Property:Lessons learnt
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This is a property of type Text
E
Opportunisitc work due to compensation monies and public land ownership. The proximity of the Greenway cycle way, and high value market gardening land meant that the reach length had to be limited, and work constrained within the current channel dimensions. Lunkers that had been obtained for inlcusion in the scheme could not be used due to size issues - used elsewhere. +
C
Origional cost estimates for the feasisbility and design of this work (180k) were too low, cost are now alomst double this value using our framework of providers. The use of tendering is now being investigated to allow us to procure directly to smaller more specialist providers and will provide a comparison for our future investment in approx 20 fish passage projects, when compared with other river restorations such as our projects at Ingbirchworth and Swinsty reservoirs that are being delivered down our corporate framwork. +
P
Outlined hydromorph and ecological objectives set. Seen to have a beneficial impact on reach profile, water level, flood risk, instream diversity, flow regime, spawning habitats and macrophytes/phytobenthos. Extremely positive impact on reducing the backwater effect, and in improving fish stocks and passage. +
B
Overall this scheme illustrates what can be achieved when working with natural sediment transport processes in flood storage zones. In 2010, the Saltire Society of Scotland in association with the Institution of Civil Engineers awarded the Forres Flood Alleviation Scheme its 'Environmental Sustainable Construction' commendation. +
O
Pass is made from GRP, due to theft risk in an open urban area. Lower section of pass was broken off, probably by a large log, meaning the pass is not functioning at present (August 2013). +
P
Pearls in Peril is supported on the River Ehen by a Technical Steering Group. This Group brings together key stakeholders in the catchment and shares information on other activities and projects being undertaken. Through this group many opportunities have been realised and additional benefits gained. This approach is worth considering for future projects on rivers where there are many interested stakeholders. +
L
Performance/Ecosystem benefits - large increase in flood water storage to maintain 1 in 100 year protection, range of environmental benefits including backwaters, riffles and pools +
D
Plan ahead where native Crayfish could be impacted by a project. Ensure you have the necessary permissions to survey for them and where necessary relocate from the project site.
This project also planned to install a rock ramp on a weir downstream, but this could not be taken forward due to site access during Covid. +
T
Planting earlier in the season allowed top and root growth to establish more quickly thus encouraging faster biofilm development leading and therefore water quality improvement. Earlier establishment of plant growth provided new habitat and encouraged nesting birds, adding to the biodiversity. +
H
Pre-project studies and cooperation have been important for the output. The involvemnt of experts in early phases of the projects have improved the positiv effects of mitigation. Mapping of species and ecosystem variables before the contruction is valuabel reference state for the monitoring after implementation. +
Problems were experienced in cooperation between local authorities - and with the national authorities. This contributed to delays in the construction of a stone observation hide opposite the feeding site - to observe the vultures without disturbing them - and prevented the successful development of other planned visitor infrastructure during the timeframe of the project.
A fenced feeding site was set up for birds of prey to replace natural prey that have declined in numbers. This was especially targeted at the griffon vulture colony residing on the cliffs of the Nestos gorge as well as vulture populations nesting in Dadia and Bulgaria. Unfortunately, delays in establishing the site meant that regular feeding of the vultures did not take place during the project's duration. +
R
Processes can overcome problems: With a large programme of capital projects, it was essential we kept the whole programme moving forward. We created a matrix for each project type - woodlands, wetlands and fish pass / weir removal - detailing every milestone we needed to reach in order to successfully deliver each project. For example, creating a woodland development process that mirrored the approval process the Forestry Commission carry out woodland creation. This meant we carried out the same checks, prior to application, that the Forestry Commission would undertake, effectively pre-screening them ourselves. This meant all of our woodland projects were approved. By ensuring each individual project followed the route we had developed, and being able to quickly track progress, we were able to complete our capital works programme in the first three years of delivery. This had been planned to give us a final 'year of celebration', but in the end it meant that all of our capital projects had been delivered before COVID19 hit in 2020. We continue to adapt and improve this system as guidance and priorities change. Whilst this process is more widely used now, back in 2017 we believe this was not routinely done for these types of capital works projects in such a systematic way.
Keep it simple: It’s amazing that we’ve been able to achieve so much, but did we give ourselves too much to do? By doing so many things we have been able to try new things, but did this stop us making the most of everything we did? Perhaps if we had done slightly less, we could have spent more time on being more inclusive and celebrating success. In the end we did achieve everything we set out to do, but this is something we’ve thought about when considering new projects.
Become more inclusive: We have certainly widened our audience and worked with communities across the catchment, and this was our key aim five years ago. However, our ongoing aim is to reflect all communities across the catchment, and we feel we still have some way to go with this. We are already exploring ideas for projects that will help us work in those communities that, so far, we have failed to reach, and this is something we’re very excited about for the future. Also, Ribble Life Together focussed on natural heritage – is there more to explore?
Celebrate success: Because we are focussed so much on ‘getting things done’, we can sometimes forget to take a moment, reflect and celebrate what we have achieved. We are far more likely to finish something, then quickly move on to the next piece of work. Unless people know about what we’re doing and why we’re doing it, it can’t have the full impact it needs. We are getting better at this, but this is something we need to do on a more regular basis.
H
Project timing is essential to maximize benefit. When to cut vegetation, when to plant, what time is best to carry out re-profiling to limit disturbance,when it is best to work with local communites, schools in particular and those with more fixed schedules, and the fact that projects must be allowed to be flexible enough to alter perimeters should the need arise within these timings. +
R
Providing cattle and sheep do not have access to the channel on a permanent basis, the created features of pools, runs and low-flow self-cleansing sections will not only be sustained, but improve over time.
The hoped for growth of willow to form both habitat and landscape improvements has less chance of guaranteed success - the logs and stakes have been left far too long (over seven months at least) for ideal use. They have also been installed much later in the season than is the norm to encourage sprouting and rooting. When installed in the dormant period, or spring / early summer, sprouting is accompanied by rapid root growth - both will be limited now, and roots may not have sufficient dampness to succeed.
Keeping the banks fenced for two years will be ideal if any growth of willows is to reachits maximum potential; thereafter periodic grazing will help keep lower branches in check and be good for all other aspects of the marginal vegetation (as well as restore full grazing potential) +
L
Qualitative success criteria were developed by the Project Partnership. All of the aims have been delivered upon with observed improvements in the quality of habitat and features particularly. It is believed that fish populations are improving, with wild brown trout being caught, suggesting that it could become an important local breeding area. Further areas where improvements can be made are being identified. +
3
Relatively short term projects (12 months or less) such as this make it difficult to build moment to any degree and identify and contact the most relevant land/ home owners with regard to impact on the rivers. Higher impact farms, such as the larger dairy units are particularly difficult to engage. Householders on non-mains drainage are also difficult to engage with through the normal methods such as attendance at events and markets etc.; the most effective way of engaging with non-mains drainage householders was through cold calling.
Good numbers of volunteers were available for tasks such as the undertaking of walkover surveys.
Landowners were reticent to plant trees, generally because land is being used for agricultural and the grants available for tree planting aren't significant.
Further water quality monitoring is required to provide greater details of phosphate and other pollution inputs. +
B
Researchers of Alterra (now Wageningen Environmental Research) state that the basins would not have ondergone such rapid plant succession if they had been made a bit deeper. +
S
Restoration work using traditional willow withies has resulted in improved overall appearance and accretion to some areas of the bank. Vegetation is not growing in the silt perhaps because of a lack of oxygen. Seepage from the bank toe area is keeping the silt mobile in some areas. The current approach employed by Thames21 of incremental maintenance appears to be successful and demonstrates good cost vs. benefit, especially since partners have started to make contributions towards costs. Withies planted on the flat surface of the island by the Old Chiswick Protection Society are growing well and the willow holt, which is pollarded annually, appears to be in good condition. The withies produced by the pollarding are bundled by the OCPS and volunteers and used to provide structure behind the spiling and fascines.
It might be useful at this point to consider additional techniques such as rolls of rocks (rocks bundled into mesh 'socks') at the areas of the bank toe with seepage. Thames21 has also mentioned using different species of aquatic plants. +
H
Results so far:
Fish studies were conducted in 2018 by Rådgivende Biologer AS. Due to general low densities of juvenile fish in 2018, there were not enough data to say anything conclusive about the effects of the measures conducted in the river (Irgens, C. & Hellen, B.A. 2019. Fiskebiologiske undersøkelser i Bortneelva i 2018. Rådgivende Biologer AS, rapport 2910, 16 sider, ISBN 978-82-8308-63 3-1). +
R
Revisiting site in July 2009: The gravel has concentrated the low flows and revived water flow in the reach, and diverse marginal and bankside vegetation has established. +