Case study:Spring Meadow Meander Restoration

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Location: 50° 59' 57.25" N, 0° 0' 29.26" W

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Project overview

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Status	Complete
Project web site	http://www.oart.org.uk/projects/morph-sheffield-park.htm
Themes	Fisheries, Flood risk management, Habitat and biodiversity, Hydromorphology, Monitoring
Country	England
Main contact forename	Peter
Main contact surname	King
Main contact user ID
Contact organisation	Ouse and Adur Rivers Trust
Contact organisation web site	http://www.oart.org.uk/
Partner organisations	Environment Agency, Royal HaskoningDHV, C A Blackwell
Parent multi-site project	Case_study:The Middle Ouse Restoration of Physical Habitats (MORPH)
This is a parent project encompassing the following projects	No

Restored meander eighteen months after project works finished, looking upstream © RRC, July 2014

Project summary

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The Sussex River Ouse near Slaugham, West Sussex has historically been managed for navigation. These works have straightened the channel, increasing the width and depth in many places. The Spring meadow site is on the north eastern bank of the river at Sheffield Park, within the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The site was acquired by the current landowner to increase wildlife value in the area. Since conception in 2010, works on site were finished in 16 weeks and the project was completed in 2012. Initially it had been hoped to complete works in 8 weeks, however heavy rainfall caused a relatively short delay.

The Sheffield Park Meanders project involved the reinstatement of the historic meandering course of the Ouse at spring meadow to achieve the following aims:

• Reinstate the historic course of the river through the re-excavation of the visible meander. The creation of a meandering channel allows a greater diversity of habitats to develop, specifically for multiple fish species.

• Reduce flood risk by creating a longer meandering channel length, which slows the flow of water heading downstream. At the same time the new bank profiling aimed to encourage natural functioning of the floodplain.

• The incorporation of a low flow channel which maintains sufficient water depth for fish migration in all flow conditions.

• Restoration of existing wet meadow habitats at the site and creation of new woodland areas.

Initially a 20 meter trial area was excavated, allowing adjustments to be made on expert on site recommendation. Banks were roughened up with a toothed bucket to ensure an undulating bank profile. Spoil from excavation was spread across a railway embankment close by to reduce the cost of disposal.

The project was named the Professional category winner at the annual Wild Trout Trust (WTT) Conservation Awards 2013. The panel comprised two experts, Paul Gaskell (WTT) and Dr. Jenny Mant from the River Restoration Centre.

The project is one of thirteen projects within the Middle Ouse Restoration of Physical Habitats (MORPH) project; led by the Environment Agency in partnership with the Ouse & Adur Rivers Trust (OART) & supported by Royal HaskoningDHV (design, engineering and environmental consultancy services) and C A Blackwell (contractor for the implementation works). Each of these projects is being considered individually but also in terms of how they will work in conjunction with each other to improve the diversity of the river and reduce flood risk.

Several details were built into the design to meet the site specific requirements. A ford was constructed to give access to a newly created island area in the centre of the channel. Woody material was added to the new channel at five locations to encourage flow diversity and provide the channel with some shade. The existing channel and new meandering course are joined via a bund constructed at the upstream confluence of the two channels. At normal flow levels this directs all the flow down the mender, leaving the old course as a backwater. In times of flood the bund can be overtopped, allowing water to flow down both channels, increasing local flood capacity.

The land surrounding the site is in Higher Level Stewardship scheme for floodplain hay meadow. The island at the centre of the site was no longer manageable as a hay meadow, therefore a Forestry Commission Woodland Creation Grant was approved to create 1.5Ha of floodplain woodland. This area would slow the flow of flood waters, help to trap sediment and increase biodiversity of the site. Promotion of the project included coverage on BBC South East today programme, local papers and area group websites.

Monitoring surveys and results

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Working with University of Brighton, the project has set up a long term monitoring programme to look at and assess geomorphological changes, seed dispersal of Himalayan Balsam, and hay meadow restoration techniques.

Lessons learnt

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The design of the new two-stage channel (incorporating a low flow channel) has increased water depth during low flows. In combination with a greater variety of channel widths and depths, this has increased habitat diversity which should benefit fish populations.

Within a year of the project works, native vegetation had begun to establish on the banks. This will provide shelter and feeding areas for fish during high flows and will increase habitat for invertebrate species such as dragonflies, beetles and fly species.

The newly created backwater will provide refuge for juveile fish, create warmer conditions and shallow refugia as nursey areas for young amphibians and invertebrates which live in still water. The introduction of woody material provides shelter during low flows and marginal shelves will become vegetated and provide areas for feeding and resting.

Out of channel habitat enhancement of floodplain woodland and additional lateral connectivity is expected to lead to improvements in the biodiversity value of the landscape (wet meadow habitats are nationally rare) & reduce flood risk downstream by increasing capacity for floodwaters.

The public have been consulted and kept informed of progress throughout the project, building local support for river restoration and its associated benefits.

Image gallery

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Upstream part of the project where Himalayan Balsam will need to be managed © RRC, October 2013

Re-instated meander, looking downstream © RRC, October 2013

Constructed river crossing (Ford) © RRC, October 2013

Newly created meander, 18 months post restoration © RRC, July 2014

Flood meadow, 18 months post restoration © RRC, July 2014

18 months post restoration © RRC, July 2014

Catchment and subcatchment Select a catchment/subcatchment Edit the catchment and subcatchment details (affects all case studies in this subcatchment) Catchment River basin district South East River basin Adur and Ouse Subcatchment River name Ouse from Cockhaise Brook confluence to Spithurst Area category 100 - 1000 km² Area (km2) Maximum altitude category 100 - 200 m Maximum altitude (m) 161161 m <br />0.161 km <br />16,100 cm <br /> Dominant geology Siliceous Ecoregion Great Britain Dominant land cover Improved grassland Waterbody ID GB107041012710 Other case studies in this subcatchment: River Ouse at Sharpsbridge Rock Ramp Fish Easement Project Site Edit site Name River Ouse at Sheffield Green WFD water body codes GB107041012710 WFD (national) typology Low, Medium, Siliceous WFD water body name Ouse from Cockhaise Brook confluence to Spithurst Pre-project morphology Trapezoidal, Impounded, Over-widened, Uniform bed Reference morphology 2-stage channel Desired post project morphology Width and depth variation, 2-stage channel Heavily modified water body Yes National/international site designation Local/regional site designations Protected species present No Invasive species present Yes Species of interest Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera ) Dominant hydrology Dominant substrate River corridor land use Wet meadow, Rough unimproved grassland/pasture, Woodland 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) 400400 m <br />0.4 km <br />40,000 cm <br /> Project started Works started 2012/09/01 Works completed 2012/12/24 Project completed Total cost category 100 - 500 k€ Total cost (k€) 150150 k€ <br />150,000 € <br /> Benefit to cost ratio Funding sources DEFRA Cost for project phases Phase cost category cost exact (k€) Lead organisation Contact forename Contact surname Investigation and design Royal HaskoningDHV Ian Dennis Stakeholder engagement and communication Ouse and Adur Rivers Trust Peter King Works and works supervision Ouse and Adur Rivers Trust Peter King Post-project management and maintenance Ouse and Adur Rivers Trust Peter King Monitoring University of Brighton Reasons for river restoration Edit reasons for restoration Mitigation of a pressure Hydromorphology Biology Physico-chemical Other reasons for the project 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 Width & depth variation No Yes No No No Awaiting results 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 Seed dispersal of Himalayan Balsam No Yes No No No Awaiting results Monitoring documents Upload monitoring documents Additional documents and videos Upload additional documents Additional links and references Edit links and references Link Description Supplementary Information Edit Supplementary Information