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R
The River Keskijoki is 1 800 meters long and it flows though forest areas from the Lake Yli-Soppanajärvi to the Lake Soppanajärvi. The river bed is mainly sand and contains rocks and gravel. The water quality in the river is good or very good.
The Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment for Lapland restored three sections in the river. The restoration was made to improve the living conditions of the fish and other species. Rocks and gravel was placed to the river to make rapid areas more suitable for the trouts to reproduce. The aim of the retoration was to improve the living conditions of migratory fish and to make the river more nature-like and closer to its natural state. Trouts, grayling and macro invertebrates will benefit from the restoration and not only in the river but also in the nearby lakes. The rivers in the area are straightened for log floating since 1900 century. Also the natural state in the rivers are altered because of intense forestry and bog drainage.
The restoration plan was accepted 4.3.2011 and the work started immediately. The plan was restore six rivers in the area. The area is highly appreciated among the fly fishers and its very popular recreational area.
The restoration plan aimed to slow down the current and produce suitable nesting habitats for the trouts and shelter places for the juveniles. Also versatility to the river bed was improved by digging few wider areas. Gravel was brought approximately 40 m3 and placed to the river in several places bed to ensure the nesting habitats for the migratory fish. Before the restoration many stones were taken away from from the river and places a side of the river. All the stones that were piled up next to the river were used in the restoration work.
The lenght of the first restored area is 545 meters and the width is 8 in average the area in total was 4 360 m2. The Second was 150 meters long, width 8 meters and the area in total was 1 200 m2. The restored rapid area in the totally was 1900 m2. The thirds section was 200 meters, width 5 meters and the area was 1000 m2.
The River Knipån is located in South-East of Sweden in Knipåns nature reserve which is also an important groundwater area. River Knipån is important reproduction area for trout, European greyling and also endangered species European River Mussle and European River Lamprey. The River Knipån has been restored to improve the conditions for migrating fish and other aquatic organisms. There has been f.ex. damremovals and other improvements done in the stream. Also lakes Furusjön and Knipesjön in the upstreams of River Knipån has been chalced in 1991 which has improved the water quality for fish, like trout, sensitive to acidification. +
The River Korvajoki is 2 900 meters long and it flows though forest areas from the Lake Korvajärvi to the Lake Simojärvi. The river bed is mainly sand and contains rocks and gravel. The water quality in the river is good or very good.
The Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment for Lapland restored three sections in the river. The restoration was made to improve the living conditions of the fish and other species. Rocks and gravel was placed to the river to make rapid areas more suitable for the trouts to reproduce. The aim of the retoration was to improve the living conditions of migratory fish and to make the river more nature-like and closer to its natural state. Trouts, grayling and macro invertebrates will benefit from the restoration and not only in the river but also in the nearby lakes. The rivers in the area are straightened for log floating since 1900 century. Also the natural state in the rivers are altered because of intense forestry and bog drainage.
The restoration plan was accepted 4.3.2011 and the work started immediately. The plan was restore six rivers in the area. The area is highly appreciated among the fly fishers and its very popular recreational area.
The restoration plan aimed to slow down the current and produce suitable nesting habitats for the trouts and shelter places for the juveniles. Also versatility to the river bed was improved by digging few wider areas. Gravel was brought and placed to the river in several places bed to ensure the nesting habitats for the migratory fish. Before the restoration many stones were taken away from from the river and places a side of the river. All the stones that were piled up next to the river were used in the restoration work. Tree junks and other wooden material was used to make the flow more versatile and give more sheltered areas for juveline fish and living habitats and food for macro inveretbrates.
The lenght of the first restored area is 1 170 meters and the width is 2,5 in average the area in total was 3 000 m2. The second was not restored in anyhw beacuse there are several extremely vulnerable pearl mussels (Margaritifera margaritifera). The thirds section was 600 meters, width 3 meters and the area was 2 000 m2. The flow in that sections was slow so the gravel, rocks and wooden particles were placed in the channel to make the flow curve more.
M
The River Lea flows along the eastern edge of Manor Road Park in a deep, restricted channel. The riverbed is concrete and the river runs between concrete walls or steps with metal railings.
The way the river flows means that silt covers the natural gravels, making it harder for fish and other creatures to thrive. The high walls separate the river from the floodplain which can put other areas of the town at risk of flooding. Above all, the river is unwelcoming and hidden from the local communities who could be enjoying a rich natural environment. +
T
The River Nar has been historically modified for human use, changing its channel size and shape, and in places the river’s course. These changes have negatively impacted on the wildlife of the river. The River Nar below Narborough is heavily modified flowing between steep flood banks, with little in stream character. The proposed project, which runs from Pentney Abbey to Blackborough End (see map), looks at improving habitat diversity and wildlife.
Project aims to improve:
The channel morphology,the flow regime, fish spawning habitat, fish & invertebrate habitat, aquatic and riparian plant habitat.
The project is currently going through the design and consultation process. Expected delivery in autumn/winter 2014. +
E
The River Nar has been historically modified for human use, changing its channel size and shape, and in places the river’s course. These changes have negatively impacted on the wildlife of the river. The River Nar through Emmanuel’s Common has historically been used for water meadows to graze animals. The river has been deepened and straightened to enable drainage of the site and to increase water flow to power Newton Mill. By looking at historic maps and investigating on the ground you can see the old meandering channel through the woodland.
The project within the common has now been completed. We have delivered the restoration scheme as planned where we wanted to reconnect 600m of old channel constructing one new length of channel to make the meander sequence link up.
The project aims to reconnect the old meandering channel, open up some of the channel by removing scrub to allow light in, improve flow regime, improve fish & invertebrate habitat, and improve aquatic and riparian plant habitat.
Reinstating the old channel by creating a short linking channel upstream and reconnecting the meanders downstream.
The lower channel accounted for 80% of the project time. The available route passed through a slightly raised part of the flood-plain and in the middle reaches it was a challenge to peel away enough ground to make the correct, naturally shallow cross-section. There was little fall to play with too and the main river to which the new channel returned has been dredged and so tuning the gradient proved very tricky. It was worth the effort though. When the flows finally broke through the new channel worked perfectly, with good velocity and no unintentional impoundments. +
H
The River Nestos is 230 km long, flowing from the Rila Mountains into the Aegean Sea through Bulgaria and northern Greece. Before it reaches the sea, the main river spreads over the coastal plain of Chrysoupolis and expands as a deltaic system with freshwater lakes and ponds forming the Nestos delta. The river also traverses a unique gorge towards the end of its course, which is home to many raptors, including the Griffon vulture (''Gyps fulvus'').
The delta comprises extensive sand dunes, residual riparian forest, lagoons, water meadows and other important habitats for birds and various mammals such as the otter and the jackal. It has been classified as a wetland of international importance (Ramsar site) and the gorge as an "Aesthetic forest" in accordance with national forestry legislation. The region has the most extensive riparian forest in Greece. The complex mosaic of habitats gives the region particularly rich biodiversity, but there are major problems, the main of which are: the lack of water resource management; the expansion of agricultural activities; species disturbance by various human activities; the degradation of key habitats, such as breeding islands in the lagoons; and various illegal activities, such as poaching or use of poisoned baits.
The main goal of the LIFE project carried out between 2002 and 2006 was the protection and management of raptors and terns and their habitats in three sites across two neighbouring Natura 2000 Special Protection Areas along the River Nestos.
The project targeted improved management of water resources. It sought to achieve this by reconnecting tributaries at four points on the river in order to restore some of the functions of the natural ecosystem, including freshwater marshes and riparian forests.
It also specifically aimed to restore around 35 hectares of riparian forest in such a way as to join up the remaining forest sections.
At the same time, the project wanted to implement activities for specific bird species, including a system of artificial feeding for vultures in the Nestos gorge and rehabilitation of breeding islands for pelicans and terns in the lagoons.
Human activities would be controlled by setting up a surveillance team and by reducing fishing in return for compensatory measures for fishermen. Nature trails were to be constructed to improve understanding by the public of the valuable ecosystems and to allow controlled human interaction with the habitats.
The project reforested 60 ha of natural riparian forests on former agricultural land.
Based on detailed mapping research, four old river branches were reconnected with the main river to enable the recovery of freshwater marshes and riparian forests. The reconnections allow for groundwater recharge and protect against salt-water intrusion at the river mouth, thus enhancing the habitat for aquatic species such as water turtles, otters and fish species.
Eight specially designed fenced floating rafts - 5x4 m - were installed in the lagoons of the Nestos delta to provide roosting and nesting sites for terns. The rafts were immediately used by terns in the breeding season. They were especially designed and constructed to deter land predators such as stray dogs or jackals from accessing the nests and this has been seen to be effective.
D
The River Nora is located in the North of Spain, in Asturias, and is part of the Nalon Basin. The project described here is the demolition of a small obsolete weir which has ended his achievement concession.
The longitudinal continuity of the river was interrupted by some artificial obstacles, especially older bypass channels. In the town of Guyame there was a dam with triangular section, (approximate dimensions of 60 x 8 x 2 m) which is the obstacle removed in this project.
The project's main objective was the return of continuous longitudinal section of river affected by the dam. In addition, we proceeded to clean up part of the riverside vegetation blocking the channel, thereby increasing the hydraulic capacity.
The restoration works were carried out in late 2007 by the company TRAGSA. The works will be controlled and managed through the North Hydrographic Confederation. +
R
The River Odense is designated as pSCI and Odense Fjord as pSCI and SPA for its ecological value and importance in sustaining bird and freshwater species. "Unio crassus" is a species of freshwater mussel with declining populations all across Europe, which is only found in the River Odense in Denmark.
The river-fjord ecosystem, with its habitat types and bird species, is vulnerable to deterioration due to poor physical variation in River Odense, heavy nutrient loads into the Odense Fjord and degradation of the wetlands. In 2004 the project “Regional Actions for Improvement of Nature in River Odense and Odense Fjord” (REGAIN) was approved by the EU as a LIFE Nature project, for which financing was secured from a combination of grants from the state and the county.
The REGAIN project aimed to enhance the conservation status of the shallow inlet Odense Fjord and to improve the ecological conditions in River Odense, including the sea meadows along the shores of Odense Fjord and of various fresh water wetlands on River Odense riparian areas. This is to meet good conservation status under the Habitats Directive for the species included in Annex II: "Unio crassus", "Vertiego moulinsiana", "Lampetra planeri" and "Cobitis taenia".
In order to address the main issues in the area towards an improved ecological and conservation status, the project measures were to obtain more natural hydrological conditions and more varied physical conditions, to decrease the availability of nutrients, to decrease the biotope area and to apply good management practices in the restored areas. +
The River Oulujoki was former known as an excellent salmon river. In the early 1940´s started constructions of the waterpower plants and fish migration was hindered. Nowadays there are seven waterpower plants in the River Oulujoki and the whole river is harnessed for water production.
Restorations of the Oulujoki River started at 1998 as the aim of restoring the river for recreation, fishing, and tourism. Merikoski fishway was the first step towards more natural river corridor and enabling migrating fish to rise up to the lower reaches of the river. In the beginning of 2009 North Ostrobothnian and Kainuu Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment and Finnish Game and Fisheries Research Institute started the project “Oulujoki fishways - planning and supportive actions” funded by European Regional Development Fund. The object was to recreate habitats and reproduction areas for trout for the whole river length. As part of this project fishway plans for six other water power plants was made. +
The River Paasonjoki is 4 930 meters long and it flows though forest areas from the Lake Paasonjärvi to the Lake Yli-Soppanajärvi. The catchment area is 97,92 km2.
The river bed is mainly sand and contains rocks and gravel. A big part of the river is marked as nature conservation area. The water quality in the river is good or very good.
The Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment for Lapland restored four sections in the River.
The restoration was made to improve the living conditions of the fish and other species. Rocks and gravel was placed to the river to make rapid areas more suitable for the trouts to reproduce. The aim of the retoration was to improve the living conditions of migratory fish and to make the river more nature-like and closer to its natural state.
Trouts, grayling and macro invertebrates will benefit from the restoration and not only in the river but also in the nearby lakes. The rivers in the area are straightened for log floating since 1900 century. Also the natural state in the rivers are altered because of intense forestry and bog drainage.
The restoration plan was accepted 4.3.2011 and the work started immediately. The plan was restore six rivers in the area. The area is highly appreciated among the fly fishers and its very popular recreational area.
The restoration plan aimed to slow down the current and produce suitable nesting habitats for the trouts and shelter places for the juveniles. Also versatility to the river bed was improved by digging few wider areas. Gravel was brought approximately 40 m3 and placed to the river in several places bed to ensure the nesting habitats for the migratory fish. Before the restoration many stones were taken away from from the river and places a side of the river. All the stones that were piled up next to the river were used in the restoration work.
Also in the section three, the channel curve was altered in few places so that the erosion that occured in the channel would be protected from further erosion. Also in the section four the river was made more curvy to reduce the erosion in the channel and to protect the sand from accumulating to the river bed.
The lenght of the first restored area is 430 meters and the width is 4,3 in average. The restored rapid area in the totally was 1900 m2. The Second was 540 meters long, width 6 meters and the area in total was 3 240 m2. The thirds section was 300 meters, width 6 meters and the area was 1 800 m2. The last section was 570 meters long, width 8 meters and the total area reached up to 4 560 m2. The elevations difference in the restored area was 18 meters.
The River Paha-Paasonjoki is 2 020 meters long and it flows though forest areas from the Lake Paha-Paasonjärvi to the river Paasonjoki. The river bed is mainly sand and contains rocks and gravel. A big part of the river is marked as nature conservation area. The water quality in the river is good or very good.
The Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment for Lapland restored three sections in the River. The restoration was made to improve the living conditions of the fish and other species. Rocks and gravel was placed to the river to make rapid areas more suitable for the trouts to reproduce. The aim of the retoration was to improve the living conditions of migratory fish and to make the river more nature-like and closer to its natural state. Trouts, grayling and macro invertebrates will benefit from the restoration and not only in the river but also in the nearby lakes. The rivers in the area are straightened for log floating since 1900 century. Also the natural state in the rivers are altered because of intense forestry and bog drainage.
The restoration plan was accepted 4.3.2011 and the work started immediately. The plan was restore six rivers in the area. The area is highly appreciated among the fly fishers and its very popular recreational area.
The restoration plan aimed to slow down the current and produce suitable nesting habitats for the trouts and shelter places for the juveniles. Also versatility to the river bed was improved by digging few wider areas. Gravel was brought approximately 40 m3 and placed to the river in several places bed to ensure the nesting habitats for the migratory fish. Before the restoration many stones were taken away from from the river and places a side of the river. All the stones that were piled up next to the river were used in the restoration work. Also wooden material was used to give more habiitats for invertebrates and versatility to the river flow.
The lenght of the first restored area is 260 meters and the width is 3,5 in average and the total area of the restoration is 1 000 m2. There are a lot of moss and algae growth because of eutrofication and nutirens coming from the forestry ares above the area. The nesting gravel is partly covered up with sand and sediment. The second was 640 meters long, width 4 meters and the area in total was 2 560 m2. The thirds section was 460 meters, width 4 meters and the area was 2 000 m2.
C
The River Ravensbourne is a tributary of the River Thames, flowing for 17km from its spring in Keston, London Borough of Bromley, to its confluence with the Thames at Deptford. The area around the Ravensbourne is mainly urban and residential. However, it does flow through some greenspaces, including Chinbrook Meadows on the Bromley/ Lewisham boarder where the wetland is located.
The site was previously a lightly used recreational field on the edge of a series of fields that make up Chinbrook Meadows. Anecdotally, the field was mainly used by dog walkers but was not as well used as other sections of the wider park. Grove Park Ditch runs from the northwest to the southeast, parallel to the south east railway line, where it joins the River Quaggy, a tributary of the River Ravensbourne. The ditch had become blocked and foul smelling, so the Friends of Chinbrook Meadows reported the problem to the London Borough of Lewisham, who manage the site. Alongside Thames21 a plan for a series of wetland scrapes was developed to treat the water from the ditch before it enters the River Quaggy.
The main outcome of the project is to improve water quality of the River Quaggy through increased removal of pollutants from surface water through the processes that will occur within the constructed wetland (sediment trapping, nutrient removal and chemical detoxification). Additionally, this project will involve the local community and learnings from this wetland project can be shared across the Ravensbourne Catchment Partnership. This will boost awareness of challenges to rivers and how nature-based solutions can tackle these.
The aims of the project are fourfold:
1. Improve water quality of the River Quaggy and reduce foul smells on site
* The wetland uses wetland flora to naturally clean diverted water from the ditch before it enters the River Quaggy.
2. Improve biodiversity and amenity value of the land
* The wetland has replaced an area of grassland which had relatively low ecological value. Wetlands are well established self-sustaining ecosystems with high value flora and fauna.
* Additionally, footpaths, wildflower meadows and interpretation boards will increase public access to the site and provide an opportunity to learn about aquatic habitats.
3. Natural flood management
* The wetland will provide additional storage of rainfall during high rainfall events and slow the flows of the River Quaggy.
4. Community Engagement
* Provide volunteering opportunities through activities such as water quality monitoring pre- and post-wetland creation, planting and vegetation management to engage the wider community in the long-term.
In the autumn 0f 2023, the wetlands were excavated. During the winter and spring of 23/24, a series of well-attended volunteering events were run to get the wetlands ready to be re-opened. The site was litter picked, hedgerows and dead hedges were installed and over 2,600 plug plants were planted in and around the ponds. In addition, a footpath and turf was laid to improve accessibility and a wildflower meadow was established on the earth mound. The park was re-opened to the public in the summer of 2024 with an ongoing maintenance and monitoring plan agreed with the landowners and managers in place for 2025 onwards.
L
The River Rea, and Callow Brook tributary, flows through the original site of the MG Rover Factory West Works in Longbridge, Birmingham, in a formerly hard-engineered, canalized and culverted channel.
In 2005, following the collapse of MG Rover, St Modwen Developments Ltd. purchased the former factory site with the aim of creating a sustainable place for people to live and work. Core to this aim, was a commitment to the restoration and re-naturalisation of the River Rea and Callow Brook. In 2008, the first factory buildings situated on the former West Works Site were demolished which included daylighting the majority of the River Rea. The watercourse through this area then remained largely un-altered until works progressed in this area of the West Works Site in 2019.
A two-phase approach has been undertaken to re-naturalise and restore the River Rea and Callow Brook through the West Works Site. The first phase of the re-naturalisation comprised approximately 200m of the River Rea, which was constructed offline in 2019-2020. In the following two years, the second phase, comprising the remaining 750m of the River Rea (an Environment Agency Main River) and 100m of its tributary, the Callow Brook (an ordinary watercourse), have been restored in a two-stage, green-blue corridor offering biodiversity enhancements, amenity space and online flood mitigation storage.
Both phases of work comprised extensive removal of hard-engineered structures lining the existing banks and bed of the watercourses (which included a concrete river bank and bed, sheet piling, bag work, a number of derelict former bridge crossings and brick walls) to enable construction of a two-stage channel with provision of online attenuation storage. These works have also created new public open spaces within the adjacent River Park, with a new pedestrian/cycle crossing and separate vehicular crossing to enable a sustainable green link adjacent to the river. In addition, the online attenuation storage generates a significant reduction in existing flood risk for the downstream areas of Longbridge Town Centre. With regard to ecological enhancement, a gravel bed integrating riffles and pools has been constructed, complimented by a diverse variety of native planting throughout the two-stage channel, with three stilling pools with varying wet-dry nature to provide different habitats for wildlife. Furthermore, Natural Flood Management (NFM) measures have been embedded, with ‘leaky dam’ features to ‘slow the flow’ within the flashy, urban catchment and provide erosion protection.
B
The River Rolfsån in South West Sweden had large populations of salmon, trout and european eel in the 1800s. After expansion of hydropower, cleansing of rivers and intensive fishing in the last hundred years there has been sharp decrease on the amount of migrating fish stocks. The river has been classified as extremely valuable by its natural characteristics. National Board of Fisheries classed the population particularly worth of protection. The Atlantic Salmon in Rolfså is unique, Fish are large and there has not been mixing between farmed salmon. The River was restored for sea migrating brown trout and eel, Atlantic salmon and river pearl mussel in co-operation with two administrative boards, four municipalities, the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management and land owners and fishing associations. The project started in 2006 and there has been two nature like bypass channels, one pool fishway and one downstream fishway built. Also one hydroelectric powerplant dam and two weirs has been removed and some streams has been restored as habitat for migrating fish.
All and allreproductive area for salmon and sea migrating broun trout has expanded from 35 000 square meters to 250 000 square meters.
The project was managed and mostly financed by the Länsstyrelse/Västra Götaland (regional environmental authority). The rest of the financing has been organized by the national environmental institute, Naturvårdsvärket, who is responsible for targeting the money collected from the hydro power companies to the watercourses which have been deteriorated by hydro power production. +
R
The River Rom, south of Roneo Corner, is heavily degraded. Straightening has resulted in the river losing much of the natural flow and habitat diversity that is needed to support rich biodiversity. It has also resulted in the loss of much of the river’s connectivity to its floodplain. This means the Rom lacks many of the associated wetland habitats that would slow the speed of destructive floodwaters and support the area's biodiversity.
The Rewilding the Rom project presented a rare opportunity to restore natural functioning to an urban river in London and in doing so, increase the rivers resilience to the compounding effects of climate change. Project aims are broadly fourfold; providing both offline and online flood storage, increasing resilience of downstream communities; diversifying the Chase Local Nature Reserves (LNR) habitat to support biodiversity; improving water quality of the Rom; and connecting communities to their river and environment. By providing these multiple benefits, this project demonstrates measures to address the biodiversity crisis are often closely intertwined with improving local communities' resilience to climate change.
In 2021, Land of the Fanns Partnership Scheme funding facilitated the excavation of two seasonal wetlands (scrapes) on the Havering Side of the River Rom, in Grenfell Park to protect flood-prone properties downstream of the site. While the primary purpose of the scrapes is flood protection, they also provide habitats for flora and fauna. Flood modelling has been completed, showing that the scrapes, along with the other interventions, contribute to a reduction in flood risk to several downstream properties and the locally important Maylands Health Centre which currently serves 10% of Havering’s population.
Subsequently, eleven large wood deflectors have been installed in the River Rom, and a tributary has been realigned with the goal of diversifying the flow within the channel. By restoring sedimentary processes, different habitats are created to support fish spawning, invertebrates and other riverine species. Visual inspections of the deflectors indicate that they are generating new erosional and depositional features.
In 2022, Thames21 began work on the opposite bank at the Chase LNR. These works involved breaching a large flood embankment in three locations, behind which three interconnected wetland scrapes have been excavated. In high flows, the river now floods into this newly connected area of floodplain, creating an area of species-rich seasonal wetland. BEPERP, who are monitoring the Rom as part of their project, have found improvements in biological indicators already.
The River Slea is an 18 mile long tributary of the River Witham, Lincolnshire. The River Slea is groundwater fed from Lincolnshire limestone aquifer and the flow depends on the on groundwater levels. Historically the River Slea flowed all year round. In the early 60s the flow of the river began to slow and ceased in 1962. This was due to a number of reasons such as over abstraction, increase in population and changes in weather cycles. After a public campaign in 1992, a pump was installed by the Environment Agency which delivers groundwater to the river at times of no flow. The Lincolnshire Rivers Trust (LRT) commissioned Clear Environmental to deliver the Sleaford Urban Opportunities Study, which was funded by Natural England. This study highlighted how the river would benefit from various rehabilitation techniques to enable wildlife to be more resilient during low flow periods and also contribute towards WFD objectives. With the help of the Wild Trout Trust, three sections of river were identified where restoration could be completed, this covered approximately 1.2km of river. Unfortunately, due to site constraints, work could only be completed on two sections (sections one and two). There were three phases to the works completed, these are detailed below;
Phase 1: Using an excavator, a low flow channel was created in section one and pools were created in section two. River bed material removed was used to create berms and meanders within the existing channel.
Phase 2: Brushwood bundles were installed, to construct berms which created pinch points, narrowing the channel to speed up the flow and maintain the pools created. This part of the project was made possible with the help of volunteers.
Phase 3: Planting of vegetation using coir matting and plug plants, to increase the rate of colonisation of berms and make them appear more natural. +
P
The River South Esk is designated as a Special Area of Conservation with internationally important populations of freshwater pearl mussel and Atlantic salmon. It is presently assessed as being in ‘unfavourable’ condition by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH). ‘Pearls in Peril’ is a UK-wide project to safeguard the future of the freshwater pearl mussel. The project undertook to restore sections of the River South Esk and an important tributary the 'White Water'. A study was commissioned to assess the impact of identified bank protection works on natural river processes and habitats important to the freshwater pearl mussel, prioritise sites for restoration and provide restoration designs.
A total of 21 bank protection sites in the upper river have previously been identified as impacting natural river processes since their construction during the 1990s. These are similar in appearance and purpose, comprising of large rock armour located on meander bends. They are present along three reaches of the upper River South Esk catchment, with nine at Moulzie in upper Glen Clova, eight at Acharn on the White Water upstream the confluence with the River South Esk, and four at Braedownie downstream of Acharn. There are no recorded populations of freshwater pearl mussel in these three river reaches, however downstream populations are influenced by the supply of suitable sediment from these reaches and by the health of the salmonid population.
Following stakeholder engagement,achieving all relevant licences and implementing necessary environmental protection measures; PIP removed 13 sections of rock armour river bank protection followed by bank reprofiling at Moulzie, Acharn and Braedownie as well as the re-connection of three paleochannels - one at Moulzie and two at Acharn on the main stem River South Esk and its tributary the White Water extending to 873m of in-stream river restoration work.
RIVER SOUTH ESK SPECIFIC PROJECT ACTIONS
- Facilitate and implement improved riparian habitat in the River South Esk - work with land managers to develop SRDP riparian planting schemes on the River South Esk.
- Implement in-stream restoration works in the River Dee and South Esk - Both the Dee and the South Esk are large rivers with a long history of human intervention and management. This has led to degraded in-steam habitat which is adversely affecting both pearl mussels and salmonids. For example, weirs and rock bank protection can interfere with sediment transport or supply processes and reduce the area of available pearl mussel habitat. Within the River Dee, work at eight priority sites will be delivered in this project, and six priority sites will be tackled on the South Esk. Work will include developing detailed design plans, managing contractors to deliver the work and pre and post monitoring of the sites to assess their impact.
- Reduce nutrient and sediment input from diffuse pollution sources in the River Dee and South Esk - The River Dee and the South Esk have been identified as priority catchments for tackling diffuse pollution. Work with land-managers will aim to promote changes in land management activities which can reduce diffuse pollution. For example, encouraging land managers to create un-cropped and un-grazed riparian buffer strips. Where relevant, other diffuse pollution reduction activities will be promoted, such as constructed farm wetlands to filter run-off from steadings and alternative stock-watering systems. This will be delivered through SRDP schemes.
R
The River Tat is a tributary of the River Wensum and forms part of the River Wensum Site of Special Scientific Interest. The planform and channel geometry has historically been subjected to significant modification including diversions, straightening, widening and the construction of an online lake system. The aim of the restoration work was to ‘kick start’ natural morphological processes throughout the reach.
A design report was written for the site which outlined the range of restoration measures that could be used. However, the design was extremely flexible and the location of different features was determined by a combination of expert judgement and working with existing channel features. On the ground works were delivered by an experienced Environment Agency Field Services team who have become skilled at delivering this type of restoration work.
In locations where a gravel bed was present, albeit beneath a layer of sand/silt because of the homogeneous character of the water course, gravel glides have been restored by re-distributing the bed material to form glide-pool sequences. The water velocity has been increased by narrowing the channel, using features such as earth berms and woody debris, resulting in a clean gravel bed. Deep pools have been dug to introduce variations in bed levels, providing flow diversity and creating resting areas for fish.
A key restoration measure has been the installation of Large Woody Debris (LWD). Reducing tree cover in heavily shaded areas, by selective coppicing, provides a sustainable source of material. This also allows light onto the river, promoting marginal vegetation to establish. LWD has introduced flow diversity, helping keep the gravels free from silt and providing overhead cover for fish. +
O
The River Test is a chalk stream renowned worldwide for its excellent trout fly fishing. The reaches of the Test flowing through the Bossington Estate have been dredged and impounded by weirs leaving them wide, deep and silty with resulting low velocities and poor fish stocks.
Cain Bio-Engineering Ltd. produced designs for the five reaches that flow through the Bossington Estate. In partnership with the Estate and the Environment Agency, Cain Bio-Engineering Ltd. supervised the installation, based on 450m of channel narrowing on the Old Station Beat. The restoration was constructed using a variety of techniques, including woody deflectors and gravel fronted berms. +