Property:Project summary
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The Nine Chalk Rivers project is a series of 16 restoration projects spread across nine unique chalk rivers flowing onto Norfolk’s north coast. The rivers face similar problems, most notably canalisation, disconnection from the floodplain, siltation, low flows and diffuse pollution. The projects are diverse, and include re-meandering, floodplain reconnection, silt and nutrient trapping and catchment management planning. Each project will improve the ecological health of the rivers and floodplains.
To deliver these projects, Norfolk Rivers Trust is working with landowners across Norfolk as well as the Environment Agency, Natural England, The University of East Anglia, Norfolk Wildlife Trust, Norfolk Coast AONB, RSPB, The Wild Trout Trust, The River Glaven Conservation Group and various other partners.
The outcomes of the project are the following:improving water quality and river and floodplain habitats.
Community Involvement – Norfolk Rivers Trust is involving communities in catchment management planning and project delivery through local conservation groups, community councils and stakeholder workshops. +
The Noor is a small tributary of the river Voer. The stream used to be characterized by large discharge peaks from spillways. These peaks caused a deep incision of the stream into its bed, which was undesirable. Theamount of water ending up in the river has been reduced and extra gravel was introduced into the river system to raise the bed. In addition, dead tree branches were installed in a V-shape to trap more sediment. +
U
The North Channel is a distinct channel and unit of the River Frome SSSI. It was historically much smaller and used as part of the water meadow system during the 18th and 19th Centuries within the Moreton Estate. During the 1960’s and 70’s as part of Land Drainage Improvement schemes the channel was enlarged generally through deepening allowing it to carry more flows and act as a flood relief channel. The objective of this scheme was to drain the floodplain more effectively and allow for intensification, principally for dairy farming.
The River Frome Rehabilitation Plan states the main proposals to improve the SSSI condition and WFD objectives of Unit 4 and to incorporate as part of the North Channel project are: a) increase / diversify channel bed profile creating deep pools and gullies and b) to introduce large woody debris to provide in channel habitat and vary bed profiles through scour and deposition. +
N
The North Norfolk coast has a high landscape, biodiversity and geodiversity value, with a range of statutory designations. The risk of saline flooding to farmland, freshwater/wet grassland conservation sites and property and infrastructure is managed through a suite of measures including seawalls and natural barriers. A series of schemes have been developed in the past 15 years driven by the Shoreline Management Plan and other initiatives that work with natural processes.
Between 2002 and 2015 a series of projects have restored more natural function to around 8km (18%) of the North Norfolk coast (Map 1). These locations showed good resilience to the 2013 storm surge. For example, the now naturally functioning shingle ridge at Cley, although breached in the event, closed naturally within weeks despite initial concerns that it would need artificial manipulation. +
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The Odelouca River, situated in the Algarve Region of southern Portugal is considered to have high conservation value because of the former presence of intact and floristically diverse riparian galleries along the large stretches of the river corridor (now cleared and submersed following completion of the Odelouca Dam in 2010) and the presence of critically endangered species such as the endemic fish species, the Iberian nase Iberochondrostoma almacai and the Iberian Chub Squalius aradensis and the presence of the Iberian Lynx Lynx pardinus (Fernandes et al., 2007; Hughes et al., 2012; Hughes et al., 2009; Hughes, Ferreira & Cortes, 2008; Hughes et al., 2010). The River Odelouca is situated in the Monchique Natura 2000 Network (PTCON0037).
The construction and completion in 2010 of the Odelouca Dam, ostensibly for improving water supply in the Algarve Region, has been highly contested. Initially embargoed as a result of protests presented to the European Commission (EC) by the Liga para a Protecção da Natureza (LPN) concerning violation of the area’s intrinsic conservation value and Natura 2000 status, construction finally went ahead following a ministerial decision (2005) to reactivate the dam under the condition, stipulated by the EC, that an extensive programme of monitoring, mitigation and compensatory measures be implemented to offset dam construction impacts and habitat loss.
The intact riparian corridors of the Odelouca basin were diverse in plant species. The original riparian communites of this basin have overstoreys of Fraxinus angustifolia, Salix atrocinerea, S. australis, Alnus glutinosa with sedges of Nerium oleander and Tamarisk africana and Erica lusitanicum. Community continuity and integrity changed along the watercourse, as well as habitat quality and diversity. The highest quality and most diverse riparian corridors occurred in the midsection of the course, most of which is now submerged by the Odelouca reservoir. Upstream and downstream, less well preserved corridors occur in a predominantly agricultural landscape. The lower course is the most degraded stretch in terms of habitat quality, subject to resectioning and canalization in some areas. In many places the riparian woody vegetation has been replaced by invasive reed and giant reed beds.
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The Oeffeltsche Raam is part of system of interconnected brooks, the largest of which is the Oploosche Molenbeek, that discharge into the river Meuse. The stream was lined with trees that provided shading. To improve the accessibility of the surrounding area, some trees had to be removed. This was done while trying to preserve sufficient shading. +
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The Ogwen is in a mountainous location of Snowdonia below Llyn Ogwen (Lake Ogwen), and flows northwards through the Nant Ffrancon valley.
During the 1960s the river was deepened by dredging over a 4km length downstream of the waterfall in an attempt to reduce the frequency of flooding over the valley floor to improve livestock grazing. Over the following 30 years the river flushed virtually all bed gravels through the system and scoured the river bed and banks. The reach became severely denuded of any stable habitat for flora and fauna, the once thriving salmon fishery declined and flooding was still troublesome to farmers.
Four boulder cascades were created and pool and riffle sequences created in the upper reach. Some runs of gravel were introduced and shoals were created on the inside of bends. A major erosion site was reinstated using a willow mattress technique. +
T
The Old Durham Beck catchment, to the east of Durham City and covering 55 km2, has been heavily modified by mine workings and railway infrastructure and is one of the most intensively farmed Wear tributaries. It is categorised as having moderate to poor ecological status, failing for fish, ammonia and phosphate. Walkovers identified a series of culverts obstructing fish passage. In November 2011 approximately 50 congregating salmon were observed unable to make their way upstream.
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 postimplementation 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 extended under the auspices of the Wear Catchment Management Plan. +
L
The Olympic Park will bring lasting benefits to east London. After the Games, it will be transformed to include a huge urban park. The new park will link the tidal Thames Estuary to the south and the Hertfordshire countryside to the north.
Some of the major benefits to the environment include:
*8kms of river restored
*4,000 homes protected from flood
*2 million tonnes soil decontaminated
*The largest urban park created in Europe for over 100 years
Native species planted, including oak, ash, willow, birch, hazel, holly, blackthorn and hawthorn – a home for wildlife in the middle of the city.
*30,000 tonnes of silt removed from waterways.
*280 hectares of brownfield land cleaned.
*750 bat roost and bird boxes put on site.
*45 hectares of wildlife habitat created.
*20 million gallons of contaminated groundwater treated.
*4000 homes in West Ham and Canning Town have reduced flood risk.
*99.5 per cent of construction waste re-used, recycled or recovered.
*98 per cent of material from demolition work re-used, recycled or recovered. +
O
The Onga River is the biggest tributary of the Pedja River in the upper course. It is located in Lääne-Viru and Jõgeva counties. The length of this river is 30 km and its catchment area is 109 km2. The upper course of the river is located on the Pandivere Highlands, the middle course on the Alutaguse lowlands and the lower course is located in the north of Vooremaa.
In the summers of 1988 and 1994, The Onga Rivers water was slightly alkaline: in 1988, the pH value was 7,8 in the middle course of the river and 8,0 in the lower course of the river, and in 1994, the pH value was 7,7. There is no data about the mineral content of the water. The total content of organic matter in the water was low in Juny 1988 in the middle course of the river and medium in the lower course. In July 1994, the same figure was very low in the lower course of the river.
There is no literature data regarding which fish species can be found in the Onga River. Results for test catches in 1988 showed 6 different fish species. These species were: minnow, bullhead catfish, pike, burbot, loach and stickleback. The Onga River with its cold water which mostly comes from springs, is considered a trout river.
Recent work that has been done on the river: the clearing of sediments from the Onga River, the construction of sedimentation tanks on the river and bigger dicthes, the clearing of shores from fallen trees, if necessary, opening old river beds, fixing up drain oulets, slope fixing with rocks, fixing up a bridge, rapids in the streambed, placing rocks and groups of rocks, spawning beds for brown trots, construction of fish ladder and extension of the river bed for the dam at the Selli mill, construction of winter areas for fish and bringing the Selli biological treatment plant into order.
The construction took place on a 15,5 km distance on the Onga River. It started in October 2010, ended in October 2011 and the cost of it was 326 000 euros. +
The Oostrumsche Beek is a meandering stream with a low flow velocity on a sandy substrate. It features sand bars and overhanging banks. The large number of trees on the banks influence the planform of the river and cause an accumulation of leaves and branches in the calmer parts of the stream. Part of the original bed has been closed off, forcing the stream into a wooded area. Upstream and downstream of this section, dead wood fragments have been introduced. +
The Osink-Bemersbeek is a tributary of the river Boven Slinge. It flows through a largely agricultaral area, with small patches of bank-lining vegetation. The stream yearly dries up in dry periods. The river system already has a rather good ecological quality, although it still suffers from a high nutrient load. The water authority plans to restore the entire river system to its fully meandering origins, with wide wooded buffer strips. In order to improve the ecological quality of this stream, more trees were planted on the banks and packages of dead wood were introduced by the side of the stream. +
L
The Ouche River is a 95 km long tributary of the Saône. His watershed, 916 km2, is predominantly agricultural.
The river is channelized on several sectors in order to increase the flow velocities and prevent flooding risk. Many bank protection and dikes were put in place. Due to the river dynamic, it is necessary to consolidate and strengthen the bank protection regularly
In 1992-1993, the General Council decided to take action to limit the interventions for banks protections strengthening. In 1995, a study identifies riparian areas that may be acquired.
The sector concerned presents few facilities and dams already damaged by the dynamics of the river.
3.4 hectares of land on the right bank, corresponding to a band 50 m wide, are acquired. The bank protection are not deleted because they are already severely degraded by the flow dynamics. However, actions are taken to sensitize residents to the non-interventionist approach. Landowners are compensated. +
O
The Overijssels kanaal is a regional channel that discharges into the river IJssel. The water authority Drents Overijsselse Delta created more structural variation in this stream to improve its ecological quality and meet WFD criteria. The banks were divided into a green and a blue zone. In the blue zone, vegetation was regularly removed to ensure flow continuity. In the green zone, vegetation is removed less regularly and in a way that contributes to a varied flow structure. In the Overijssels kanaal, reed is removed in the summer months. Additonally, fish passages have been created. +
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Improvement of ecological state of the river Pisuerga between the dam of Aguilar de Campo and Alar del Rey (Palencia) - 1st Stage. +
The Pisuerga River has a high regulation of the flow regime, which determines an artificial and seasoned flow regime. Also, the massive release of sediments is affected by the presence of weirs, which difficult and blocks the mobility for fish upstream migration and habitat availability.
This is the first stage of the total project which involves mitigation and preventive measures. The global objectives are: Improve aquatic habitats and recover aquatic communities; improve longitudinal connectivity; stream bank stabilization; improve the structure and composition of the vegetation. The measures comprise earthworks for bank stabilization (to reduce erosion and sediment input, and facilitate the establishment of vegetation), the installation of fish pass and the rehabilitation of spawning areas.
The project has a total budget of 3.135.508 € and is financed by the Ministry of Environment, as part of the National Strategy for River Restoration. +
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The Pocket Park was constructed using the opportunity of a collapsed section of culverted watercourse. The Park provides amenity and biodiversity benefits to the local residents and businesses, as well as flood mitigation.
https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2017/aug/29/river-runs-global-movement-daylight-urban-rivers +
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LIFE Charcos - Conservação de Charcos Temporários na Costa Sudoeste de Portugal (Conservation of Med Temporary Ponds in SW Portugal) +
The Project LIFE CHARCOS aims to promote the conservation of a priority habitat – the Mediterranean Temporary Ponds (MTP) (priority habitat 3170* of the Annex I of EU Habitats Directive) - which is increasingly threatened due to its ecological fragility and by a lack of knowledge regarding its natural value. Moreover, in the last two-decades, land management options, such as modern industrialised agriculture and tourism have caused a steep decline in the condition of this habitat in the N2000 site.
This project involves a strong partnership that allies the experience in implementing concrete conservation management measures (LPN), scientific knowledge (UÉvora, UAlg and CCMAR) and local stakeholders dealing with land management (ABM and CMO), which will contribute decisively to the successful implementation of conservation actions.
The project consists in a well structured frame of actions that aims to tackle CTM conservation issues posed in the Costa do Sudoeste SCI. Preparatory actions will consolidate scientific knowledge as hidrogeological functioning (A3) and biological survey (A1). Compilation of this information and its integration in a GIS (A2) will support management decisions (actions B and C). The project intends to establish conservation status evaluation criteria (A4) and define CTM management guidelines (A5). The project team will work close with landowners (B1, B2), either for conservation and restoration of ponds (C2, C3), as well as, to promote extensive grazing and habitat connectivity (C1, C6). Seed bank is intended as a repository of native germoplasm (C4) to be used in the restoration actions of the project. Restoration actions will focus on restoring hydrology and hydroperiod, taking into account the basin topography. Removal of exotic and upland scrubby plant species will be done. The restoration of a
specific temporary pond will be devoted for public awareness (C5). +
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The Project Objectives are the following: 1. Implementation of the Management Plan for the protected area and of its activities; 2. Improving the conservation status and population status of species and habitats of high conservation value; 3. Limit the impact of negative impacts on biodiversity; 4. Create conditions for sustainable management and use of resources and the biodiversity of the protected; 5. Raising public awareness of the conservation value of the site and involvement of citizens in the measures for its preservation. +
B
The Raam region originally featured many small moors and bogs, connected by natural stream valleys. When the area was exploited for its peat, several waterways were dug to ensure sufficient drainage for peat extraction. The upper stretch of the Lage Raam is one of these waterways. This artificial channel was connected to the natural lower stretch of the Lage Raam. This water body is classified as a freshwater buffered ditch (M1a). The dug-out Lage Raam receives water from the Tovensche Beek and Ledeackerse Beek and discharges into the (natural) Lage Raam. +
T
The Raba River is located in southern of Poland and is one of the tributaries of the River Vistula. The restoration was carried out as the aim of reinforcing the corridor boundaries without a disturbing the river channel. The objective of the restoration was to increase retention of flood water avoiding regulation and bank reinforcement, conserving the river habitats and their connectivity focusing on river subjectivity, its features and needs in objective to attain a quasi-natural state of the valley.
Steps and progress of the restoration (technical work)?
Erodible corridor on the stem river; Decommissioning of check dams on two tributaries; Monitoring and maintenance of riffles as the features controlling channel conveyance
- Discovered good restoration practices (i.e. techniques, methods, practices)?
Preparation of the guidelines ‘Possible technical and biological interventions in mountain river maintenance’ for river managers
Expected results:
- Changes in hydromorphological, biological or physico-chemical elements of the watercourse after restoration?
Increased habitat heterogeneity in the stem river and tributaries; Enhanced storage of bed material improving the spawning conditions for fish; Re-establishing the longitudinal connectivity of the tributaries; Reduced maximum summer temperatures of the river water; Improved condition of fish populations; Reduced occurrence of invasive alien plant species in the riparian area
- Other results (awareness-raising, land purchase, payment for ecosystem services, etc.)?
Raising the environmental awareness among river managers and local inhabitants; Arresting and reversal of the tendency to channel incision, in the long-term allowing to re-establish the conditions of geomorphic dynamic equilibrium; Increased retention of flood water in the river reach within the erodible corridor; Re-establishing the formation of early successional stages of riparian plant communities +