Case study:Wensum River Restoration and Floodplain Enhancement, Pensthorpe

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Location: 52° 49' 18.39" N, 0° 53' 4.15" E

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Project overview

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Status	In progress
Project web site	http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/wildlife/114676.aspx
Themes	Habitat and biodiversity, Hydromorphology
Country	England
Main contact forename	Robin
Main contact surname	Chase
Main contact user ID
Contact organisation	Pensthorpe Conservation Trust
Contact organisation web site	http://www.pensthorpetrust.org.uk/
Partner organisations	The Environment Agency, Norfolk Rivers Trust, Natural England, Norfolk Rivers Internal Drainage Board
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 unfavourable ecological condition of the River Wensum SSSI/SAC has arisen over the years through a series of adverse modifications in hydromorphology of the River Wensum, leading to failure of Waterbody GB105034055881 to achieve ‘Good Ecological Potential’ under the WFD. Diffuse water pollution to River Wensum from both agricul-ture and urban sources and disconnection of the River Wensum from its floodplain have also led to consequent eco-logical impoverishment of the floodplain. The River Wensum and Floodplain Restoration Project is therefore designed to implement restoration measures to restore the form and function typical of a Norfolk Chalk River (e.g. channel narrowing, restoring gravel beds, in-creasing sinuosity, increasing woody debris). This will Improve fisheries, invertebrates and plant communities within the SSSI and SAC and restore the connectivity of the floodplain and floodplain wetland habitats; including the restoration and creation of reedbed and fen habitats. Water quality of urban run-off from Fakenham and adjacent agricultural land will also be improved before reaching the river. Significant and measureable improvements in habitat for designated features of the River Wensum SSSI/SAC (as identified in the River Wensum Restoration Strat-egy) are key objectives of the project.

Monitoring surveys and results

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Lessons learnt

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Catchment and subcatchment

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Site

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Name	River Wensum
WFD water body codes
WFD (national) typology
WFD water body name
Pre-project morphology	Straightened
Reference morphology	Sinuous
Desired post project morphology
Heavily modified water body	No
National/international site designation	EU - Special Area of Conservation
Local/regional site designations
Protected species present	No
Invasive species present	No
Species of interest
Dominant hydrology
Dominant substrate
River corridor land use	Intensive agriculture (arable)
Average bankfull channel width category
Average bankfull channel width (m)
Average bankfull channel depth category
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

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Reach length directly affected (m)
Project started
Works started
Works completed
Project completed
Total cost category	500 - 1000 k€
Total cost (k€)	900900 k€ <br />900,000 € <br />
Benefit to cost ratio
Funding sources	Catchment Restoration Funds

Cost for project phases

Phase	cost category	cost exact (k€)	Lead organisation	Contact forename	Contact surname
Investigation and design
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Works and works supervision
Post-project management and maintenance
Monitoring

Reasons for river restoration

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Mitigation of a pressure	Pollution incident, Urbanisation
Hydromorphology	Continuity for organisms, Substrate conditions, Structure & condition of riparian/lake shore zones
Biology	Invertebrates, Macrophytes
Physico-chemical
Other reasons for the project

Measures

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Structural measures
Bank/bed modifications	Restoring gravel bed
Floodplain / River corridor	Floodplain reconnection
Planform / Channel pattern	Channel narrowing
Other
Non-structural measures
Management interventions
Social measures (incl. engagement)
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Monitoring

Hydromorphological quality elements

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quality elements

Element	When monitored		Type of monitoring		Control site used	Result
	Before measures	After measures	Qualitative	Quantitative

Biological quality elements

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quality elements

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Physico-chemical quality elements

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quality elements

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Any other monitoring, e.g. social, economic

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	Before measures	After measures	Qualitative	Quantitative

Monitoring documents

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Image gallery

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Site location plan

Additional documents and videos

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Additional links and references

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Link	Description
http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/	UK - Environment Agency website
http://www.pensthorpetrust.org.uk/	The Pensthorpe Conservation Trust (PCT) was formed in January 2003 to carry forward the work of its predecessor, the Pensthorpe Waterfowl Trust; and to establish a centre of excellence in ecological restoration. Its focus is the captive breeding of threatened species, particularly those associated with wetlands, such as cranes and wildfowl (ducks, geese and swans); ecologically sustainable farming; plus habitat restoration and management.
http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/	Natural England is an Executive Non-departmental Public Body responsible to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The purpose is to protect and improve England’s natural environment and encourage people to enjoy and get involved in their surroundings.

Supplementary Information

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