Case study:River Cole Restoration

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Location: 52° 27' 28.36" N, 1° 50' 56.40" W

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Project overview

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Status	In progress
Project web site
Themes	Economic aspects, Environmental flows and water resources, Flood risk management, Habitat and biodiversity, Hydromorphology, Social benefits, Spatial planning, Water quality, Urban
Country	England
Main contact forename	Thomas
Main contact surname	Levick
Main contact user ID	User:Tlevick
Contact organisation	Sanctus Ltd
Contact organisation web site	http://www.sanctusltd.co.uk/
Partner organisations	Environment Agency, University of Birmingham
Parent multi-site project
This is a parent project encompassing the following projects	No

One of the many barriers

Project summary

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The River Cole is situated within a green corridor running through East Birmingham, Solihull and Warwickshire. The area is historically impacted by industry, straightening and oversteepening. This project is vital for improving the catchment biodiversity, accessibility and water quality. The project is unique because of its placement within one of the largest and most industrialised cities in the UK. It incorporates a catchment-based approach with multiple weir removals, wetland additions, reconnection with flood plains and improvements to biodiversity , focusing on the projects within the scheme undertaken by Sanctus thus far in this urban setting (and as part of a wider 11 schemes).

Removing the weir at Tyseley unlocked one of the first major migration barriers on the Cole as well as ancillary tasks involving canopy thinning, invasive species management and general improvements. This project presented a large volume of flotsam management due the accumulation of a rubbish dam. This smaller removal of a 1m head structure started to address the real issues the length of the River Cole throughout Birmingham.

The large Ackers Weir structure created some 2.4m of head difference in the Cole and impounded contaminated silts. De-silting was conducted behind Ackers weir and along Tyseley brook which then required processing away from the river via bioremediation so that it becomes physically and chemically suitable for re-use on sit these treated materials were retained on site and formed into wildlife hibernacula to enhance habitat provision for reptiles, mammals and amphibians within the area. Utilising brash and site won materials

Sanctus implemented green engineering techniques to stabilise the riverbank by securing organic bio-degradable coir erosion control blankets to the new slope cuttings which incorporated a specifically selected native seed mix. Sympathetic rock rapids were arranged riverbed to provide naturalised erosion control and shelter for aquatic species. Whilst addressing and mitigating nick points. This erosion control will be helped with bank stabilisation from carefully selected native wildflowers, shrubs and trees to be planted.

To increase the rivers flood storage capacity and habitat diversity, the objectives for Kingfisher Park will be to create marginal shelves, widening the river corridor, with areas to act as buffers for the water overflow. The formation of meanders will re-naturalise the channel, as will the installation of berms and low-level riffles and gravel shoals. Combined they slow the flow of water, trap sediment and provide suitable habitat for aquatic species at different life stages.

Monitoring surveys and results

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Pre-project baseline MoRPh surveys have been undertaken at Ackers Weir and at Heybarnes Recreation Ground. These Modular River Surveys will be used again to establish post-project changes.

The project has various degrees of monitoring, the lengthiest of these being the rigorous INNS (Invasive Non-Native Species) management plan in place targeting the Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandiferula) along the banks of the river Cole. The plan predominantly targets Himalayan balsam, populations of Giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) and Japanese knotweed (Reynoutria japonica) present on site will also be monitored.

Across all sites, Sanctus used automated continual monitoring upstream and downstream of the works. This ensures that the works were not negatively impacting the water quality, providing real time data for project partners, often showing a near immediate benefit in oxygenation levels.

Sanctus have provided 4 months of aftercare and bioremediation to materials taken from the river channel after the Ackers weir removal to improve contaminated material to form new habitats.

For the wider project, funding is being secured to create a programme of citizen science monitoring projects working with organised post-graduate and post doctorate researchers to establish monitoring across a wider range of subjects and disciplines including water quality, air quality, habitat monitoring.

Lessons learnt

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Image gallery

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Catchment and subcatchment Select a catchment/subcatchment Site Edit site Name River Cole Catchment WFD water body codes GB104028042502 WFD (national) typology WFD water body name Cole from Springfield to Hatchford-Kingshurst Brook Water Body Pre-project morphology Reference morphology Desired post project morphology 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 Dominant substrate River corridor land use 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 Edit project background Reach length directly affected (m) 1450014,500 m <br />14.5 km <br />1,450,000 cm <br /> Project started 2010 Works started 2021/01/04 Works completed Project completed Total cost category 100 - 500 k€ Total cost (k€) Benefit to cost ratio Funding sources ERDF Cost for project phases Phase cost category cost exact (k€) Lead organisation Contact forename Contact surname Investigation and design 10 - 50 k€ Environement Agency Stakeholder engagement and communication Works and works supervision Sanctus Ltd Post-project management and maintenance Monitoring Sanctus Ltd Reasons for river restoration Edit reasons for restoration Mitigation of a pressure Hydromorphology Supports good Biology Poor Physico-chemical Moderate Other reasons for the project Biodivesity Enhancement 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 RRC Award Overview River Cole Catchment.pdf Additional links and references Edit links and references Link Description http://twitter.com/bhamenergy/status/1593266799168163840?s=20&t=hT20hpZZo-n0Ae3FSPVpLA Social Media Post http://twitter.com/EnvAgencyMids/status/1595733359795527682?s=20&t=hT20hpZZo-n0Ae3FSPVpLA Soicial Media Posting http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRrnYJodHAU Scheme Video Supplementary Information Edit Supplementary Information