Case study:Washwalk Wetland

Project overview

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Status	In progress
Project web site
Themes	Habitat and biodiversity, Land use management - agriculture, Land use management - forestry, Social benefits, Water quality
Country	England
Main contact forename	Patrick
Main contact surname	Hadow
Main contact user ID	User:Stabilize7399
Contact organisation
Contact organisation web site
Partner organisations
Parent multi-site project
This is a parent project encompassing the following projects	No

December 2023, photo of slow moving water during flash flooding

Project summary

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Beginning in 2022, the Washwalk Wetland project focuses on rewetting a 906m stretch of floodplain along the River Gara. The aim is to enhance the local environment by slowing water flow and reconnecting the channelised river to its floodplain through the felling of trees across and into the channel.

Monitoring surveys and results

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Monitoring has been primarily based on personal observations. Family and friends involved in the project have reported positive changes, such as increased water variability and enhanced vegetation growth along the banks. The presence of indicator bird species is used to track the project's success, with hopes of attracting more wader species. So far, kingfishers, mallards, herons, and little egrets have been observed.

Lessons learnt

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This is an ongoing project still in its early stages. One key lesson learned is the importance of patience and continual observation. While initial signs of success, such as increased vegetation and bird sightings, are encouraging, long-term outcomes will require sustained monitoring and adaptive management. Engaging family and friends has also proven valuable, offering diverse perspectives and shared commitment to the project’s goals.

Image gallery

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Catchment and subcatchment Select a catchment/subcatchment Measures Edit Measures Structural measures Bank/bed modifications Introducing large woody debris, Re-introducing stones, Re-introducing gravel Floodplain / River corridor Increases the interaction between land and water and the heterogeneity of the substrate; vegetation and shore structure Planform / Channel pattern Other Non-structural measures Management interventions Social measures (incl. engagement) Other Site Edit site Name WFD water body codes WFD (national) typology WFD water body name Pre-project morphology Reference morphology Desired post project morphology Heavily modified water body No National/international site designation Local/regional site designations Protected species present Yes Invasive species present Yes Species of interest otter (Lutra lutra), Brown trout (Salmo trutta), Water Vole, kingfisher Dominant hydrology Dominant substrate River corridor land use 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) This case study is pending approval by a RiverWiki administrator. 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Location: 50° 20' 29.04" N, 3° 41' 51.18" W Edit location Loading map... {"format":"googlemaps3","type":"HYBRID","minzoom":false,"maxzoom":false,"types":["ROADMAP","SATELLITE","HYBRID","TERRAIN"],"limit":50,"offset":0,"link":"all","sort":[""],"order":[],"headers":"show","mainlabel":"","intro":"","outro":"","searchlabel":"... further results","default":"","import-annotation":false,"width":"auto","height":"400px","centre":false,"title":"","label":"","icon":"","lines":[],"polygons":[],"circles":[],"rectangles":[],"copycoords":false,"static":false,"visitedicon":"","wmsoverlay":false,"zoom":14,"layers":[],"controls":["pan","zoom","type","scale","streetview","rotate"],"zoomstyle":"DEFAULT","typestyle":"DEFAULT","autoinfowindows":false,"resizable":false,"kmlrezoom":false,"poi":true,"cluster":false,"clustergridsize":60,"clustermaxzoom":20,"clusterzoomonclick":true,"clusteraveragecenter":true,"clusterminsize":2,"imageoverlays":[],"kml":[],"gkml":[""],"searchmarkers":"","fullscreen":false,"scrollwheelzoom":false,"showtitle":false,"hidenamespace":true,"template":"Location map popup","userparam":"","activeicon":"","pagelabel":false,"ajaxcoordproperty":"","ajaxquery":"","locations":[{"text":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr /\u003E\n\u003C/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EProject Title:\u003C/b\u003E Washwalk Wetland\n\u003C/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003ECountry:\u003C/b\u003E \u003Ca href=\"/wiki/index.php?title=England\" title=\"England\"\u003EEngland\u003C/a\u003E\n\u003C/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EProject Status:\u003C/b\u003E In progress\n\u003C/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EThemes:\u003C/b\u003E Water quality\n\u003C/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr /\u003E\n\u003C/p\u003E","title":"Washwalk Wetland","link":"","lat":50.3414,"lon":-3.69755,"icon":"/wiki/images/a/af/Red_marker.png"}]} Left click to look around in the map, and use the wheel of your mouse to zoom in and out. Project background Edit project background Reach length directly affected (m) Project started Works started Works completed Project completed Total cost category Total cost (k€) 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 Abstraction, Invasive species, Agricultural Runoff and Pollution, Flood Protection Infrastructure Hydromorphology Connection to groundwaters, Continuity for organisms, Flow velocities, Substrate conditions Biology Fish, Fish: Abundance, Invertebrates: Diversity Physico-chemical Nutrient concentrations Other reasons for the project Bank erosion, Landscape enhancement, Recreation 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 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 Monitoring documents Upload monitoring documents Additional documents and videos Upload additional documents Additional links and references Edit links and references Link Description Supplementary Information Edit Supplementary Information