Property:Monitoring surveys and results
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O
Vegetation development is monitored by FLORON. In the Overijssel kanaal, reed removal has created opportunities for the development of calamus and yellow iris. Macroinvertebrates are monitored at 3-4 locations per stream as part of a regional project in the Marswetering, Overijssels Kanaal and Beentjesgraven. The overall ecological quality ratios of the three streams have improved. +
B
Vegetation development is monitored by FLORON. Vegetation development is monitored by FLORON. Macroinvertebrates are monitored at 3-4 locations per stream as part of a regional project in the Marswetering, Overijssels Kanaal and Beentjesgraven. The overall ecological quality ratios of the three streams have improved. +
S
Very accurate baseline surveys have been completed. Preliminary assessment indicates a current rate of retreat of the banks at around 1m per decade, or approximately 10cm annually. A large amount of material has accumulated behind the spiling and facines which are being well maintained. Additional work, installation of supporting posts and fascines, has commenced on the east side of the island. +
D
Visual inspections and photographs of changes. It is clear that even with a resistant clay bed some of the narrowing structures have created scour pool formation. +
T
WFD baseline data
River profile surveys
Drone images from above before and after - aerial
Fixed point photos before and after land
Fish survey in new channel and invertebrate surveys to be carried out 2018 to see what is in the channel +
B
Water and biodiversity monitoring each 10 days, specially waterbirds. Restoration and management have boosted local endangered waterfowl populations and eased the colonization of new species for the Albufera wetland. Breeding populations of othe species than birds have established (reptiles and insects). +
3
Water chemistry testing was regularly undertaken as part of the project to help identify phosphate sources. This testing was undertaken by Westcountry Rivers Trust and Students from Plymouth University. A more detailed study of metals in these rivers was also undertaken to help to understand more fully the historical issue with regard to heavy metals in the catchments. +
H
Water depth, flow velocity and substrate cover were measured four times in 2016/2017. In addition, the position of the gravel beds was measured twice per year in the years 2015, 2016 and 2017. These measurements also revealed limited sedimentation, which was 80% gravel in late 2017. The gravel areas moved by on average 1.0m (+/- 0.3m), indicating that they mostly remained in place over a five year period. After the introduction of gravel beds, total species abundance and the number of species typical for an R5-type stream both increased significantly.
Source: http://edepot.wur.nl/468347 +
B
Water flow and temperature is logged every hour
Benthos and fish will be monitored yearly by NIVA.
The first salmon fry was observed two days after the channel was opened.
One month after there were fish in the whole side channel: A. salmon, brown trout and flounder. There were three cohorts of A. salmon observed: 1+, 2+ & 3+. +
A
Water immediately started to spill out of bank picking up a network of relict channels within the floodplain. Subsequent high flow events have seen gravel depositing instream and as shoals, more dynamic flow patterns and a complex of side channels, permanent and temporary pond features.
Prework aerial studies of the area and fixed point photography at key areas through the valley have allowed a gross study of early geomorphological changes within the system, including stream number and width, and changes within the network of wet areas across the valley floor.
Aberystwyth University are undertaking flow measurements and will continue to do so over an extended time period. Ecological studies will be undertaken across this and a control site on the same water body to monitor changes. +
J
Water levels downstream of the wood packages are higher and fluctuate more downstream of the wood package. This may be caused by the increased flow resistance due to the dead wood, leading to a higher water level for the same discharge. Water level peaks downstream of the wood package are smaller relative to the average water levels. This may because of water retention by the wood packages. As a result of the introduction of dead wood, sandy substrates have become less dominant and silty substrates have become more prominent. No change in nutrient levels was observed. A change in species composition was observed, but this change was short-lived. A subtle change in macroinvertebrate composition remained for a longer period afterwards. +
T
Water levels, stream discharge, bed profile and ecological parameters are regularly monitored. +
D
Water quality indicators are monitored for compliance with Water Framework Directive goals. In addition, the hydrological and ecological effects are monitored as part of the 'Building with Nature in streams' project.
So far, suspended maintenance has led to the establishment of an alder carr (Dutch: Elzenbroekbos). It is likely that the dry summers of 2018 and 2019 have caused some ecological damage due to the stream running dry. +
P
Water quality monitoring is showing improvements in dissolved oxygen since the restoration work - see DO chart below.
Invertebrate monitoring undertaken in Spring 2012 before works commenced gave a very low BWMP score of 7/200. Biological sampling will be repeated in Spring/Summer 2014.
Changes in public opinion of the brook prior to and after the restoration scheme have also been recorded - see survey results below. +
B
We have been monitoring the effectiveness of silt traps within the system along with taking water sample for chemical analysis. In addition we have undertaken BMWP sampling for freshwater invertebrates as well as ecological surveys for reptiles and amphibians, fish, birds, dragonflies, bats, harvest mice and macrophytes. All of these were also undertaken for 2 years before the project started to generate a baseline status for the site. Results show that, across all parameters, water quality is significantly improved and that the sediment traps are working in all but the most extreme flow conditions. Species diversity across the site has grown from a recorded 100 species in 2017/18 to 535 species in 2021. Five fish species have been recorded within the new channel (from none within the old channel). The site has also recorded the first Scarce Blue Tailed Damselfly in Sussex for 125 years, one of 18 species of Odonata now recorded on the Brooks. Water quality sampling has revealed significant amounts of nitrate being released from the aquifer over winter which has highlighted a need for further investigation of land management practices to the north of the project area.
We have also been monitoring impacts on the local community and results show a better appreciation and understanding of the water environment, that co-design and delivery has ensured guardianship of the site into the future and that providing outdoor opportunities in heavily urbanised areas is of great value to wellbeing and community cohesion. All results of the project will be available on the website from January 2022 - www.oart.org.uk/epic +
L
We have conducted an audit of the weirs, recorded as an inventory with measurements, bed and bank materials and a suite of photographs for each weir.
A PhD study modelling the effects of weir removal is being carried out at Loughborough University.
There is a long dataset of macro-invertebrate studies on this part of the Dove, conducted for Natural England, Aquascience Consultancy, Salmon and Trout Conservation UK and local fisheries interests. +
R
We have established a five-year monitoring programme in collaboration with the Norfolk Rivers Trust running from 2020 to 2025 including five monitoring sites (see attached docs). Site 1a and 1b are side by side reaches of the pre-existing, dredged, perched channel, and new hydrologically connected and dynamic channel; Site 2 is a section of the pre-existing channel which connects phases 1 and 2 of the project in which no changes were made save a significant release of gradient when the new channel was joined downstream; Site 3 is the upper Phase 1 reach of the newly constructed channel; and Site 4 is in the Stage Zero flooded woodland. The NRT will be monitoring for changes in biodiversity and abundance amongst the plant, invertebrate and fish communities. +
U
We have learnt a great deal about lowland restoration and have applied this learning as the projects have progressed. Valuable feedback has come from revisiting project sites and undertaking objective reviews e.g 2018 Wild Trout Trust report . This is how we identified the importance of gravel and floodplain connectivity. We have long term ecological data for sites in the river that indicate that habitat works play a part in the continued improvement and prevention of determination of the ecology e.g Foston Ford fish surveys. Other sites like Easton Park show the limitations of some of the early in-channel techniques particular for fish populations although other factors like pollution incidents and low flow may be playing a role. Trout Redd surveys also provide good supporting data. Other monitoring techniques we have used include geomorphological surveys and drone topographical surveys. As the larger projects continue to evolve, our understanding of the impact they are having continues to develop, but it is clear following the storm events of winter 23/24 that we are undertaking projects that are both sustainable and are returning dynamic river processes to a lowland system. +
B
We have undertaken an integrated approach to monitoring and evaluation using complementary surveys incorporating professionals, academics and citizen scientists.
Electrofishing surveys have been conducted prior to delivery phase and post project. Further surveys will be carried out in future years to track population changes.
A group of volunteers regularly undertake Riverfly monitoring to help us understand the changes to the health of the river’s invertebrate populations.
We worked with academics from Queen Mary University of London to apply the new Modular River Survey to assess changes in habitat composition as a result of the restoration work. This was complemented by localised detailed habitat assessments, physical biotope mapping and a river corridor survey undertaken by the Environment Agency. Sediment sampling was carried out and methods employed to minimize the introduction of pollutants present in the bank material into the river. We also used real-time monitoring sondes to demonstrate that the water quality of the river remained acceptable throughout the main phase of works. The results will provide a case study to help better inform similar schemes in future. +
C
We now have two years pre work monitoring chemistry, macroinvertebrates, macrophytes and fish which demonstrates that this section of the dyke is in poor condition . These will form a baseline for comparisons with two years post works assessment. +