Property:Project summary
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F
Address pollution and these look to habitat improvement.<br>Potential to raise biodiversity status of the park as a SINC.<br>Upstream golf course recorded as a good site, so potential for the park too. PLI’s connections lead to polluted water. Possibly also excessive sledding. Could become a more a thorough check landscape feature with improved biological quality. +
R
Addressing barriers to fish passage: The Rodley weir by pass channel.
Water industry investment has transformed the water quality of our rivers over the last 25 years and morphology is now one of the significant challenges to return river life to as natural condition as they can be. Yorkshires industrial legacy of many modifications and weirs in our working rivers presents a significant challenge in meeting the Water Framework Directive (WFD)requirements for fish passage in main rivers, as well as the Humber River Basin Plan goal of having sustainable populations of migratory fish in all Yorkshire rivers by 2021. In the last three years Yorkshire Water has undertaken several projects designed to investigate how to tackle these barriers and other water quality issues. Rodley weir bypass channel is the first of these to be completed.
Rodley weir sits in the main channel of the River Aire, it has a head of 1.8m and presents a significant barrier to the movement both of migratory species, such as brown trout, lampreys, salmon and European eels, and other course fish movement within the river.
This weir was identified as one of around 11 key barriers to fish movement in the Aire by the Environment Agency and Aire action group , the others being Chapel Haddlesey Weir, Knottingley Weir, Knostrop and Crown Point Weirs (Leeds), Armley Mills Weir (Leeds), St Ann’s Mills and Burley Mills Weirs (Kirkstall, Leeds), Salts Mill Weir (Bradford), Hirst Mill Weir (Saltaire, Bradford), Systagenix Weir (Gargrave). Projects to address these barriers are under development by multiple agencies including the Environment Agency, Canal and Rivers Trust, Leeds and Bradford Councils, the Bradford amateur rowing club, and Aire rivers trust.
Site ownership
The Rodley weir is bounded on one side by Rodley Nature Reserve and on the other by privately owned land. Yorkshire water owns the Rodley Nature Reserve land which was leased to the Rodley Nature Reserve following the reduction in size of the Rodley waste water treatment works. Ownership of the weir is split between the two sides of the river. As the private landowner declined to discuss the project, removal of the weir had to be ruled out . The options were then either an on-weir fish pass on the Yorkshire Water side, such as a Larinier Super Active Baffle Fish pass or a by-pass channel.
Choice of solution
Since the weir could not be taken out and more natural processes restored in the river the highest quality solution was a bypass channel. Building of new river habitat has associated additional biodiversity benefits, and was chosen above an on weir fish pass ,which would have an ongoing maintenance cost associated with it, and would not provide any additional habitat for other species. The new channel was designed by our partners ARUP.
The route of the fish pass was heavily constrained by the presence of an overhead electricity pylon located on the left bank of the Aire adjacent to the weir and carrying 132,000V electricity cables, around which the utility provider imposed a 12m no-dig zone as well as a 6m height restriction beneath the cables. In addition to the physical constraints associated with the pylon, the ARUP design team’s challenges included complex hydraulic factors. Ensuring that a strong flow emerged from the fish pass was critical to attract fish to the entrance, whilst ensuring that the channel was deep enough and water velocities low enough for fish to advance upstream without becoming exhausted during migration flows.
Rock armour stone on the base and bed of the channel encourages heterogeneous flow conditions, provides crevices for refuge and protection against damage during high flow events. The design includes provision for maintenance with access to each side of the channel; a landscape and planting scheme was devised with the additional function of providing protection to the channel banks in the short term until vegetation was established. Redi-Rock wall blocks (precast concrete modular wall system with the look of natural stone) were used at the downstream entrance to the channel. This addressed the construction issues that were faced due to piling not being possible under the overhead services lines.
The land on which the pass was built was relatively low lying with a tall herb ruderal flora and subject to flood during high flows. The development of the project and design was done with regular meetings with various stakeholders including the Environment Agency, Rodley Nature Reserve, Yorkshire Water, ARUP and the contractors MMB .
Construction
We broke ground on the project in Winter 2011/Spring 2012. Access into the site was restricted as the only route was via a narrow swing bridge across the Leeds-Liverpool canal, with a weight restriction of 25 tonnes. This constraint affected the size of equipment able to reach the site. Working in and adjacent to the River Aire during the wettest summer in 100 years also presented challenges for the project team. River levels would rise rapidly over a matter of hours so it was necessary for the team to monitor levels throughout the day, ceasing work if levels were too high , this resulted in materials and structures being washed away, followed by some significant rebuilding. The irony being that we avoided construction during the previous winter which turned out to be a dry and calm one! This led to additional time and a partial redesign to adapt the pass to high flows, and has resulted in an additional spend of around £350k on the project.
We reused all excavated materials on site creating raised bird hides and pond banks on Rodley Nature Reserve, thereby saving both disposal costs and landfill space, whilst increasing the biodiversity value of the site. The channel was completed in July 2013. The bare ground is under colonisation from Himalayan balsam which is regularly tackled by the reserve staff to allow a more native flora to colonise.
We set up a fish monitoring project which placed solar powered data loggers in the channel to pick up fish tagged this summer.
We are very proud of our achievement on this site and the delivery of an innovative solution to the problem posed by Rodley weir and meeting the WFD requirement for fish passage that supports a much higher biodiversity than any on-weir solution. It forms part of our commitment to “taking responsibility of the water environment for good” and our investigations into how to meet the regulatory requirements for healthy aquatic environments without putting up customers’ bills.
P
After a year of preparation, pHish was given the go ahead on 1st October 2002. This was the largest venture the Wye & Usk Foundation has ever undertaken and extended our activities into a number of new areas. Funding was granted under the Wales ERDF Objective 2 Priority 2 Measure 1 programme and the overall budget was originally £1.5 million. The project was extended in 2006 to end mid 2008 and the budget increased to £2.1million.
The overall aim was to improve the Wye fishery upstream of Hay in a way that is both long lasting and permanent – sustainably. It was intrinsic to the bid that our fishery work delivers actual benefits to Powys rural economy by way of employment and other targets. Our interpretation of the programme document resulted in a scheme that sought to solve all the significant river problems in the upper Wye.
The project had four main areas of activity:
• Remedy the effects of acid rain in the extreme upper Wye and Irfon catchments.
• Continue the ongoing restoration of the habitat in the tributaries.
• To engage the local community and farmers to appreciate the value of the river.
• Generate meaningful economic benefits to the local economy from the improvements realised by this project and previous work.
In addition, we took on the responsibility for managing the mitigation stocking of salmon from a hatchery we constructed at Painscastle.
Acid Water Treatment
Taking forward the principles of acid waters management from the work done by Steve Ormerod on the neighbouring Tywi, we determined that success would depend on:
• Developing an effective yet cheap delivery system that we could manage ourselves.
• Persuading statutory bodies that the benefits far outweighed any downsides.
• Finding a monitoring programme that could determine unequivocally whether and to what extent we had been successful.
• Landowner, Stakeholder and Partnership approval.
Work started in 2003 and we learnt very quickly how difficult liming would be in these remote and high rainfall areas. Summer 2004 was washed out but the summers of 2005, 2006 and spring 2007 were ideal for lime distribution. New skills were learned. By 2007, the required dose had been reached on the upper Wye but not on the Irfon. A significant problem was that here many of the hydrological sources had been obliterated by the forestry drainage schemes, leaving no available sites in which to deliver the lime (this is now being managed in our ISAC project).
To counter this we tried 'sand liming' on a single, severely acid tributary - site 56 - in 2006 and subsequent monitoring suggested a significant water quality improvement. Sand liming involves applying larger (sand sized) chippings of calcium carbonate to first and second order streams. While forestry deprived us of hydrological sources, their intricate road system made this a relatively easy task. Streams without adequate sources now receive annual sand lime treatments.
Monitoring consisted of investigations in the following areas:
• Diatom analysis.
• Invertebrate analysis.
• pH, conductivity and water chemistry.
• Fish densities and distribution.
• Leaf litter break down.
Habitat and Access work
pHish coppiced, fenced and repaired another 40km of stream to add to the 35km completed in previous projects. By the end of the project, Louis and his teams had completed habitat restoration on the Hafrena, Lynfi Dulas, Felindre, Tregoed, Duhonw, Nant Gwyn, Nantmel Dulas, Irfon, Marteg, Cammarch, Cnyffiad and Hirnant. Six barriers to migration were removed and one fish pass built.
Marketing
A special post Foot and Mouth disease fund, Adfywio enabled the pHish project to create the Foundation's 'Passport' scheme, an initiative to revitalise angling tourism on the back of the physical improvements being made to the fisheries. Once an important local income source, the upper Wye had suffered a collapse in angling business. The Passport scheme begun to turn this around. In addition, it also brings in revenue to newly established wild trout fisheries of the tributaries, created through the Foundation's habitat work, giving farmers and landowners an economic incentive to look after these important rivers.
In 2003, the first 'Upper Wye Passport' was published. Since then the scheme has proved enormously popular with close to exponential growth rates experienced. In 2005 the scheme was expanded to incorporate the Usk. 'Passport to the rivers' It attracts visitors from all over the UK and from abroad means that many local businesses (accommodation providers, tackle shops, fishing guides etc) benefit from the scheme. Giving rivers an economic value is a vital part of ensuring their future health. It provides re-investment to protect and enhance them, ultimately creating a truly 'sustainable' system.
L
After an 8-month construction period, work on the Enns near Mandling was mostly completed in early summer 2023. Here, two former river loops of the Enns were restored.
The result? A natural and lively river that can once again flow more freely and constantly changes. Natural processes are creating new gravel and sand banks in the renaturalized sections and deep pools alternate with shallow, flooded areas. As a result of these measures, the river is once again better connected with the surrounding area and the water balance is more in equilibrium. In the event of a flood, water can be buffered in such areas and flooding in the settlement area is reduced.
The positive effects are already clearly visible. The ecological condition of the River Enns has improved noticeably and the river and the adjacent banks are an important habitat for many native animals and plants. +
R
After the completion of the project natural vegetation in the Riparian Forest of Nestos has been increased by 280 ha, while a set of supportive studies and actions will continue to facilitate a high level of conservation status for the vegetation and the species of the forest. Restoration of forest vegetation in combination with the intepretation and recreation infrastructure will promote the distinctive ecological, aesthetic and recreational values of the Riparian Forest of Nestos, contributing to the creation of sustainable development hot spot in the wider area. +
S
After the removal of a weir, the stream's flow velocity had become uniform, with little variation in substrate and macroinvertebrates as a consequence. Ten packages of wood were introduced into the stream, in different configurations. +
R
After works on a nearby motorway (the M11) in the 1970's ans 1980's, the River Roding was artificially diverted and straightened, resulting in poor quality wildlife habitat. The restoration project looked to address this by creating new habitats for a range of species including water voles, dragonflies and numerous fish species, without a reduction in flood protection. This was achieved through bank re-profiling, backwater creation and planting of the rivers banks. +
B
Aim of scheme:<br>- enhancement of tidal defences<br>- conservation enhancements<br>- recreation provision<br>Work undertaken:<br>- cleaning up of existing foreshore<br>- creation of new shingle beach<br>- attachment of horizontal and vertical timbers to promote algal growth<br>- reed planting in Bullhead dock<br>- reducing size of jetty increasing direct light to the foreshore The site is adjacent to the River Thames in Rotherhithe. Bellamys Wharf and Bullhead Dock were a sand and gravel unloading facility with a high jetty.<br>The initial proposal was to infill both docks, however only a small encroachment was allowed to enable the rebuilding of a new river wall at the other dock.
Concept ideas being scoped 2009-2010 but constraints include funding and public perception +
Aim of scheme:<br>- enhancement of tidal defences<br>- conservation enhancements<br>- recreation provision<br>Work undertaken:<br>- cleaning up of existing foreshore<br>- creation of new shingle beach<br>- attachment of horizontal and vertical timbers to promote algal growth<br>- reed planting in Bullhead dock<br>- reducing size of jetty increasing direct light to the foreshore The site is adjacent to the River Thames in Rotherhithe. Bellamys Wharf and Bullhead Dock were a sand and gravel unloading facility with a high jetty.<br>The initial proposal was to infill both docks, however only a small encroachment was allowed to enable the rebuilding of a new river wall at the other dock. +
R
Removal of the migration barriers for aquatic organisms on the river Wisłoka and its tributaries – Ropa and Jasiołka +
Aim of the project
The aim of the project is a restoration of the possibility of free migration of fish and other aquatic organisms down and up the river Wisłoka and its tributaries, with the simultaneous maintenance of the stability of water intake and other elements of the infrastructure. The strategic aim of the project is an improvement of the ecological state of the Wisłoka water according to the requirements of the Water Framework Directive. This is one of the statutory duties of the Regional Water Management Board in Cracow and is an element of the Plan of the water management in the area of the upper Vistula basin.
Origin of the project
One of the characters of the natural river environment is a patency of the watercourse, it means lack of the barriers preventing the migration of fish and aquatic organisms. Fish in particular year seasons and life periods migrate along the river in search of food, appropriate shelters and places for spawning. Partition of the river with weir or other artificial barrier disturbs these processes what negatively affects number and condition of fish, and in extreme cases when access to spawning areas situated upstream is cut off, can lead to extinction of the whole populations.
The construction of damming buildings and regulation works carried out in riverbeds in the second half of the XX century lead to vanishing of the specific habitats necessary for spawning, spawn incubation, fry growth and also feeding and wintering of adult organisms. It finally resulted in the extinction of sturgeon, salmon, sea trout and vimba whereas the populations of other fish species requiring shorter, one-environment migration were heavily cut down. For this reason it is necessary to restore the patency of the flow what in practice means the necessity of removal or modernization of the weirs in a such way that they don’t cause an obstacle for aquatic organisms.
Planned actions
Some of these building have fish passes but they don’t ensure possibility of migration of different fish species in various age both in high and low water levels. Hence necessity of their modernization.
The project includes the following ventures:
* Dębica (km 56+180 river Wisłoka) – modernization of existing chamber fish pass with a building of stone ramp at the dam;
* Mokrzec (km 69+720 river Wisłoka) – building of bypass;
* Gorlice I (km 32+300 river Ropa) – building of a fish pass designed as bottom ramp and slope with embedded boulder bars;
* Gorlice II (km 34+250 river Ropa) – building of a fish pass in the form of stone ramp;
* Ropica Polska (km 39+400 river Ropa) – building of a fish pass designed as bottom ramp and slope;
* Jedlicze (km 19+100 river Jasiołka) – building of a fish pass in the form of stone ramp;
* Szczepańcowa (km 27+960 river Jasiołka) – building of bypass.
L
Aimed to improve the overall habitat of this section of river with a particular focus on habitat creation which would support spawning opportunities as well as juvenile and adult habitat for native Brown Trout. This was recognised as a section in very poor condition. The specific objectives were as follows:<br>1. To improve in-stream habitat by cleaning areas of loose gravels and increasingly flow rates to an optimal level to support fish, especially brown native trout, and creating habitat to support both juvenile and adult fish.<br>2. Increase natural flows which, even during low flows during the summer, can provide a healthy and diverse habitat.<br>3. Clear heavily shaded trees and plant marginal aquatic plants to support invertebrates and other aquatic life (water voles).<br>4. Improve the appearance of the river by creating a natural sinuous flow through this stretch of river, narrowing the channel using large woody debris and woody faggots to create in-channel structures.<br>5. Increase fishing opportunities within the river (and overall condition of the section). Over abstraction has led to the degradation of the Darent, where characteristic chalk-river chacateristics: clear water, macrophytes, low bans and natural flows have been lost. It has experienced heavy modification and provided power for milling and historic agricultural irrigation. The river also flows into a number of large on-line lakes that fragment habitat and put additional pressure on water quality and quantity. +
B
Aiming to encourage the River Brent back along the original channel route through Brent Lodge Park.
Aim of scheme:<br>- enhancement of tidal defences<br>- conservation enhancements<br>- recreation provision<br>Work undertaken:<br>- cleaning up of existing foreshore<br>- creation of new shingle beach<br>- attachment of horizontal and vertical timbers to promote algal growth<br>- reed planting in Bullhead dock<br>- reducing size of jetty increasing direct light to the foreshore <br>
Neale Hider: 07/01/2009
“The Brent Lodge Park river restoration is more like an improvement after our consultation with Jacobs.
We cannot reinstate the double meander (original course) as originally planned due to the contaminated waste that it had been back filled with. Instead we have outlined a different course for the meander to run (and break the river away from its current straight path) while retaining the old channel as a backwater/flood relief channel.” +
T
Aims of project:<br>- enhanced tidal defences<br>- conservation enhancements<br>- flood storage<br><br>Work undertaken:<br>- closure of three floodgates<br>- replacement of part of river wall<br>- provision of riverside walkway<br>- planting between river edge and buildings<br>The site adjacent to the river Thames in Teddington was a famous boatyard for several decades. A mixed development was proposed on the site. However, part of the development is in the floodplain. In consultation with the environment agency it was decided to set the flood defences away from the river frontage and part of the ground flood of one buildinghas been left ‘open’ to the tide. These measures enable flood storage on the redevelopment site to be unchanged form the original site. +
A
Alma Road is situated in Ponders End, a deprived area in the London Borough of Enfield. The area is known to suffer some localised surface water flooding, due to the impermeable nature of the surroundings created by the expanse of hard-surfaces, lack of green spaces and inadequate capacity in the existing drainage system.
This part of Enfield is generally low lying, as it forms part of the Lee Valley. The natural flow path to the nearby watercourse, Brimsdown Ditch, a tributary of the Salmons Brook/River Lee, is obstructed by the adjacent railway line and exacerbates surface water flood risk. When it rains the runoff from Alma Road picks up a large amount of pollutants, drains into the highways gullies and is fed into the Brimsdown Ditch.
Rain Gardens are a type of Sustainable Drainage (also known as “SuDS”) which mimics natural drainage by allowing water to soak naturally into the ground.
The project will retrofit five Rain Gardens into the highway realm, with a total area of 200m2 along a 200m stretch of Alma Road, with the aims of:
• Reducing surface water flood risk on the highway, as highlighted in the London Borough of Enfield’s Local Flood Risk Management Strategy (2015)
• Water quality improvements to surface water runoff and the receiving Brimsdown Ditch by removing runoff from the conventional drainage system
• Improving biodiversity by planting a wide variety of species
• Horizontal traffic management by slowing down traffic in proximity to the school, bus stop and several wide junctions that are currently not pedestrian-friendly
• Aesthetic enhancement of the road and the surrounding area
• Improving public perception of SuDS through school and community engagement.
• Inspiring more green infrastructure SuDS development across the borough
In later phases, the Alma Road Rain Gardens will be complemented by an additional 400m of SuDS features along the highway and across the 7Ha site of the Alma Regeneration Project. +
Q
Along the stretch of river between Weigall Road and the centre of Lewisham, the Quaggy runs through rear gardens, beneath roads and along open urban spaces.
Some of the houses close to the river, mostly terraced homes, were at high risk of flooding. Our innovative approach allowed us to integrate flood defences sensitively within people’s gardens. These are now set back from the river, recovering land that can be used as part of the flood plain.
The riverbed has also been altered to create a more natural river with meanders and areas of deep and shallow water. Faster and slower flowing areas improve habitat for wildlife. Specialist bird boxes have been built into brick walls to provide nesting sites for grey wagtail and wrens. +
A
Although initially designed as a flood storage area to aid sustainable drainage systems, this area of land provides rare wetland habitat within an urban London setting. The wetland includes areas of reedbed which is scarce and under threat within the UK, and listed as a priority habitat within the UK’s Biodiversity Action Plan. The land had previously been used for educational purposes by the adjacent school, but on-site management has declined resulting in a lack of school usage and reduced habitat value. Key habitats that would benefit from restoration include:
*Willow carr;
*Reed bed;
*Open water / marginal communities.
The project has provided much needed management to the site to restore the wetland habitats and again provide a safe educational resource for local schools. The project has developed an ongoing site management plan to ensure the achieved improvements are maintained.
The key partner in this project, the London Borough of Sutton, are to propose the site for designation as a Local Nature Reserve.
Project objectives: Improve the habitat and community value of Anton Crescent Wetland; To produce a long term management plan for site; To present site for designation as Local Nature Reserve under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949.
Key activites: Manage reedbed and maintain are of open water; Manage willow trees for wildlife and maintain flood storage capacity; Improve structure and biodiversity of meadow; Increase public awareness and enjoyment of site, generating local interest and provide educational resource. +
S
Although the Keer is currently in good ecological condition diffuse agricultural pollution remains a major issue, and migratory fish populations have shown very sharp declines.
This project is aimed at improving habitat and ensuring that there is no deterioration in condition, by minimising erosion, sedimentation and diffuse pollution. Working with farmers and landowners at least 1,000 metres of riparian buffer strips up to 10 metre wide on demonstration sites will be establish using HLS or EWGS as appropriate.
Community Involvement - Engagement activities will include public consultations, practical volunteering activities like beach cleans, and tree planting, and awareness-raising through media and face-to-face contact. +
O
An area of about 25 hectares of stable rice paddy has been transformed into a semi-natural wetland characterized by shallow waters and flooded grasslands in order to favor the nesting of Pittima real, Cavaliere d’Italia, Pavoncella and other water birds. The area is home to the only Italian nesting site for pittime reale. +
R
An initiative of the Nenescape Landscape Partnership the Resilient River project is funded by the Environment Agency & National Lottery Heritage Fund. The primary aim of the project is to enhance, restore and protect the backchannels and backwaters of the Nene Valley through efficient partnership working and best practice.
The River Nene has been highly modified for both flood defence and navigation purposes, historically for industry and in recent times for leisure. This has however, had an impact on the potential for the river to act as an aquatic habitat. The main river, where navigable is much less favourable habitat than the backchannels (historically the main river before modification) for fish, invertebrates & other flora and fauna.
The Resilient River project is in place to connect habitats along the Nene Valley by restoring neglected/altered features, to improve biodiversity; protect, enhance and interpret heritage features; and improve resilience of water quality and supply in the face of population growth, urbanisation and climate change. +
An innovative partnership project to 'rewild' Enfield's urban rivers and renaturalise the water system. The project encompasses 8 sites across the Salmons Brook and Pymmes Brook catchments, themselves part of the Lea catchment. Rivers here suffered from urban pollution, typically from road run off and misconnections. they are often heavily modified or culverted. The project aims to improve water quality, provide flood risk management, improve public spaces, increase good quality habitat and therefore promote biodiversity. Furthermore we aim to increase knowledge of the urban water cycle and how we influence it, and how we can protect our rivers.
The project is led by the London Borough of Enfield and Thames21, with assistance from Thames Water and advisory input from the Environment Agency. Funders include Defra, Thames Water, the Environment Agency and Greater London Authority.
Works to the watercourses and their catchments include the creation of wetlands, reedbeds, rain gardens and rain planters, as well as deculverting a stream through a popular park. In addition public engagement and education is key, and interpretation and access enhancements are being carried out on each site. Consulation was carried out before works, and additional project partners include many volunteers and advocates from the local community, as well as Friends groups in parks. +