treatment options are limited. A separate project is being undertaken in the wider catchment to address diffuse pollution however, it is anticipated that the new wetland areas created by this project will help provide some degree of natural attenuation.
The project location at the top of the Witham catchment was deemed ideal as natural processes could be used to make space for water and help trap sediment. This project included 1km of the Upper Cringle Brook, which was un-farmed, dry floodplain, with the deepened and straightened channel running along the Southern edge. The channel and floodplain were completely disconnected, and the channel habitat was very poor.
Previous experience in the Upper Witham Catchment has shown that the only effective option for restoration is to provide the river with a floodplain. In-channel measures alone would not make a worthwhile improvement. This is why other options were not considered.
1 ha (the maximum area agreed by the landowner) of inset floodplain was excavated along the 1km stretch with secondary channels, back channels and ponds added and some trees from the site were pulled across the new floodplain, enabling natural processes to be restarted, creating diversity and sinuosity in the channel. Without this action, the habitat will not be improved and a WFD reason for failure will not be addressed. Spoil generated from the excavations was used on the same site to create a 1.7 ha wildflower area adjacent to the floodplain.
L
The Linde is originally a slowly flowing lowland stream on a sandy substrate. The stream has changed because of straightening, normalization and bank stabilising measures. To meet WFD criteria, abandoned meanders are being dug out and spillways are created to lead the water through the channel. In addition, the mowing regime will be changed to main channel mowing. This is supposed to increase the presence of aquatic plants. Maintenance is reduced to the minimum that is required to prevent the waterway from getting clogged by sediment. The proper timing of maintenance will be determined visually. +
The Logie Burn is graded as poor for its ecological status due to diffuse sediment and nutrient inputs in addition to morphological alteration. These issues are related to agricultural and drainage improvement over many decades that have also led to a deterioration of water quality in Loch Davan into which the Logie Burn flows.
During the 1960s, two meanders in a lower part of the channel were cut-off through the creation of a straight 187 m reach leading to a localised loss of morphological and habitat diversity. The restoration project aimed to re-connect the two old meanders that had filled in with fine sediment and organic material but which essentially remained intact. The primary purposes of the re-connection were to restore morphology, improve habitat quality in the National Nature Reserve, improve water quality and reduce sedimentation in Loch Davan, enhance riparian habitat diversity and demonstrate this meander restoration to river managers. It is expected that the reconnected meanders and newly created backwaters will help to capture nutrient rich fine sediment and in turn reduce its transfer into Loch Davan.
A monitoring program conducted by the James Hutton Institute, commenced in July 2011 to assess how the morphology, habitat, phosphorous storage and the flood attenuation capacity of the reach change over time. Topographical and sedimentary surveys were undertaken before and after the re-connection and will be repeated annually. In addition, stream flow is being continuously monitored to allow assessment of the flood attenuation capacity and to help understand the morphological changes observed. In 2012, a control reach upstream was established to facilitate comparison of changes in the impact (re-meandered) reach with those that occur within the existing, degraded stream.
The primary funder for the project was the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). If you are interested in applying for funding to deliver other projects in Scotland, visit SEPA's Water Environment Fund webpage (http://www.sepa.org.uk/water/water_environment_fund.aspx). The River Restoration Centre would like to thank Estelle Gill and Stephen Addy, from Scottish Natural Heritage and The James Hutton Institute respectively, for providing the information and photographs for this case study.