Case study:River Skerne- Life project

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Location: 54° 32' 11.23" N, 1° 31' 48.41" W

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Project overview

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Status	Complete
Project web site
Themes	Economic aspects, Habitat and biodiversity, Social benefits, Water quality, Urban
Country	England
Main contact forename	RRC
Main contact surname	River Restoration Centre
Main contact user ID	User:NickRRC
Contact organisation	Life Project
Contact organisation web site	http://www.therrc.co.uk
Partner organisations	River Restoration Centre, Darlington Borough Council, Environment Agency, Natural England
Parent multi-site project
This is a parent project encompassing the following projects	No

Aerial view of the completed Skerne works

Project summary

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Background: The River Skerne is a tributary of the River Tees in North East England. The restored reach lies in a sub-urban area on the outskirts of Darlington, County Durham. During the last 150 years, the River Skerne has been heavily modified as a result of industrialisation and urbanisation. Between 1850 and 1945 the river was straightened and channelized, and the river corridor was markedly narrowed. Widening and deepening was undertaken in the 1950s and the 1970s, and new housing developments were built along the entire north side of the river. The area has a rich industrial heritage including the first railway company Stockton and Darlington. The Skerne (railway) Bridge, which can be found just downstream of the site, was pictured on the old five pound notes.

Restoration: The River Skerne was included in a joint initiative between England and Denmark to demonstrate best practice in urban and rural river rehabilitation and encourage river restoration in Europe. The wider aim was to promote further river restoration and demonstrate how river restoration could provide multiple benefits such as enhancement in wildlife, landscape, recreation, water quality, fisheries, amenities and other local interests.

The restoration of 2 km of the Skerne was initiated in July 1995. Much of the floodplain had been raised by old industrial waste tipping, with gas and sewer pipes running alongside the river. As a result of these constraints, restoration opportunities were severely limited - typical of urban rivers elsewhere. At the upstream end, instream deflectors and a coarse sediment riffle were installed to enhance flow variability and habitat diversity. Further downstream four new meanders were cut across the old channel, which was used to create two backwaters. Soft revetments – such as willow mattress, willow spiling, underwater rock layer, fibre rolls, and geotextiles – were used on the outer meander bends to prevent erosion towards the gas main. As a flood water retention measure, about 25,000 m3 of spoil was removed from the river banks. This also aimed to increase the lateral connectivity between the river and the adjacent floodplain. The spoil was later used for landscaping purposes.

Thirteen ugly surface water outfalls were replaced with underground inspection /collection chambers that firstly intercept pollution and then discharge the water into the river below water level. New footpaths were constructed and a planting scheme engaging local residents carried out. At the downstream end of the restored section a new footbridge was constructed, designed to resemble a locomotive as a tribute to the historical significance of the Skerne Bridge.

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Image gallery

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Skerne River - RRC

Catchment and subcatchment Select a catchment/subcatchment Edit the catchment and subcatchment details (affects all case studies in this subcatchment) Catchment River basin district Northumbria River basin Tees Subcatchment River name Tees US Low Worsall Area category 1000 - 10000 km² Area (km2) Maximum altitude category 100 - 200 m Maximum altitude (m) 152152 m <br />0.152 km <br />15,200 cm <br /> Dominant geology Calcareous Ecoregion Great Britain Dominant land cover Arable and Horticulture Waterbody ID GB103025072593 Site Edit site Name River Skerne at Haughton le Skerne WFD water body codes GB103025072593 WFD (national) typology WFD water body name Tees US Low Worsall Pre-project morphology Straight Reference morphology Sinuous 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 River corridor land use Urban 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 Edit project background Reach length directly affected (m) 2000 m2 km <br />200,000 cm <br /> Project started 1995/01/01 Works started Works completed Project completed 1997/01/01 Total cost category 5000 - 10000 k€ Total cost (k€) 27502,750 k€ <br />2,750,000 € <br /> Benefit to cost ratio Funding sources Cost for project phases Phase cost category cost exact (k€) Lead organisation Contact forename Contact surname Investigation and design Stakeholder engagement and communication Works and works supervision Post-project management and maintenance Monitoring Reasons for river restoration Edit reasons for restoration Mitigation of a pressure Riparian development Hydromorphology Quantity & dynamics of flow, Width & depth variation, Structure & condition of riparian zones Biology Fish: Species composition, Invertebrates, Macrophytes Physico-chemical Oxygen balance Other reasons for the project Bank erosion, Landscape enhancement, Recreation Measures Edit Measures Structural measures Bank/bed modifications Re-grading and lowering, Deflector structures Floodplain / River corridor Lowering of floodplain, Revegetate riparian zone, Creation of small wetlands Planform / Channel pattern Introduction of sinuosity, Introduction of backwaters Other Non-structural measures Management interventions Social measures (incl. engagement) Other Participation in works, Information provision, Participation in design, Consultation Monitoring Hydromorphological quality elements Edit Hydromorphological quality elements Element When monitored Type of monitoring Control site used Result Before measures After measures Qualitative Quantitative Biological quality elements Edit biological quality elements Element When monitored Type of monitoring Control site used Result Before measures After measures Qualitative Quantitative Fish: Species composition Yes Yes Yes Improvement Invertebrates Yes Yes Yes Improvement Macrophytes Yes Yes Yes Improvement Physico-chemical quality elements Edit 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 Edit Other responses Element When monitored Type of monitoring Control site used Result Before measures After measures Qualitative Quantitative Public use of community park Yes Yes Yes Improvement Monitoring documents Upload monitoring documents Additional documents and videos Upload additional documents Additional links and references Edit links and references Link Description http://http://www.therrc.co.uk/projects/skerne brochure.pdf RRC report http://http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River Skerne Wikipedia link http://wiki.reformrivers.eu/index.php/River Skerne EU-LIFE project REFORM link Supplementary Information Edit Supplementary Information