]> 2026-04-22T04:10:20+00:00 Case study:Upper River Witham : Easton 500 en Easton Case Study v2 Final 220415 opt.pdf Project Case Study Draft Weir Removal Berms Flow Deflectors Tree Hinging Environment Agency Great Britain EA Yes No Yes false Easton 2.png Easton 3.png Easton 4.png No 1. The greatest detrimental impact upon river habitat is the legacy of past channel engineering. Straightening and widening of the channel and lowering of the river bed have disrupted/destroyed the natural pool-riffle sequence and disconnected the floodplain. The process of the river recovering these natural characteristics is very slow (centuries) because of the naturally low energy of the river and limited supply of coarse sediment. 2. Habitat improvement measures within the existing channel have generally been unsuccessful. Installed in-stream structures have not had the desired effect of creating scour and producing depth variation. This is because of the resistant nature of the predominantly clay substrate, loss of sediment (gravel) to historic channel engineering and lack of sediment (gravel) supply/retention within the present channel dimensions. Introduced brushwood and large woody material have improved cover and fish-holding habitat, but have not fundamentally changed the channel shape. 3. The weir removal at Easton has restored fish passage and better habitat to the formerly impounded reach upstream, although the above constraints (point 1) remain. Trout numbers observed in this reach indicate a recovery from past pollution incidents. 52.829434747796,-0.62551570904786 Matt Environment Agency Parr Weir Removal, Berms, Flow Deflectors, Tree Hinging,Fencing, ,,, In addition to the established annual fish monitoring programme downstream of Easton Walled Garden and invertebrate sampling at Easton Lane Bridge, visual inspections of the enhanced reach will be undertaken, and the fixed point photographic record will be updated to monitor the integrity and performance of the in-stream enhancements and record any changes they are making to river morphology. Post-works redd (trout spawning nest) surveys were undertaken upstream and downstream of Easton Lane. 6 redds were located in the upstream (Easton Park) section, but none were located downstream. These surveys provide a baseline for future monitoring. 27040 Post Restoration Easton.png 2013-01-10Z 2456302.5 Complete Weir removal to restore bed gradient; channel narrowing and flow deflection to create flow variation and beneficial bed scour using log flow deflectors (vanes), open and enclosed log/faggot and brushwood mattresses (silt-traps) and earth, turf and silt filled log- or faggot-fronted enclosures; creation of sections of 2-stage channel and enhancing marginal wetland habitat by reprofiling eroded banks; excavation of pools in the river bed; increasing in-stream woody habitat by securing existing deadwood and hinging and pinning (layering) live riverside trees; and fencing to prevent bank erosion by livestock. Project Objectives The pre-project surveys and assessments led to the identification of the following objectives for the enhancement scheme: Reduce the impact of sediment inputs as a result of erosion caused by livestock. Repair eroded banks and protect them from erosion in the future. Trap sediment already in the system. Improve flows and natural cleansing of spawning gravels. Improve light levels in over-shaded sections. Improve habitat for trout, coarse fish and native white-clawed crayfish. Ensure that historic features within the Grade II Listed Historic Park and Garden are protected. Three separate schemes based on these objectives were prepared. Upper River Witham : Easton upper river witham : easton No Witham Anglian Fencing Upper Witham upper witham Upper River Witham Easton upper river witham easton 10 - 100 km² 46 Less than 100 m Upper Witham GB105030056760 Habitat and biodiversity 66 50 - 100 k€ GB105030051570 Upper Witham Headwater to confluence Cringle Brook 2024-02-08T13:06:31Z 2460349.0461921 2024-02-27T11:59:27Z 2460367.9996181 Upper River Witham : Easton 500 1 plainlist 5 [[Category:Case study]] [[Project title::!Upper River Witham : Easton]] [[Subcatchment title::Upper Witham]] Upper River Witham : Easton# QUERY54546f83cf58646d49407002505dcf2c