Case study:Rewilding the Rom

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Location: 51° 33' 28.30" N, 0° 11' 2.29" E

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Project overview

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Status	In progress
Project web site	http://www.thames21.org.uk/improving-rivers/rewilding-the-rom/
Themes	Flood risk management, Habitat and biodiversity, Monitoring, Social benefits, Water quality, Urban
Country	England
Main contact forename	Carolina
Main contact surname	Pinto
Main contact user ID	User:TylerThames21
Contact organisation	Thames 21
Contact organisation web site	http://www.thames21.org.uk
Partner organisations	London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, Environment Agency, Essex and Suffolk Water (Northumbrian Water), Kusuma Trust, Land of the Fanns, Thames Chase, Mayor of London
Parent multi-site project
This is a parent project encompassing the following projects	No

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Project summary

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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.

Monitoring surveys and results

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Project progress has been monitored in a number of ways:

   Through fixed point photography (FPP);  

   Aerial drone footage; 

   MoRPh surveys;  

   Macroinvertebrate (RMI);  

   Wildlife surveys to assess the reinstatement of native species. 

As most of the major restoration works were completed by Thames21 in the spring of 2023, BEPREP research at ‘time zero’ in a rewilded wetland started (report attached as supporting file). Sampling began in April 2023, with a second session in August of the same year; sampling will continue with two sessions in 2024.

In addition, Thames21 are measuring the impact of the project on the local community by the number of participants in volunteering and other nature-related activities (e.g. nature walks, discussions, nature/art workshops). The aim is to achieve meaningful points of direct contact with at least 600 people including those from underrepresented communities (ethnic minorities and low-income groups).

The effort to restore natural processes on the Rom is demonstrated by several indicators that are tracked and evaluated via surveys, anecdotal evidence, and media coverage.

The Horizon funded BEPREP project, researches the effects of rewilding on improving health resilience. At the project site, biological indicators were measured both immediately after excavation and for five years post- restoration. The first few data points demonstrate that, especially the new wetland scrapes, have shown improved biological outcomes and shown which flora and fauna are settling at the site.

Specific indicators include microbiota (bacteria and fungi) changes in the water (e.g. amphibians), on the land (e.g. soil, arthropods, vegetation, micromammals, canids) and in the air (e.g. bats, birds). This research will provide crucial information on which flora, fauna and microorganisms colonise and interact in newly excavated urban wetlands and is fundamental for the sustainable management of aquatic urban environments, and for understanding their importance to human health. The first few data points demonstrate that, especially the new wetland scrapes, have shown improved biological outcomes and shown which flora and fauna are settling at the site.

We are using data from citizen science and observational monitoring, as well as advanced molecular analysis techniques (using environmental DNA) to measure the changes in macro and micro biodiversity of the restored wetlands and nearby forests (Report provided in the ‘Supporting Documentation’ section F1). Preliminary results already show arthropods, amphibians and reptiles colonising the new wetlands. Particularly noteworthy discoveries include molecular identification of faecal pellets from water voles, a nationally rare species.

Records from Fixed Point Photography (FPP) provide a visual record of the changes that are taking place; comparison photos from before and after the restoration work effectively show how the Rom and its floodplain have changed. These images provide a good view of the project impacts through increased river-land interface connectivity and the instigation of natural processes.

To ensure that large wood structures are performing their intended purpose, periodic assessments took place. The maintenance assessment included the characterisation of the structures in terms of stability and an assessment of material integrity and deterioration. After the large wood installation period, in December 2021, we carried out monthly visits for the first 6 months, and then bimonthly visits for the remainder of the first years. After this, we assessed the large wood every six months.

Anecdotal feedback from local communities and stakeholders further reinforces the success of our restoration project. Through our regular volunteering events we gathered valuable insights from the community, from appreciation of improvements to habitat quality to new recreational opportunities, such as the use of the new bridge for bird watching. In addition, the dissemination of information about our project through news articles, videos, and interviews emphasised the beneficial effects of our restoration efforts on the RBI catchment area.

Lessons learnt

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Image gallery

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Catchment and subcatchment Select a catchment/subcatchment Site Edit site Name River Rom WFD water body codes GB106037028120 WFD (national) typology WFD water body name Rom (Bourne Brook to Ravensbourne) Water Body Pre-project morphology Reference morphology Desired post project morphology Heavily modified water body Yes National/international site designation UK - Local Nature Reserve Local/regional site designations Local Nature Reserve Protected species present Yes Invasive species present Yes Species of interest Himalayan Balsam, Japanese Knotweed, water vole (Arvicola terrestris) Dominant hydrology Quick run-off, Groundwater Dominant substrate Clay, Silt River corridor land use Urban, Irrigated land, Improved/semi-improved grassland/pasture Average bankfull channel width category 2 - 5 m Average bankfull channel width (m) Average bankfull channel depth category 0.5 - 2 m 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 Edit project background Reach length directly affected (m) 400400 m <br />0.4 km <br />40,000 cm <br /> Project started 2018/11/01 Works started 2020/01/01 Works completed 2022/11/01 Project completed 2024/07/31 Total cost category Total cost (k€) 370,000370,000 k€ <br />370,000,000 € <br /> Benefit to cost ratio Funding sources Essex & Suffolk Water, Greater London Authority, Kusuma Trust, Land of the Fanns Cost for project phases Phase cost category cost exact (k€) Lead organisation Contact forename Contact surname Investigation and design 100 - 500 k€ Thames21 Stakeholder engagement and communication 10 - 50 k€ Thames21 Works and works supervision 50 - 100 k€ Thames21 Post-project management and maintenance 10 - 50 k€ Thames21 Monitoring 1 - 10 k€ Thames21 Reasons for river restoration Edit reasons for restoration Mitigation of a pressure Flood risk management, Invasive species, Urbanisation, Riparian development, Pollution incident Hydromorphology Biology Urbanisation, Private Sewage Treatment, Misconnections, Transport Drainage, Contaminated land, Poor nutrient management, Poor soil management, Track/rural road Physico-chemical Poor nutrient management, Misconnections, Private Sewage Treatment Other reasons for the project Improving biodiversity in a local nature reserve, Community demand, Recreation Measures Edit Measures Structural measures Bank/bed modifications Floodplain / River corridor Planform / Channel pattern Other Non-structural measures Management interventions Social measures (incl. engagement) Other Monitoring Hydromorphological quality elements Edit Hydromorphological quality elements Element When monitored Type of monitoring Control site used Result Before measures After measures Qualitative Quantitative Biological quality elements Edit biological quality elements Element When monitored Type of monitoring Control site used Result Before measures After measures Qualitative Quantitative Physico-chemical quality elements Edit 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 Edit Other responses Element When monitored Type of monitoring Control site used Result Before measures After measures Qualitative Quantitative Monitoring documents Upload monitoring documents Additional documents and videos Upload additional documents Additional links and references Edit links and references Link Description http://www.thames21.org.uk/improving-rivers/rewilding-the-rom/ Thames 21 project webpage http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9w8Gp69qIXs&t=56s Spring 2023 drone footage http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6ctnH-PQPo Summer 2023 drone footage http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0vbH559Qg8 Online wetland construction drone footage Supplementary Information Edit Supplementary Information