Property:Project summary
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H
The measures carried out were based on a management plan for the River Basin District Vestlandet (period: 2010-2015) and initiated through the proposal "Heilskapeleg tiltaksplan for Strynevassdraget" prepared by Utmarksressurs AS. The management plan was drawn up to improve the water quality in the watercourse according to requirements in the Water Management Regulations (Vannfirskriften). The environmental objectives for Strynevassdraget were to improve the ecological condition in the main river, which was considered deficient.
A project lead by NVE (Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate), in collaboration with Stryn Elveeigarlag and Stryn municipality, was started in 2016, when the highest priority measures were implemented. NVE finalized these measures in the fall of 2017. The measures were aimed at increasing the ecological value of the Strynevassdraget as a waterbody, by opening old streams and ox-bow lakes, creating shelters and habitats for fish, insects and ducks, in both the riverbed and along the cultivated land by the riverbanks.
The measures included:
• Opening of old streams and ox-bow lakes
• Habitat improvement measures
• Removal of migration berries for fish +
E
Ecological restoration of The Arboleda and the Meander of Santes Creus. Aiguamúrcia municipality (Alt Camp). Gaia River Basin +
The morphological restoration project area is located in a Natura 2000 site, in the monastery of Santes Creus, a scenically and symbolic landmark. The whole project will pursue conservation objectives set forth by the Plan of Catalonia natural areas and enhancing the natural, scenic and social basis for the declaration of the Grove of Santes Creus as an Area of Natural Interest.
The main actions in this project are: demolition and removal of the rubble to recover geomorphological processes characteristic of stretch and lateral and vertical connectivity of the same; geomorphological reconstruction of the section; Improvement and restoration of habitats; elimination of exotic plants, as Tradescantia fluminensis or Phytocala americana.
The project has a total budget of 43.550.476 € and is financed by the ACA (Agencia Catalana del Agua) and Tarragona Provincial Government. +
C
The natural habitats in and beside the River Enns as well as the Johnsbach brook improved significantly with the implementation of this LIFE+ funded project, delivered by the National Park in the River Enns and its surrounding ecosystems. Restoration actions took place in multiple sites to re-establish an ecologically functioning wetland along the water courses and tributaries, with focus in connectivity (transversal and longitudinal) and landscape diversity.
Works in the rivers Enns and Palten included the creation of a new estuary in their confluence. Bank reinforcement structures along 500 m of the River Enns were replaced by typical riverine structures (i.e. gravel banks, bank erosion areas, piles of deadwood) which are developing. A new large pond for amphibians was completely cut-off from both rivers to prevent the immigration of fishes. Common frogs (“Rana temporaria”) and European toads (“Bufo bufo”) breed here.
Another target was the re-naturalisation of the floodplain forest for enhancing longitudinal connectivity of the river Enns. 306 ha of spruce dominated forests are now a natural mixed forest. Restoration of the River Enns and its surrounding ecosystems are also in line with a long-term strategy to protect special habitats and endangered species (i.e. Black woodpecker (“Dryocopus martius”), Eurasian pygmy owl (“Glaucidium passerinum) and the Rosalia longicorn (Rosalia alpina).
With focus on mountain pastures and species (i.e. black grouse (Tetrao tetrix), yellow bellied toad (“Bombina variegate”), etc.), the regulation of grazing intensity and access to drinking water in within the project area were also a priority.
A monitoring programme was established for the assessment of restoration outcomes. Increasing public awareness and dissemination of results are supported by public activities. For instance, specially trained wardens are to guide visitors and provide information on restoration outcomes in terms of habitats and landscape diversity and services. In addition, a thematic trail with interactive information facilities is in place.
The River Restoration Centre would like to thank Daniel Kreiner from the Gesäuse National Park for providing the information and photographs for this case study.
Work included educating the community on environmental protection and promoting environmentally-friendly behaviour.
M
The objective is to create natural banks that water voles can occupy through the removal of wooden toe-boarding.<br>Toe-boarding was removed from 500m of bank. Where there was a liklihood of bank collapse, on bends and around small islands, the boards were either left or a sympathetic replacement such as coir matting was used. Morden Hall Park is a former deer park currently owned by the National Trust. The river Wandle and several man-made channels flow through the park, the banks of which are protected by wooden toe-boarding. Water voles are currently absent on the river and there are future plans to re-introduce them at this site.<br>The project is part of the London Water Vole Project. +
L
The objective of the LIFE project “Sipontine Wetlands” is to achieve full environmental restoration of the area involved and, at the same time, to raise awareness on the issues of wetland protection and extension as well as on wetland priority habitats.
The Sipontine marshes are the second most important Italian wetlands. Their importance not only stems from their size and variety of habitats, but also from their central geographic position, bridging the east and west of the Mediterranean basin. +
R
The objective of the project is to restore the stream morphology and floodplain conditions in the right bank of the river Cinca, in the lower reach, between Velilla de Cinca and Fraga. There is a major actuation that consists of remove a levee that only protects crops.
There are two groups of measures: Morphological as the increase of the Fluvial Mobility Space through the remove of the levee closer to the river. There is other levee that protects the 500-year flood, but it will be preserved. This actuation will increase the lateral connectivity between the stream and the riparian vegetation; and about riparian vegetation, with 2 different tasks: a)Natural riparian vegetation recovery through the cut down of black poplars plantation. There are going to plant native species: Salix, Corylus avellana, Fraxinus, Populus, Ulmus. b)Reforest areas without vegetation. +
L
The objective of the project was to maintain and improve the most endangered river habitats of the Danube river stretch
“Wachau”, a 33 km long, unblocked and freely-flowing part of the Austrian Danube. As result of the project today there are
more than 4 km of lateral flowing waters which were restored and shaped in accordance to historical situations. +
B
The objective of the proyect was: 1) Stablish sustainable agricultural practiques and 2) Recovery of natural spaces. +
A
Austria River Mur - Strategic river management for considerations in the power and water management sector in Styria/Austria +
The objectives of the previously mentioned projects at the Mur is the recovery of natural rich structured river habitats , the reconnection of cutoff meander, the restoration of the river continuum, the protection of existing and the development of new alluvial forests by connecting existing stocks to the fluvial dynamics and the population’s awareness raising for the river habitat.
The restoration, improvement and long-term protection of natural wetlands and rivers, is a prerequisite for establishing rare and endangered water dependent animal and plant species. In addition, these measures serve the requirements of the water protection management to increase the retention capacity at flood discharges.
To reinforce the already implemented stepping stones and their effects from the previous projects and for the creation of a continuous restructured section, the new LIFE+ areas of follow-up projects were deliberately selected in the vicinity of previous projects. For the purpose of documenting and ensuring the success of the projects, the measures and their synergy effects are scientifically studied in monitoring programs, which will continue until 2015.
Up to now major success could be achieved by the measures implemented for improving the structural diversity of the Mur and the Enns. Acquisition and reactivation of flooded areas contributed to the passive flood protection, this has been proven already at the flood event in June 2013 - in spite of higher water flows than in 2002, reduced flooding and less damage were reported in 2013. Due to intense public relations the population deeply appreciated the projects and the habitats.
Through spatial integration of the measures, the cumulative effect for the river habitat goes far beyond its sum of the individual measures. The projects are an important step onto a nature-oriented liveable future on the Upper Mur and the Mur, and many more should follow.
To overcome the conflict between hydropower expansion and nature protection or recreation/tourism, management plans have been established for the rivers Enns, Mur and Mürz. These plans have been aligned between energy providers and river experts. The core objective of these plans is to balance the interests of the energy sector and those of river protection and restoration, focussing on river-ecological aspects.
When setting up these plans, hydropower potentials have been juxtaposed with ecological goals that considered potentially affected protected species and areas, their ecological state as well as water management aspects.
Where ecological measures for conservation and/or improvement of river-bound habitats have already been implemented, river stretches are excluded from any future hydropower use. Hence, already restored areas along the rivers Enns and Mur that have been supported via EU-programs are disclosed as ecological priority zones.
Apart from the aforementioned designations, measures for poor ecological stretches have been defined. Special focus is given to the concept of “stepping stones” with its up- and downstream effects. Stepping stones bridge hardly restorable stretches and therewith provide an efficient and cost-saving concept for mitigation measures. The measures focus mainly on biological qualities, the primary criteria of the ecological status assessment.
The management plans provide a binding planning framework until 2022 and a regulation framework for hydropower projects at the mentioned rivers. Likewise, ecological interests are safeguarded for the long-term. Precious and pristine stretches of rivers are protected from encroachments and the perspective of further river restorations is enabled.
The management plan for the river Mur is the basis for the enactment of a so called “regional program” of the Austrian Water Management Authority.
Water management plans (German: Gewässerbewirtschaftungspläne, BWP) represent the first planning instrument of this kind at province level in Austria and demonstrate that the involvement of the key stakeholders in the planning process succeeds in a mutually acceptable result, which enables to match the requirements of different policies and different interests.
R
The objectives of the project were to improve the in-river habitat upstream from Letheringsett Ford, to re-connect the river and floodplain and to develop an experience base which would serve the River Glaven Conservation Group (RGCG) well on other projects. +
B
The objectives of the proyect: 1) Recovery of natural habitats and biodiversity in a highly intensified landscape; and 2) Stablish sustainable agricultural practiques +
S
The old water power mill at Sågarfors in River Siuntionjoki formed a complete obstacle for migrating fish. The dam was removed and a nature-like bypass channel was constructed to improve the conditions for migrating fish. +
K
The outcome of the project is the improvement for fish passage around Kirkstall Island on the River Aire in Leeds by provision of fish passes at St Ann's Mills weir and Burley Mills weir. The fish passes will also benefit the other species which already inhabit the river but are prevented from reaching optimal spawning and feeding grounds.
The weirs are both situated on the left side channel (looking downstream) of Kirkstall Island. There are two weirs on the right side channel but careful consideration has led to the belief that fish will use the left side where the heavier flow is located.
Works include:
The construction of two fish passes. +
H
The overall aims of the project are:<br>1) To resolve fish passage and associated connectivity issues, and thus improve the WFD fish status of the Hogsmill River, by the removal or modification of a series of weirs/culverts which currently seriously impede or completely prevent upstream fish movement.<br>2) To improve in-stream habitat in two significant stretches of the Hogsmill River, which flow respectively through the Kingston University and the Hogsmill Sewage Treatment works, and thus improve the WFD fish status of the Hogsmill River. +
I
The overall objective of the project was to improve the conditions for the habitats and species by raising water levels in the area, ending the use of pesticides and fertilisers and extensifying agricultural production. The project area of 2,700 ha involved around 436 landowners and was divided into 13 sections.
By the end of the project, 2,488 ha of land was restored to a natural hydrological condition, and subsequently entered into 20-year management agreements. This involved just over 250 farmers and covered 92 % of the initial target of 2,700 ha. The foremost conservation benefit of the project is that the area is secured for conservation-friendly management over at least the next 20 years.
The long-term monitoring planning includes a general survey during 2017-2022, when the current 20-year agreements expire. +
B
The overall objective would be to restore the river channel throughout the park for the 85m length. Due to constraints set by DLR, this may mean leaving one river wall in place and up to half of the bed, however solutions will be available to soften both banks and generate a natural low flow channel. This is likely to be partially funded by the Seager Distillery section 106 agreement, however further funding will be required to complete the whole section of river. This site was cleared and developed into a public park, leaving an 8m boundary to the river for future river restoration works. The channel has a uniform concrete bed and banks and is semi-tidal. It is very shallow during low flow/low tide and could cause a barrier to fish migration. It is devoid of habitat.
Start date governed by planning agreement (S106 Seager) +
W
The overarching goal of this project was to enhance the river habitat quality of the Wylye over a length of 2000m. Within five years from project completion, once the effects of structures and planting have maximised, the river will provide a complete configuration of high quality habitats for key-species (i.e. Atlantic salmon, ‘wild’ Brown trout and River water-crowfoot), in all their lifecycle stages, but also incorporating the needs of a whole raft of supporting species. In addition, the river will provide a better, more challenging ‘wild’ fishing experience, the Wylye valley will be perceived as a more natural, aesthetic river landscape by river-owners and users and the whole system will be more resilient to short term incidents (droughts, floods) and long term changes (rising temperatures due to climate change).
A very important driver of this project was to bring together different stakeholders and interest groups on the river to make this project into a synergistically resounding success. Funding for the project come from the riparian owners, the Environment Agency and the Wylye Fly Fishing Club (WFFC). There was a contribution in time, free of charge, from WFFC and the Wessex Chalk Streams Partnership (hosted by Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, supported by the Environment Agency, Natural England, Wessex Water and the Wiltshire Fisheries Association). These two core partners have also provided and supported volunteer labour during the delivery process. Additional funding for specific parts of the work came from the Woodland Trust. The involvement and engagement of such a diverse group of organisations, people and professions ensured that we did not focus on just one specific outcome, but took all points of view into account. Furthermore, volunteers physically working on river enhancement projects took pride in their work (see the image gallery) and developed a feeling of ‘ownership’.
At the end of the project we had installed more than 60 ‘soft-engineering’ structures, ranging from simple log deflectors to large brushwood mattresses. Furthermore, we re-build riffles (by introducing fresh gravels) and we re-aligned the channel at two occasions. Also, involved Well-Being group with delivery.
The physical restoration
of the riverbed upstream of Saint-Bonnet was a
priority in the river contract for the upper Drac signed
in 2011. The plan was for a major operation to physically
restore the riverbed by widening the bed (lowering
the banks) and reloading the river using the coarse sediment
taken from the banks.
During the first phase, 3.6 kilometres
of alluvial terraces along the Drac were cleared of
trees and trunks, representing a total surface area
of 27 hectares. The active channel of the Drac was
thus considerably widened and the alluvial bars were
once again exposed to the river currents. Some small
islands with vegetation were maintained to enable
the formation of side channels, secondary channels
and nesting sites.
The second phase consisted of a vast operation to
reload the bed with 450,000 m³ of alluvium removed
from the former terraces of the Drac and from zones
of sediment accumulation along other rivers in the
river basin.
During the third phase, following the return of the
water to the bed, the new banks were stabilised
using geogrids and bundled wood (fascines), then
seeded and planted with over 6,400 willow cuttings
and 500 helophytes, notably along the track for
maintenance access and walkers on the right bank.
In addition, 13 hectares of wetlands and parallel
streams were created, primarily in the lower section
of the reach.
In order to make the transverse obstacles compatible
with the river continuity requirements stipulated in
article L. 214-17 of the Environmental code, works
was done on the weirs at the Baraques bridge and
the recycling center site, located downstream of the
reloading zone, during the year prior to the reloading.
It consisted amongst others of building a studtype
fish pass designed specifically for trout and a
passageway for canoes.
Reloading required that the weir at the recycling
center site, downstream of the reloading zone,
be raised 1.65 metres in order to stabilise the new
steady slope and the upstream reload level. Finally,
the weir for the lake in Saint-Bonnet was maintained,
but buried under the reloaded sediment in
order to conserve a solid anchoring point, yet removing
a difficult obstacle for fish.
R
The plan initiated by the State, Etablissement
public Loire, the Regions and Loire-Bretagne water
agency covers the implementation “of an overall
development plan for the Loire in order to ensure
the safety of the population, protection of the
environment and economic development”.These operations were covered by two different
programmes:
- For sites within the Public River Domain of the Loire
and the Allier, operations were primarily carried
out as part of the river bed restoration programme,
under the guidance and project management of the
State;
- For the other tributaries or private land on the
banks of the Loire and the Allier, operations were
carried out under another chapter of the Plan Loire:
the natural environment restoration programme. In
this case, the project owners were the departmental ederations for fishing and the protection of the
aquatic environment (FDPPMA) or local authorities.
The operations consist in readjusting downstream
connecting weirs between the main channel and side
channel at the water level exceeded in the spring for
45 days, every fifth year. For pike spawning grounds
of the middle Loire, re-connection projects are often
positioned near to the water level of the average interannual
rate. Given the lowering of the groundwater
and lack of maintenance, it is usually necessary to
thin the plant cover over old channels to restore
sunlight conditions favourable to the development of
the herbaceous layer and biological production. The
works consist of carefully treating riverside vegetation,
while respecting its overall balance, but also its role
in the composition of water habitats. +
The planned actions are part of the irrigable area of Lobón, specifically in the following rivers: Guadajira River (19.05 km), Arroyo del Entrín Verde (7.6 km), Arroyo del Golfín (4.9 km) and Arroyo Valdehombres Colorado (2.1 km). The Montijo Irrigation Area is located northwest of the province of Badajoz, on the right bank of the Guadiana River, between Merida and Badajoz, with an area of 14.99 ha. The channels included in the project are located in the municipalities of Badajoz, Merida, Talavera la Real and Lobón.
The main actions are: Silvicultural treatment on existing vegetation and trees progressive elimination of foreign species; Plantations with native species for restoration of vegetation cover; Cleaning of sludge and invasive vegetation in rivers; Performances of landscaping: removal of debris, waste, rubbish, demolition of concrete, etc.; Protection and promotion of wildlife: placing artificial nests, artificial shelters, etc.; Reorganization of the social use: install interpretive and informative signage and marking of pedestrian paths using the existing paths; and Control and monitoring environmental, legal advice. +