Case study:RSPB Fowlmere Nature Reserve
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Location: 52° 5' 26.27" N, 0° 2' 59.69" E
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Project overview
Status | Complete |
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Project web site | |
Themes | Habitat and biodiversity, Hydromorphology, Social benefits, Water quality |
Country | England |
Main contact forename | Nick |
Main contact surname | Elbourne |
Main contact user ID | User:NickRRC |
Contact organisation | River Restoration Centre |
Contact organisation web site | http://www.therrc.co.uk |
Partner organisations | Environment Agency |
Parent multi-site project | |
This is a parent project encompassing the following projects |
No |
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Project summary
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The river had been heavily dredged in the past, resulting in a distinct lack of gravel within the river, and the channel was over-deep and filled with silt. Long profile surveys also indicated that the natural profile of the river had been significantly altered. Habitat restoration work progressed in three phases:
- Riffle creation in March 2006 (~30m) - Marginal habitat enhancement in 2007 (~150m) - Bed raising combined with channel narrowing in 2009 (~250m)
Monitoring surveys and results
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Lessons learnt
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Catchment and subcatchment
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Catchment
River basin district | Anglian |
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River basin | Cam and Ely Ouse (including South Level) |
Subcatchment
River name | Shep |
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Area category | 10 - 100 km² |
Area (km2) | |
Maximum altitude category | 100 - 200 m |
Maximum altitude (m) | 167167 m <br />0.167 km <br />16,700 cm <br /> |
Dominant geology | Calcareous |
Ecoregion | Great Britain |
Dominant land cover | Arable and Horticulture |
Waterbody ID | GB105033038080 |
Site
Name | Fowlmere Nature Reserve |
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WFD water body codes | GB105033038080 |
WFD (national) typology | |
WFD water body name | Shep |
Pre-project morphology | High width:depth, Single channel, Straight |
Reference morphology | Sinuous, Pool-riffle |
Desired post project morphology | |
Heavily modified water body | Yes |
National/international site designation | |
Local/regional site designations | |
Protected species present | No |
Invasive species present | No |
Species of interest | |
Dominant hydrology | Quick run-off |
Dominant substrate | Silt, Sand |
River corridor land use | Grassland |
Average bankfull channel width category | 2 - 5 m |
Average bankfull channel width (m) | |
Average bankfull channel depth category | 2 - 5 m |
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
Reach length directly affected (m) | 600 m0.6 km <br />60,000 cm <br /> |
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Project started | 2006/03/01 |
Works started | |
Works completed | 2009/12/01 |
Project completed | |
Total cost category | 10 - 50 k€ |
Total cost (k€) | 14 k€14,000 € <br /> |
Benefit to cost ratio | |
Funding sources | Environment Agency |
Cost for project phases
Phase | cost category | cost exact (k€) | Lead organisation | Contact forename | Contact surname |
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Investigation and design | |||||
Stakeholder engagement and communication | |||||
Works and works supervision | |||||
Post-project management and maintenance | |||||
Monitoring |
Reasons for river restoration
Measures
Structural measures
| |
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Bank/bed modifications | Cut back of plants, Riffle creation, Placement of log steps to prevent erosion from deer, Bed raising, Placement of faggots |
Floodplain / River corridor | Riparian enhancement |
Planform / Channel pattern | Increase in sinuosity, Narrowing of channel |
Other | |
Non-structural measures
| |
Management interventions | Easier management |
Social measures (incl. engagement) | |
Other |
Monitoring
Hydromorphological quality elements
Element | When monitored | Type of monitoring | Control site used | Result | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Before measures | After measures | Qualitative | Quantitative | |||
Width & depth variation | Yes | Yes | Improvement | |||
Quantity & dynamics of flow | Yes | Yes | Improvement | |||
Substrate conditions | Yes | Yes | Improvement |
Biological quality elements
Element | When monitored | Type of monitoring | Control site used | Result | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Before measures | After measures | Qualitative | Quantitative | |||
Fish: Abundance | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Improvement | |
Invertebrates | Yes | Yes | Yes | Improvement | ||
Macrophytes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Improvement |
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
Element | When monitored | Type of monitoring | Control site used | Result | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Before measures | After measures | Qualitative | Quantitative | |||
Public awareness of river | Yes | Yes | Yes | Improvement |
Monitoring documents
Image gallery
Additional documents and videos
Additional links and references
Link | Description |
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http://publications.environment-agency.gov.uk/PDF/GEAN0910BSPO-E-E.pdf | WFD Classification for River Shep - See page 231. |
http://www.therrc.co.uk/rrc case studies1.php?csid=65 | River Restoration Centre Case Study |