Case study:Logie Burn Restoration Project
Project overview
Status | Complete |
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Project web site | |
Themes | Flood risk management, Habitat and biodiversity, Hydromorphology, Monitoring, Water quality |
Country | Scotland |
Main contact forename | Estelle |
Main contact surname | Gill |
Main contact user ID | |
Contact organisation | Scottish Natural Heritage |
Contact organisation web site | http://www.snh.gov.uk/ |
Partner organisations | Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) |
Parent multi-site project | |
This is a parent project encompassing the following projects |
No |
Project summary
The Logie Burn is graded as poor for its ecological status due to diffuse sediment and nutrient inputs in addition to morphological alteration. These issues are related to agricultural and drainage improvement over many decades that have also led to a deterioration of water quality in Loch Davan into which the Logie Burn flows.
During the 1960s, two meanders in a lower part of the channel were cut-off through the creation of a straight 187 m reach leading to a localised loss of morphological and habitat diversity. The restoration project aimed to re-connect the two old meanders that had filled in with fine sediment and organic material but which essentially remained intact. The primary purposes of the re-connection were to restore morphology, improve habitat quality in the National Nature Reserve, improve water quality and reduce sedimentation in Loch Davan, enhance riparian habitat diversity and demonstrate this meander restoration to river managers. It is expected that the reconnected meanders and newly created backwaters will help to capture nutrient rich fine sediment and in turn reduce its transfer into Loch Davan.
A monitoring program conducted by the James Hutton Institute, commenced in July 2011 to assess how the morphology, habitat, phosphorous storage and the flood attenuation capacity of the reach change over time. Topographical and sedimentary surveys were undertaken before and after the re-connection and will be repeated annually. In addition, stream flow is being continuously monitored to allow assessment of the flood attenuation capacity and to help understand the morphological changes observed. In 2012, a control reach upstream was established to facilitate comparison of changes in the impact (re-meandered) reach with those that occur within the existing, degraded stream.
The River Restoration Centre would like to thank Estelle Gill and Stephen Addy, from Scottish Natural Heritage and The James Hutton Institute respectively, for providing the information and photographs for this case study.
Monitoring surveys and results
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Cost for project phases
Reasons for river restoration
Measures
MonitoringHydromorphological quality elements
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