Property:Lessons learnt
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
This is a property of type Text
V
Learning point:
It’s easy to get lost in the detail at this stage of the process. Concentrate on the major issues – what’s
going to make the biggest improvements.
Stage 2: Detailed environmental planning Phosphates Water quality modelling using SAGIS had already been carried out, so we knew which sectors were responsible for the phosphate and how much phosphate needs to be removed to achieve good status. The main source of phosphate was sewage treatment works and agriculture. The sewage treatment works is due for improvement before 2024
Mitigation measures
These are actions we can take to improve the ecology of a heavily modified river. Although we had previously identified mitigation measures, we asked the Environment Agency biodiversity and geomorphologist to review those
measures and they produced a river restoration report.
Stage 3: Production of the plan
The outcome of the planning, including all of the actions needed to close the gap to good were recorded in the Valley Brook catchment action plan.
Outcomes
The catchment planning led to the development of the Valley Brook Partnership, which involved local authorities, Mersey Rivers Trust, Cheshire Wildlife Trust, Groundwork and many more.The Environment Agency and Cheshire East Council and Crewe Town Council successfully bid for £2.9m of central government funding (though the town fund, and an additional £250k of Water Environment Investment Fund) recognising the importance of putting the river at the heart of the economic regeneration of Crewe. The funding will restore more natural function to a section of Valley Brook and create a green transport route along Valley Brook corridor. Funding bids have been submitted to work with farmers in the upstream catchment
Learning point:
The catchment planning for Valley Brook has created a clear narrative around action which has led to partners being able to work together to deliver outcomes and a long term commitment to improve Valley Brook
Learning point:
SAGIS provides information on the source of phosphate and the percentage reductions required. Farmscoper was used to model what actions farmers need to take to achieve good status. All farms in the upstream catchments, including Engelsea Brook and the rural section of Valley Brook were included. Phosphate from agriculture needs to reduce by 88% in the upstream catchments. This will require significant land use change ,as well as wide spread uptake of other mitigation measures
Learning point:
Farmscoper is a decision support tool that can be used to assess diffuse agricultural pollutant loads on a farm and quantify the impacts of farm mitigation methods on these pollutants. You can download it and guidance documents from the ADAS website
R
Les points faibles de l’action :
• la végétalisation des berges en hélophytes reste
absente à ce jour ou constituée, sur les secteurs ensoleillés,
d’une seule espèce : la baldingère;
• la réduction de section par la mise en place de
banquettes et la recharge sédimentaire a été légèrement
sous-estimée dans la partie aval;
• en l’absence de crues morphogènes depuis les travaux,
on constate un manque de diversité (pas de création
de fosses) et peu de mouvement des matériaux;
• le projet est d’ambition modérée : une reprise du
tracé du cours d’eau, avec un espace de mobilité plus
important rendu au cours d’eau, aurait pu être envisagé.
Les points forts de l’action:
• diversification des écoulements permettant un
gain en termes d’habitats disponibles;
• reconquête biologique rapide avec une amélioration
des peuplements piscicoles et de macroinvertébrés
en place.
La réalisation des mesures de suivi permettra d’évaluer
l’incidence de ces travaux et d’adapter les futurs
aménagements en fonction des résultats.
Suite à la réussite de cette opération, la CCPH prévoit
de reproduire ce même type de restauration sur les
communes de Houdan et de Maulette. Ces deux projets
sont en phase d’instruction avec des ambitions
plus importantes. +
Les points forts de cette action sont:
• la création d’une balade autour du site et la pose
d’un panneau didactique;
• la limitation des crues sur le terrain de football et
le parking.
Les points faibles de cette action sont:
• l’acceptation parfois difficile par les propriétaires
privés et la profession agricole de la nécessité d’abandonner
leurs terres;
• les mares nouvellement créées qui ne restent pas
encore en eau. Cependant, le milieu humide qu’elles
constituent actuellement est intéressant en termes
de biodiversité;
• le temps de restauration hydromorphologique très
long sur ce type de cours d’eau à faible énergie. +
D
Dérivation et recréation du lit mineur du ruisseau de Bel Orient au droit de quatre plans d’eau à Gueltas +
Les points forts de cette opération:
• la mise en place d’un ouvrage de répartition des
eaux en amont des plans d’eau
• le soutien d’étiage du ruisseau par l’abaissement
d’un plan d’eau.
Les points faibles de cette opération:
• la localisation du ruisseau de contournement (hors
du fond de talweg) et la faiblesse de la pente, qui
ont conduit à surcreuser le lit
• les assecs sévères que connait le ruisseau
• la dégradation des cours du bassin versant, et notamment
de la Belle Chère. +
R
Local authorities own significant amounts of land along all of our main rivers. Working in partnership with them can improve their parkland and nature reserves for amenity, recreation and conservation, benefiting local communities wildlife and reducing flood risk.
''NB location for this case study may not be exact. +
B
London Borough of Richmond with Friends of Barnes Common has created a 400 sq m reed-bed with ditch links to Beverley Brook. More marginal plants will be added this Autumn with further fine tuning if needed. The construction work started in February 2010 and took two weeks. Planting commenced in April 2010 and has continued through to August 2010: the early reed and yellow flag planting has been very successful, and with these (sourced from the local Kew pond) came limited quantities of Sweet Galingale sedge, greater willowherb etc to which we have thus far added marsh marigold, meadowsweet, purple loosestrife, hemp agrimony and ragged robin. The plan has always been that this site should be 'reed-fen' which is flooded in winter and dries out but stays moist in summer - and it appears that we have broadly achieved this aim, with the site dry at times and ponding when there is heavy rainfall, which is helping to maintain the new plantings, but which would drain out if we opened the sluices: equally the brook depth in winter, with sluices open, should allow a period of consistent flooding for weed control and to allow a backwater haven. +
R
Make a good story and go for it. Involvement and local engagement is the key to success. +
H
Monitoring
The New Forest has a long history of wetland restoration, with a number of studies completed prior to the HLS. As a result of this, and the nature of delivery focused agri-environment funding, it was felt that there was enough current evidence to deliver the restoration schemes in the forest. However, the previous evidence became more outdated as time progressed. Alongside this, there was an increased need for consultation with stakeholders due to needing planning permission for larger projects.
So in 2013 we developed an extensive and pioneering monitoring programme to aid with evidence for the future. In 2016 we appointed our first full time HLS monitoring officer whose sole focus is on gathering evidence to demonstrate the effects of this work.
Weather
Our in-channel restoration work takes place in a limited construction window to take account of Salmonid spawning restrictions from May until October and bird nesting season March through July.
Inclement weather has delayed a number of projects when work is suspended as a result of unsuitable ground conditions. Careful planning of work and use of resources has allowed us to undertake a large number of restorations simultaneously in the short window of opportunity. +
P
Monitoring undertaken at the beginning of a project, before any physical works are implemented, is very important. This approach on the Afon Eden resulted in changes to the delivery of some project actions. Early monitoring to gather baseline information allowed the project team to focus the planning and implementation of practical conservation work at priority locations (e.g. strategic siting of settlement ponds and creating new fish spawning areas specifically suited to trout). +
R
Natural un-milled and untreated timber for use as woody material was difficult to source at this location. Sourcing material for future schemes needs to be a consideration in the design.
After an exceptionally dry summer the river level had dropped such that the fenced cattle drinks no longer allowed livestock to reach the water to drink (see photos). The scheme also included un-fenced drinks which the livestock could use. Consideration for livestock watering provisions in the event of low water levels must be included in future designs. +
D
New research shows that the ideal amount of spawning gravel in a stream is 20 % of the habitat (https://lakseelver.no/nb/news-2019/utlegg-av-gytegrus). We covered much more of the reopened stream, and will consider to take measures in order to increase the habitat variation. +
C
No issues, so far, apart from accumulating debris (August 2013). +
H
No project is too big if you have the right people to back you!
The whole process of completing the project from inception through feasibility, design, engaging contractors and construction has been a major learning experience for the Don Catchment Rivers Trust.
The experience and proven track record gained will enable us to gain funding for more important river improvement projects. +
S
No real lessons. Just make sure you get it right before you start. +
T
One of the key challenges of working at a catchment scale was rationalising catchment-wide WFD pressures and prioritising actions so that the greatest environmental and social benefits could be progressed. As in any catchment with a wide range of stakeholders, it has also been a great challenge to ensure that environmental requirements are balanced with the needs of local stakeholders. We have been able to overcome these challenges by working closely with stakeholders and developing a strategic plan which determines priorities and identifies “quick win sites” where limited constraints can allow construction to be progressed within a limited funding window.
keyfor OARTthe
The key lessons learned while addressing these challenges and delivering the project include:
* The most important lesson is that pre project work in getting public and focused stakeholder support is vital in achieving the objectives. By working closely with landowners and other stakeholders at the beginning, listening to their concerns and incorporating these into initial designs, the projects run smoothly and at a faster pace as there is agreement right from the start.
Effective partnership working can enable delivery in a short time when funding is secure. On the ground input from the OART catchment officer has greatly assisted the Environment Agency in building and maintaining partnerships.
* The phased approach to design and construction allows lessons and best practice to be shared across sites. This ensures that the projects successfully deliver maximum benefits in an efficient and effective way.
* Ensuring that the projects deliver wider environmental and social objectives has helped to guarantee the success of the project and maintain widespread support.
* There is a clear requirement to manage stakeholder expectations through the project implementation stage so they are not surprised when sites get temporarily messy during construction.
* Investment at the quick win sites has acted as a catalyst to encourage other groups to undertake improvement works at different sites in the catchment.
The lessons learnt from these projects will be used by the Environment Agency and OART to guide their future catchment restoration activities in the Ouse and Adur catchments. The lessons can also be applied to other catchments as part of the Environment Agency’s Catchment Based Approach to WFD implementation.
B
One of the main pressures is the surface water abstraction. In 1973 the Hydraulic Planning Service had the rights for extract 150 l/s over a period of 99 years from the Confederación Hidrográfica del Norte. The demographic evolution of the coast towns (even higher during the summer), the urbanisation and the increase of the industrial use of water made this concession obsolete. Subsequentley, the construction of bombs and the substitution of the existing pipes by ones of bigger capacity enabled the extraction of an amount of water much higher than allowed.
The reduction of flow at dry summer periods is reflected in the inexistence of flow. Also,this decrease would affect not only the Asón River, but to the Marshes themselves, where changes in the patterns of salinity (keys to the very existence of the marsh)during periods of severe drought alterations, may affect the biological communities.
Other threats to this site derived from human activities and over-use of the resources are: draining of the marshes, unauthorised shellfish farming, illegal fishing, poaching and the spread of exotic species. Misplanning and mismanagement of tourism, in turn, are having an adverse impact on conservation of some of these sites. +
R
One volunteer was a young soldier getting back into physical work after a gruelling 3-year recovery from being seriously wounded in an explosion in Afghanistan. Despite being exhausted, he very much enjoyed the day highlighting the therapeutic value of hands-on conservation work. +
D
Opening the stream has had very good reviews from the local residents and on the ecological status for benthic algae and macroinvertebrates. The bank erosion measures seem to work well after installment, but were built in a period of heavy rain, causing surplus erosion that could have been avoided. If fish status is to be improved, then the downstream culvert also needs to reopen. The costs of these measures were similar to building a new culvert, but yearly maintenance costs have so far been lower, and the recreational benefits are positive. The local bicycle club also have some ownership of the area now, through their monitoring, which has resulted in their free involvement in keeping the area free of garbage. +
T
Opening the stream has had very good reviews from the local residents and on the ecological status for benthic algae and macroinvertebrates. The bank erosion measures seem to work well after installment, but were built in a period of heavy rain, causing surplus erosion that could have been avoided. If fish status is to be improved, then the downstream culvert also needs to reopen. The costs of these measures were similar to building a new culvert, but yearly maintenance costs have so far been lower, and the recreational benefits are positive. The local bicycle club also have some ownership of the area now, through their monitoring, which has resulted in their free involvement in keeping the area free of garbage. +
Opening the stream has had very good reviews from the local residents and on the ecological status for benthic algae and macroinvertebrates. The bank erosion measures seem to work well after installment, but were built in a period of heavy rain, causing surplus erosion that could have been avoided. If fish status is to be improved, then the downstream culvert also needs to reopen. The costs of these measures were similar to building a new culvert, but yearly maintenance costs have so far been lower, and the recreational benefits are positive. The local bicycle club also have some ownership of the area now, through their monitoring, which has resulted in their free involvement in keeping the area free of garbage. +