]> 2026-04-22T04:17:07+00:00 Case study:Castle Irwell Urban Wetland 500 en Approved Environment Agency Great Britain Environment Agency Grant in Aid Government Growth funding Salford Council Yes No Yes true Salford aerial photo showing existing and new basins.jpg Salford basin completed wetland.jpg Castle Irwell FSB.pdf Salford Scheme Wetland GA.pdf Aerial photo of wetland Yes Some of the issues faced as part of project was to show it was feasible to construct a new wetland within an Agency flood basin without undermining it’s integrity and primary function, and ensuring the wetland had sufficient water to support the varied priority wetland habitats sought. This was achieved by undertaking groundwater monitoring and ground investigations, with results fed back into design. Another essential element of the wetland design was to ensure that it would be relatively simple to manage, i.e., by ensuring good vehicular access, and ensuring new wetland habitats were easily maintainable by local conservation groups and council, and reduced risk of competition between wetland habitat types. The urban wetland is located in the lower Irwell; a catchment that has significant infestations of invasive non-native species. Therefore an invasive control programme was essential, and integrated as part of construction works. Also a long term monitoring and control programme will be adopted as part of overall capital scheme maintenance. local wildlife site 53.508175766021,-2.2696981431363 Gjmorris Gary Environment Agency Morris Habitat management ,Introducing large woody debris, Floodplain reconnection, Floodplain creation, Buffer strips, Habitat creation,, ,Habitat management,Community consultation, Community Events, River open days, School Tours,, The overall scheme has an integrated maintenance and management plan, while wetland has separate maintenance and management plan written by Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust and with prime focus of this being simplicity of management. With both plans integrated as part of site’s long term maintenance, this will ensure as the site develops and establishes, appropriate management will be conducted by agreed respective parties, to ensure in the long term the flood basin remains a functioning flood risk asset, but also an important new local wildlife and amenity resource for future. Fixed point photography overlooking the new wetland has been installed on neighbouring flats which will monitor the establishment of newly constructed scheme. The new wetland is also attracting interest from local monitoring groups, including Greater Manchester birders through Winter Wetland Bird Blitz organized by Greater Manchester Ecology Unit and results will be updated to the Greater Manchester Records Centre. The University of Salford are also keen to monitor the wetland as part of their future courses for environmental studies. 22824 2017-07-10Z 2457944.5 2014-08-13Z 2456882.5 Complete There is a well recorded history of flooding in Salford from the River Irwell, with the most severe events occurring in 1866 and 1946 and more recently in 2008 & 2015. Therefore there was a need to improve the standard of flood protection from a 1 in 75 to a 1 in 100 year standard. The only remaining area of greenspace to accommodate such a scheme was on the Castle Irwell site. To undertake this innovative project the Environment Agency worked in partnership with Salford Council and University of Salford, to design and construct a new flood storage basin to better protect 1,900 homes and businesses, but also create a multifunctional recreational space including new urban wetland in heart of Salford. The site is set on a large meander loop of the River Irwell in an urban area of Lower Kersal just 2.8km from Manchester city centre. As a former recreation site, it was an oasis of green in a largely urban environment, but had limited wildlife value. Appraisal and design work started in January 2013 with construction beginning in 2015. The flood basin and wetland will be fully operational by June 2017 at a cost of approximately £9 million. Working with local community, the University of Salford, Salford City Council, the Environment Agency identified an opportunity to work together to use land owned by University and Council to create a new flood basin to help reduce flood risk to people and property just downstream, but also create a new urban wildlife asset in the heart of city, interlinking with neighbouring River Irwell local wildlife site and Kersal Dale Local Nature Reserve on opposite bank. Once the overall joint agreement for construction of new flood basin and wetland was agreed with all parties, and initial meetings with local community groups to seek their views, the Agency brought in the expertise of the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust to help develop detailed designs and maintenance plan for new 5.5Ha urban wetland Community involvement - Community consultation, Community Events, River open days; River Walks; Bioblitz event; Education events, School Tours. Castle Irwell Urban Wetland castle irwell urban wetland Yes 2300 Upper Mersey North West Introducing large woody debris Floodplain reconnection Floodplain creation Buffer strips Habitat creation Irwell / Man. Ship Canal (Kearsley to Irlam Locks) irwell / man. ship canal (kearsley to irlam locks) Castle Irwell, Salford castle irwell, salford Community consultation Community Events River open days School Tours Wintering wildfowl - golden eye tufted duck pochard 100 - 1000 km² 134 100 - 200 m Irwell / Man. Ship Canal (Kearsley to Irlam Locks) GB112069061450 Working with local community, the University of Salford, Salford City Council, the Environment Agency identified an opportunity to work together to use land owned by University and Council to create a new flood basin to help reduce flood risk to people and property just downstream, but also create a new urban wildlife asset in the heart of city. Flood risk management Habitat and biodiversity Social benefits Urban 5000 - 10000 k€ HMWB GB112069061451 Irwell (Croal to Irk) 2015-03-11Z 2457092.5 2017-01-30T13:18:04Z 2457784.054213 2019-01-02T13:23:38Z 2458486.0580787 Castle Irwell Urban Wetland 500 1 plainlist 5 [[Category:Case study]] [[Project title::!Castle Irwell Urban Wetland]] [[Subcatchment title::Irwell / Man. Ship Canal (Kearsley to Irlam Locks)]] Castle Irwell Urban Wetland# QUERYf98d31d41ea25daed928ef7de5b9826a