Case study:River Wensum Restoration, Reach 3a Costessey
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Project overview
Status | Complete |
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Project web site | |
Themes | Habitat and biodiversity, Hydromorphology |
Country | England |
Main contact forename | Amy |
Main contact surname | Butcher |
Main contact user ID | User:Amy.butcher |
Contact organisation | Environment Agency |
Contact organisation web site | http://www.gov.uk/environment-agency |
Partner organisations | |
Parent multi-site project | |
This is a parent project encompassing the following projects |
No |
Project summary
Reach 3a of the River Wensum Restoration Strategy involved restoring 1.2km of SSSI & SAC designated river at Costessey, west of Norwich, Norfolk. Improvements to morphological diversity were achieved here through the installation of gravel glides, pools and berms and woody material. Informal cattle drinks were enhanced to reduce poaching and sediment input whilst still providing water to the landowner's livestock. These cattle drinks also acted as fry bays whilst fields were not being grazed. Tree planting was also carried out in exposed stretches of the river.
Monitoring surveys and results
Analysis of monitoring results pending.
Post-restoration water vole surveys suggest that fenced tree enclosures which were no longer grazed provided additional habitat for water voles. Field signs (latrines and food stores) were observed in areas where they hadn't previously been seen.
Lessons learnt
Natural un-milled and untreated timber for use as woody material was difficult to source at this location. Sourcing material for future schemes needs to be a consideration in the design.
After an exceptionally dry summer the river level had dropped such that the fenced cattle drinks no longer allowed livestock to reach the water to drink (see photos). The scheme also included un-fenced drinks which the livestock could use. Consideration for livestock watering provisions in the event of low water levels must be included in future designs.
Image gallery
Catchment and subcatchment
Site
Project background
Cost for project phases
Reasons for river restoration
Measures
MonitoringHydromorphological quality elements
Biological quality elements
Physico-chemical quality elements
Any other monitoring, e.g. social, economic
Monitoring documents
Additional documents and videos
Additional links and references
Supplementary InformationEdit Supplementary Information
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