Case study:River of Life: Difference between revisions

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{{Case study status
{{Case study status
|Approval status=Draft
|Approval status=Approved
}}
}}
{{Location
{{Location
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|Status=In progress
|Status=In progress
|Project web site url=www.earthtrust.org.uk/Our-work/waterandwetlands/RiverofLife.aspx
|Project web site url=www.earthtrust.org.uk/Our-work/waterandwetlands/RiverofLife.aspx
|Themes=Fisheries, Habitat and biodiversity, Social benefits
|Themes=Fisheries, Flood risk management, Habitat and biodiversity, Social benefits
|Country=England
|Country=England
|Main contact forename=Lizzie
|Main contact forename=Lizzie
|Main contact surname=Rhymes
|Main contact surname=Rhymes
|Contact organisation=The Environment Agency
|Contact organisation=Environment Agency
|Contact organisation url=http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/news/151049.aspx
|Contact organisation url=http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/news/151049.aspx
|Partner organisations=The Earth Trust
|Partner organisations=The Earth Trust
|Multi-site=No
|Multi-site=No
|Project summary=The Environment Agency and the Earth Trust are collaborating to restore wetland features and threatened wildlife habitats along two kilometers of the main River Thames in Oxfordshire.   
|Project picture=Existing bankline.JPG
|Picture description=Pre-project bank line at the River of Life project site (River Restoration Centre)
|Project summary=The Environment Agency and the Earth Trust are collaborating to restore wetland features and threatened wildlife habitats along 2.5 km of the main River Thames in Oxfordshire, upstream of Shillingford.   
The River of Life project will create a large area of biodiverse habitat, including backwaters and wetland scrapes, across approximately 50 hectares of Earth Trust land, with a vision to create a truly wild river reach.
The River of Life project will create a large area of biodiverse habitat, including backwaters and wetland scrapes, across approximately 50 hectares of Earth Trust land, with a vision to create a truly wild river reach.


Objectives  
Objectives  
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• To create a new landscape scale area of wetland habitats, including wet woodland, fen, reedbed, ponds and scrapes, backwaters and seasonally wet grassland and meadow.  
• To create a new landscape scale area of wetland habitats, including wet woodland, fen, reedbed, ponds and scrapes, backwaters and seasonally wet grassland and meadow.  


• To address Water Framework Directive failure for fish along this section of the main Thames, by increasing the provision of backwater and sheltered habitat to act as spawning areas for fish and provide refuge areas at times of high flow.  
• To address Water Framework Directive failure for fish along this section of the main Thames, by increasing the provision of backwater and sheltered habitat to act as spawning areas for fish and provide refuge areas at times of high flow, thereby improving the ecological status.


• To engage people with habitats by providing access routes, opportunities for volunteering and learning. By providing boardwalks, viewing platforms and linking with the Thames footpath to encourage exploration and engagement with water.  
• To engage people with habitats by providing access routes, opportunities for volunteering and learning. By providing boardwalks, viewing platforms and linking with the Thames footpath to encourage exploration and engagement with water.  


• To enhance the value of ecosystems services, including the provision of: biodiverse habitat, fish refuge, recreation, flood alleviation, flow regulation, water and soil quality improvement and carbon sequestration.
• To enhance the value of ecosystems services, including the provision of: biodiverse habitat, fish refuge, recreation, flood alleviation, flow regulation, water and soil quality improvement and carbon sequestration.


Design and technique
Design and technique


Since works began in October 2013, seven new ponds, two reed beds and five new backwaters have been created at the site. To date over 15,000m3 of soil has been removed from the floodplain to land in the upper catchment also owned by the trust, helping to create additional flood storage. In total the finished scheme hopes to create c. 34,600 cubic meters of extra capacity within the one in five years flood zone.  The project plans outline four main breaches. All backwaters will be linked to the main Thames, allowing fish to move in and out freely.  
The project has been three years in planning, from 2010 when the Earth Trust purchased the site to October 2013 when construction began. Since works began, seven new ponds, two reed beds and five new backwaters have been created at the site. Over 15,000m3 of soil has been removed from the floodplain to land in the upper catchment also owned by the trust, helping to create additional flood storage. In total the finished scheme hopes to create c. 34,600 cubic meters of extra capacity within the one in five years flood zone.  The project plans outline four main breaches. All backwaters will be linked to the main Thames, allowing fish to move in and out freely.  
 


The project will take place in three phases; firstly the hard landscaping to excavate backwaters, scrapes and ponds, which is now complete. This phase was led by the Environment Agency. The second phase which will being in the spring of 2014 will encompass more detailed habitat creation, such as planting of willow, reedbed, wet woodland and grassland restoration. Finally the site will be made ready for general public access by installing information boards, creation of new footpaths linking to the Thames footpath and coordinating events and activities. The last two phases of the project will be led by the Earth Trust.  
The project has taken place in three phases; firstly the hard landscaping to excavate backwaters, scrapes and ponds, which is now complete. This phase was led by the Environment Agency. The second phase which will begin in the spring of 2014 will encompass more detailed habitat creation, such as planting of willow, reedbed, wet woodland and grassland restoration. Finally the site will be made ready for general public access by installing information boards, creation of new footpaths linking to the Thames footpath and coordinating events and activities. The last two phases of the project will be led by the Earth Trust.
 
 
Pre-project site investigations allowed palaeo-channels to be identified and incorporated into the project design. An Eco-hydrologist was appointed at the design stage to assess the best locations for the different habitat types. Monitoring was undertaken for three years to ensure the best way to use water on site to sustain key habitats, without the need for significant intervention through water level management. Monitoring was provided free by Earth Trust volunteers.


The new habitat area will link to Wittenham Wood SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) and SAC (Special Conservation Area).  Together, this area will now form a continuous expanse of 150ha of diverse wildlife habitat.   
The new habitat area will link to Wittenham Wood SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) and SAC (Special Conservation Area).  Together, this area will now form a continuous expanse of 150ha of diverse wildlife habitat.   


The site is in a Biodiversity Opportunity Area identified by Thames Valley Environmental Records Centre. It will benefit many BAP (Biodiversity Action Plan) priority species including; seven species of birds, seven species of invertebrate, four herptiles, as well as brown hare, otter,  water vole, brown long-eared and soprano pipstrelle bat.
The site is in a Biodiversity Opportunity Area identified by Thames Valley Environmental Records Centre. It will benefit many BAP (Biodiversity Action Plan) priority species including; seven species of birds, seven species of invertebrate, four herptiles, as well as brown hare, otter,  water vole, brown long-eared and soprano pipstrelle bat. Pre-project investigations included ecological monitoring of the site, including mapping of protected, rare or locally significant species.
 
 
The vision at the heart of the project was to convert species poor grassland in the floodplain to a biodiverse wetland habitat, whilst still maintaining productivity of the site for arable and pastoral farming. During construction, all material generated from excavations was successfully reused on site and no material needed to be bought on site, with the exception of some “type 1” hardcore to form haul roads. Careful management of this material during construction meant that it will be reused to improve access roads. This significantly increased the sustainable credentials of the project, also reducing the carbon footprint. Top and sub-soils were spread on arable fields owned by the Earth Trust, outside the floodplain, and will be ploughed into existing soils. Gravel extracted whilst excavating the deeper features has been used to line fen habitat areas, create a surface for footpaths across the site and provide shallow beach features along the margin with the main Thames. Clay has been used to line ditches which channel water to reedbeds.
 
The project was undertaken in an area of high archaeological interest, therefore requiring pre-construction archaeological investigations. To mitigate for this a buffer was established around areas of greatest archaeological risk. The project only had one short delay due to the excavation of Roman human remains. This was dealt with quickly thanks to the county archaeologist.
 
 
Monitoring will be undertaken to demonstrate benefits provided by the project, specifically relating to water quality, catchment run-off rates, as well as assessing productivity of farming when working side by side with environmental enhancement. A project specific engagement programme “Water for Life” will ensure positive engagement with interested parties and will be led by the Earth Trust. 
 
 
The River Restoration Centre would like to thank the Environment Agency and the Earth Trust for providing the information, pictures and plans for this case study.
|Monitoring surveys and results=Electrofishing will be repeated post project to assess Water Framework Directive improvement for fish.  
|Monitoring surveys and results=Electrofishing will be repeated post project to assess Water Framework Directive improvement for fish.  
An ecosystems services assessment will be carried out post-project. This aims to assess if land productivity can be maintained, or even improved post project.  
An ecosystems services assessment will be carried out post-project. This aims to assess if land productivity can be maintained, or even improved post project.  
Water quality monitoring will be carried out to assess the effects of reedbeds and other measures.
Water quality monitoring will be carried out to assess the effects of reedbeds and other measures.
There will be a range of opportunities for volunteering during phase two and three of the project, as well as part of the subsequent management of the site to undertake monitoring and maintenance, coordinated by the Earth Trust.
A three year programme of pre-project water level monitoring is already complete and has informed the location of different habitat types as part of the overall design phase.
Ecological monitoring will continue on from the pre-project baseline, including mapping of protected, rare or locally significant species at the site. 
There will be a range of opportunities for volunteering during phases two and three of the project, as well as part of the subsequent management of the site to undertake monitoring and maintenance, coordinated by the Earth Trust.
}}
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{{Image gallery}}
{{Image gallery}}
{{Case study image
|File name=Field 2 (2).JPG
|Caption=River of Life pre-works (River Restoration Centre)
}}
{{Case study image
|File name=Plan view map (Earth Trust).gif
|Caption=River of Life plan view map (the Earth Trust)
}}
{{Case study image
|File name=Excavation 1.jpg
|Caption=Phase 1 works taking place (the Environment Agency)
}}
{{Case study image
|File name=Excavation 2.jpg
|Caption=Phase 1 works taking place (the Environment Agency)
}}
{{Case study image
|File name=Excavation 3.jpg
|Caption=Some backwater restoration complete (the Environment Agency)
}}
{{Case study image
|File name=River of life construction 1.jpg
|Caption=Construction underway since 2013. Sustainable use of resources is an integral part of the project (the Environment Agency)
}}
{{Case study image
|File name=Sunset rfl.jpg
|Caption=Sunset across the River of Life site before construction began (the Environment Agency)
}}
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|WFD (national) typology=Low, Large, Calcareous
|WFD (national) typology=Low, Large, Calcareous
|WFD water body name=Thames Wallingford to Caversham
|WFD water body name=Thames Wallingford to Caversham
|Pre-project morphology=Single channel, Straightened,  
|Pre-project morphology=Single channel, Straightened,
|Reference morphology=backwaters, wetland  
|Reference morphology=backwaters, wetland, wet woodland, scrapes
|Desired post project morphology=backwaters, wetland  
|Desired post project morphology=backwaters, wetland, wet woodland, scrapes
|Heavily modified water body=Yes
|Heavily modified water body=Yes
|Protected species present=Yes
|Protected species present=No
|Invasive species present=No
|Invasive species present=No
|Dominant hydrology=Artificially regulated,  
|Dominant hydrology=Artificially regulated,
|Dominant substrate=Clay, Sand,  
|Dominant substrate=Clay, Sand,
|River corridor land use=Grassland, Intensive agriculture (arable), Urban,  
|River corridor land use=Grassland, Intensive agriculture (arable), Urban,
}}
}}
{{Project background
{{Project background
|Reach length directly affected=2200
|Reach length directly affected=2500
|Project started=2013/04/01
|Project started=2013/10/01
|Total cost category=500 - 1000 k€
|Total cost category=500 - 1000 k€
|Supplementary funding information=This project has been jointly funded and delivered by the Environment Agency and the Earth Trust.
}}
{{Motivations
|Specific mitigation=Flood risk management, Urbanisation,
|Biological quality elements=macro-invertebrates, Fish,
|Physico-chemical quality elements=phosphate
|Other motivation=Landscape enhancement, Recreation,
}}
{{Measures
|Bank and bed modifications measure=Create breaches in the bank,
|Floodplain / River corridor=Creation of backwaters, Creation of wet woodland, Creation of wetland, Creation of pond,
|Social measures=Boards-Interpretation areas will be installed to disseminate information and engage and educate local users, Decreased flood risk, Improved public access,
}}
}}
{{Motivations}}
{{Measures}}
{{Hydromorphological quality elements header}}
{{Hydromorphological quality elements header}}
{{End table}}
{{End table}}
{{Biological quality elements header}}
{{Biological quality elements header}}
{{Biological quality element table row
|Element=Fish
|Monitored before=Yes
|Monitored after=Yes
|Qualitative monitoring=No
|Quantitative monitoring=Yes
|Control site used=No
}}
{{End table}}
{{End table}}
{{Physico-chemical quality elements header}}
{{Physico-chemical quality elements header}}
{{End table}}
{{End table}}
{{Other responses header}}
{{Other responses header}}
{{Other response table row
|Element=ecosystems services assessment
|Monitored before=No
|Monitored after=Yes
|Qualitative monitoring=No
|Quantitative monitoring=No
|Control site used=No
}}
{{End table}}
{{End table}}
{{Monitoring documents}}
{{Monitoring documents}}
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{{Additional Documents end}}
{{Additional Documents end}}
{{Additional links and references header}}
{{Additional links and references header}}
{{Additional links and references
|Link=www.earthtrust.org.uk/Our-work/waterandwetlands/RiverofLife.aspx
|Description=Earth Trust River of Life project page
}}
{{Additional links and references
|Link=www.flickr.com/photos/environment-agency/sets/72157636386033603/
|Description=River of Life Flickr page
}}
{{Additional links and references
|Link=www.environment-agency.gov.uk/news/151049.aspx
|Description=Environment Agency project page
}}
{{Additional links and references
|Link=www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-24431187
|Description=BBC news article
}}
{{Additional links and references
|Link=www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-24454410
|Description=BBC news video clip
}}
{{Additional links and references footer}}
{{Additional links and references footer}}
{{Supplementary Information}}
{{Supplementary Information}}
{{Toggle content end}}
{{Toggle content end}}

Latest revision as of 12:05, 6 June 2017

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Location: 51° 38' 2.42" N, 1° 9' 11.22" W
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Project overview

Edit project overview
Status In progress
Project web site http://www.earthtrust.org.uk/Our-work/waterandwetlands/RiverofLife.aspx
Themes Fisheries, Flood risk management, Habitat and biodiversity, Social benefits
Country England
Main contact forename Lizzie
Main contact surname Rhymes
Main contact user ID
Contact organisation Environment Agency
Contact organisation web site http://http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/news/151049.aspx
Partner organisations The Earth Trust
Parent multi-site project
This is a parent project
encompassing the following
projects 		No
Pre-project bank line at the River of Life project site (River Restoration Centre)

Project summary

Edit project overview to modify the project summary.


The Environment Agency and the Earth Trust are collaborating to restore wetland features and threatened wildlife habitats along 2.5 km of the main River Thames in Oxfordshire, upstream of Shillingford. The River of Life project will create a large area of biodiverse habitat, including backwaters and wetland scrapes, across approximately 50 hectares of Earth Trust land, with a vision to create a truly wild river reach.


Objectives

• To create a new landscape scale area of wetland habitats, including wet woodland, fen, reedbed, ponds and scrapes, backwaters and seasonally wet grassland and meadow.

• To address Water Framework Directive failure for fish along this section of the main Thames, by increasing the provision of backwater and sheltered habitat to act as spawning areas for fish and provide refuge areas at times of high flow, thereby improving the ecological status.

• To engage people with habitats by providing access routes, opportunities for volunteering and learning. By providing boardwalks, viewing platforms and linking with the Thames footpath to encourage exploration and engagement with water.

• To enhance the value of ecosystems services, including the provision of: biodiverse habitat, fish refuge, recreation, flood alleviation, flow regulation, water and soil quality improvement and carbon sequestration.


Design and technique

The project has been three years in planning, from 2010 when the Earth Trust purchased the site to October 2013 when construction began. Since works began, seven new ponds, two reed beds and five new backwaters have been created at the site. Over 15,000m3 of soil has been removed from the floodplain to land in the upper catchment also owned by the trust, helping to create additional flood storage. In total the finished scheme hopes to create c. 34,600 cubic meters of extra capacity within the one in five years flood zone. The project plans outline four main breaches. All backwaters will be linked to the main Thames, allowing fish to move in and out freely.


The project has taken place in three phases; firstly the hard landscaping to excavate backwaters, scrapes and ponds, which is now complete. This phase was led by the Environment Agency. The second phase which will begin in the spring of 2014 will encompass more detailed habitat creation, such as planting of willow, reedbed, wet woodland and grassland restoration. Finally the site will be made ready for general public access by installing information boards, creation of new footpaths linking to the Thames footpath and coordinating events and activities. The last two phases of the project will be led by the Earth Trust.


Pre-project site investigations allowed palaeo-channels to be identified and incorporated into the project design. An Eco-hydrologist was appointed at the design stage to assess the best locations for the different habitat types. Monitoring was undertaken for three years to ensure the best way to use water on site to sustain key habitats, without the need for significant intervention through water level management. Monitoring was provided free by Earth Trust volunteers.

The new habitat area will link to Wittenham Wood SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) and SAC (Special Conservation Area). Together, this area will now form a continuous expanse of 150ha of diverse wildlife habitat.

The site is in a Biodiversity Opportunity Area identified by Thames Valley Environmental Records Centre. It will benefit many BAP (Biodiversity Action Plan) priority species including; seven species of birds, seven species of invertebrate, four herptiles, as well as brown hare, otter, water vole, brown long-eared and soprano pipstrelle bat. Pre-project investigations included ecological monitoring of the site, including mapping of protected, rare or locally significant species.


The vision at the heart of the project was to convert species poor grassland in the floodplain to a biodiverse wetland habitat, whilst still maintaining productivity of the site for arable and pastoral farming. During construction, all material generated from excavations was successfully reused on site and no material needed to be bought on site, with the exception of some “type 1” hardcore to form haul roads. Careful management of this material during construction meant that it will be reused to improve access roads. This significantly increased the sustainable credentials of the project, also reducing the carbon footprint. Top and sub-soils were spread on arable fields owned by the Earth Trust, outside the floodplain, and will be ploughed into existing soils. Gravel extracted whilst excavating the deeper features has been used to line fen habitat areas, create a surface for footpaths across the site and provide shallow beach features along the margin with the main Thames. Clay has been used to line ditches which channel water to reedbeds.

The project was undertaken in an area of high archaeological interest, therefore requiring pre-construction archaeological investigations. To mitigate for this a buffer was established around areas of greatest archaeological risk. The project only had one short delay due to the excavation of Roman human remains. This was dealt with quickly thanks to the county archaeologist.


Monitoring will be undertaken to demonstrate benefits provided by the project, specifically relating to water quality, catchment run-off rates, as well as assessing productivity of farming when working side by side with environmental enhancement. A project specific engagement programme “Water for Life” will ensure positive engagement with interested parties and will be led by the Earth Trust.


The River Restoration Centre would like to thank the Environment Agency and the Earth Trust for providing the information, pictures and plans for this case study.

Monitoring surveys and results

Edit project overview to modify the Monitoring survey and results.


Electrofishing will be repeated post project to assess Water Framework Directive improvement for fish. An ecosystems services assessment will be carried out post-project. This aims to assess if land productivity can be maintained, or even improved post project. Water quality monitoring will be carried out to assess the effects of reedbeds and other measures. A three year programme of pre-project water level monitoring is already complete and has informed the location of different habitat types as part of the overall design phase. Ecological monitoring will continue on from the pre-project baseline, including mapping of protected, rare or locally significant species at the site. There will be a range of opportunities for volunteering during phases two and three of the project, as well as part of the subsequent management of the site to undertake monitoring and maintenance, coordinated by the Earth Trust.

Lessons learnt

This case study hasn’t got any lessons learnt, you can add some by editing the project overview.


Image gallery


River of Life pre-works (River Restoration Centre)
River of Life plan view map (the Earth Trust)
Phase 1 works taking place (the Environment Agency)
Phase 1 works taking place (the Environment Agency)
Some backwater restoration complete (the Environment Agency)
Construction underway since 2013. Sustainable use of resources is an integral part of the project (the Environment Agency)
Sunset across the River of Life site before construction began (the Environment Agency)
ShowHideAdditionalImage.png


Catchment and subcatchment

Catchment

River basin district Thames
River basin Thame and South Chilterns

Subcatchment

River name Thames Wallingford to Caversham
Area category 1000 - 10000 km²
Area (km2)
Maximum altitude category 200 - 500 m
Maximum altitude (m) 231231 m <br />0.231 km <br />23,100 cm <br />
Dominant geology Calcareous
Ecoregion Great Britain
Dominant land cover Arable and Horticulture
Waterbody ID GB106039030331



Site

Name River of Life
WFD water body codes GB106039030331
WFD (national) typology Low, Large, Calcareous
WFD water body name Thames Wallingford to Caversham
Pre-project morphology Single channel, Straightened
Reference morphology backwaters, wetland, wet woodland, scrapes
Desired post project morphology backwaters, wetland, wet woodland, scrapes
Heavily modified water body Yes
National/international site designation
Local/regional site designations
Protected species present No
Invasive species present No
Species of interest
Dominant hydrology Artificially regulated
Dominant substrate Clay, Sand
River corridor land use Grassland, Intensive agriculture (arable), Urban
Average bankfull channel width category
Average bankfull channel width (m)
Average bankfull channel depth category
Average bankfull channel depth (m)
Mean discharge category
Mean annual discharge (m3/s)
Average channel gradient category
Average channel gradient
Average unit stream power (W/m2)


Project background

Reach length directly affected (m) 25002,500 m <br />2.5 km <br />250,000 cm <br />
Project started 2013/10/01
Works started
Works completed
Project completed
Total cost category 500 - 1000 k€
Total cost (k€)
Benefit to cost ratio
Funding sources

Cost for project phases

Phase cost category cost exact (k€) Lead organisation Contact forename Contact surname
Investigation and design
Stakeholder engagement and communication
Works and works supervision
Post-project management and maintenance
Monitoring

Supplementary funding information

This project has been jointly funded and delivered by the Environment Agency and the Earth Trust.



Reasons for river restoration

Mitigation of a pressure Flood risk management, Urbanisation
Hydromorphology
Biology macro-invertebrates, Fish
Physico-chemical phosphate
Other reasons for the project Landscape enhancement, Recreation


Measures

Structural measures
Bank/bed modifications Create breaches in the bank
Floodplain / River corridor Creation of backwaters, Creation of wet woodland, Creation of wetland, Creation of pond
Planform / Channel pattern
Other
Non-structural measures
Management interventions
Social measures (incl. engagement) Boards-Interpretation areas will be installed to disseminate information and engage and educate local users, Decreased flood risk, Improved public access
Other


Monitoring

Hydromorphological quality elements

Element When monitored Type of monitoring Control site used Result
Before measures After measures Qualitative Quantitative

Biological quality elements

Element When monitored Type of monitoring Control site used Result
Before measures After measures Qualitative Quantitative
Fish Yes Yes No Yes No

Physico-chemical quality elements

Element When monitored Type of monitoring Control site used Result
Before measures After measures Qualitative Quantitative

Any other monitoring, e.g. social, economic

Element When monitored Type of monitoring Control site used Result
Before measures After measures Qualitative Quantitative
ecosystems services assessment No Yes No No No


Monitoring documents



Additional documents and videos


Additional links and references

Link Description
http://www.earthtrust.org.uk/Our-work/waterandwetlands/RiverofLife.aspx Earth Trust River of Life project page
http://www.flickr.com/photos/environment-agency/sets/72157636386033603/ River of Life Flickr page
http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/news/151049.aspx Environment Agency project page
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-24431187 BBC news article
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-24454410 BBC news video clip

Supplementary Information

Edit Supplementary Information


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