Case study:River Avon at East Chisenbury
Project overview
Status | Complete |
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Project web site | |
Themes | Flood risk management, Habitat and biodiversity, Monitoring, Social benefits, Spatial planning |
Country | England |
Main contact forename | John |
Main contact surname | Rattray |
Main contact user ID | |
Contact organisation | Wiltshire Wildlife Trust |
Contact organisation web site | |
Partner organisations | Wiltshire Chalk Streams, Environment Agency, Wessex Water, Natural England, Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, Chisenbury Fishing Syndicate, Cain Bio-Engineering Ltd |
This is a parent project encompassing the following projects |
Project summary
The River Avon and its major tributaries are recognised as a Special Area of Conservation for their rare habitats and species, including flowing water vegetation (eg. ranunculus and water-crowfoot), Atlantic salmon, Bullhead, brook and sea lamprey, water vole and otter.
The restoration project at East Chisenbury is part of the Wessex Chalk Streams PRoject (WCSP), which began in 1999 - a partnership between the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, Natural England, the Environment Agency, Wessex Water and the Wiltshire Fishery Association. the project is focused on restoring river and wetland habitat, while helping to achieve targets under the Wiltshire & Swindon and Wessex Water Biodiversity Action Plans (BAPs).
The project at East Chisenbury was completed in two phases:
- Phase 1 (2005): Trial project to restore a 70m reach below Compton Bridge which had been subject to heavy dredging - Total Cost: £30,000.
- Phase 2 (2009): Restoration of a 650m reach upstream of Compton Bridge. Involved use of successful 'coir net' technique to re-introduce sinuosity and hydromorphological function to the overwide channel.
- Further information regarding aims, objectives, project successes and pre/post restoration project photos are available in the attached Wessex Chalk Streams Project report (see bottom of page).
Monitoring surveys and results
Lessons learnt
Catchment and subcatchment
Edit the catchment and subcatchment details
(affects all case studies in this subcatchment)
Catchment
River basin district | South West |
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River basin | South Devon |
Subcatchment
River name | Avon |
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Area category | 10 - 100 km² |
Area (km2) | |
Maximum altitude category | 500 - 1000 m |
Maximum altitude (m) | 513513 m <br />0.513 km <br />51,300 cm <br /> |
Dominant geology | Siliceous |
Ecoregion | Great Britain |
Dominant land cover | Improved grassland |
Waterbody ID | GB108046004940 |
Site
Name | East Chisenbury |
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WFD water body codes | GB108043022350 |
WFD (national) typology | Low, Medium, Calcareous |
WFD water body name | Hampshire Avon (East) |
Pre-project morphology | High width:depth, Single channel |
Reference morphology | Sinuous, Pool-riffle |
Desired post project morphology | |
Heavily modified water body | Yes |
National/international site designation | EU - Special Area of Conservation |
Local/regional site designations | SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) |
Protected species present | No |
Invasive species present | No |
Species of interest | |
Dominant hydrology | Quick run-off, Groundwater |
Dominant substrate | Gravel |
River corridor land use | Extensive agriculture, Urban |
Average bankfull channel width category | 5 - 10 m |
Average bankfull channel width (m) | |
Average bankfull channel depth category | 0.5 - 2 m |
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
Reach length directly affected (m) | 720 m0.72 km <br />72,000 cm <br /> |
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Project started | 2005/01/01 |
Works started | 2006/01/01 |
Works completed | 2009/01/01 |
Project completed | |
Total cost category | 100 - 500 k€ |
Total cost (k€) | 120 k€120,000 € <br /> |
Benefit to cost ratio | |
Funding sources | Wessex Chalk Streams Project, Environment Agency |
Cost for project phases
Phase | cost category | cost exact (k€) | Lead organisation | Contact forename | Contact surname |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Investigation and design | Environment Agency | ||||
Stakeholder engagement and communication | Environment Agency | ||||
Works and works supervision | Environment Agency | ||||
Post-project management and maintenance | |||||
Monitoring |
Reasons for river restoration
Measures
Structural measures
| |
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Bank/bed modifications | Introduction of LWD, Deflectors, Tree works, Bed raising using hurdle, Marginal planting |
Floodplain / River corridor | Reconnection to the riparian zone |
Planform / Channel pattern | Narrowing, Introduction of LWD deflectors |
Other | |
Non-structural measures
| |
Management interventions | |
Social measures (incl. engagement) | |
Other |
Monitoring
Hydromorphological quality elements
Element | When monitored | Type of monitoring | Control site used | Result | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Before measures | After measures | Qualitative | Quantitative | |||
Width & depth variation | Yes | Yes | Improvement | |||
Flow velocities | Yes | Yes | Improvement | |||
Substrate conditions | Yes | Yes | Improvement |
Biological quality elements
Element | When monitored | Type of monitoring | Control site used | Result | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Before measures | After measures | Qualitative | Quantitative | |||
Fish: Abundance | Yes | Yes | Yes | Improvement | ||
Macrophytes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Improvement | ||
Invertebrates: Abundance | Yes | Yes | Yes | Improvement |
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
Element | When monitored | Type of monitoring | Control site used | Result | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Before measures | After measures | Qualitative | Quantitative | |||
Public use | Yes | Yes | Improvement |
Monitoring documents
Image gallery
Additional documents and videos
Additional links and references
Link | Description |
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http://publications.environment-agency.gov.uk/pdf/GESW0910BSTR-E-E.pdf | WFD Status for Hampshire Avon (Middle) - See P. 1308. |
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4goBfNnmS4s | Youtube Video: Wessex Chalk Streams Project |
http://www.cainbioengineering.co.uk/case-studies/river-case-study-river-restoration-east-chisenbury/ | Cain Bio Engineering - Case Study |