Case study:Avon Barriers Project: Ferengair Weir
Project overview
Status | In progress |
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Project web site | |
Themes | Fisheries, Habitat and biodiversity |
Country | Scotland |
Main contact forename | Alan |
Main contact surname | McCulloch |
Main contact user ID | User:Alan.McCulloch |
Contact organisation | SEPA |
Contact organisation web site | http://www.sepa.org.uk |
Partner organisations | Rivers and Fisheries Trusts of Scotland |
Parent multi-site project | |
This is a parent project encompassing the following projects |
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Project summary
Fernegair Weir is one of two barriers on the Avon Water that are the focus of the Avon Barriers Project. This project is being undertaken in partnership between The Rivers & Fisheries Trust for Scotland, SEPA, South Lanarkshire Council and the Clyde River Foundation.
Ferniegair weir is approximately 60m wide. The crest has a lower section at the left bank (looking downstream). The majority of the crest is approximately 2.5m above the downstream bed level. The structure is skewed to the direction of flow at an angle of approximately 30 degrees.
Historical maps indicate that there has been a mill on this site since at least the mid-1700s, predating the railway viaduct and the A72 bridge. It is therefore likely that there has been some form of impoundment in the river at this general site for some time. OS Mapping from an 1858 survey indicates a “dam” present at the site of the current weir, and no railway viaduct at this time (see Figure 2-3). It is estimated that the present weir was built between 1880 and 1920.
No as-built drawings are available for the structure. Previous reports suggest that the construction of the weir is timber frame, which has since been encased with a concrete apron in the 1940’s. It is believed that this was built directly onto the bedrock which outcrops along much of the reach.
Feasibility & optioneering for improving fish passage across this structure has just been completed and the options are being assessed with a view to moving forward to design and build.
Monitoring surveys and results
The RAFTS habitat scores highlight this weir and the upstream weir at Millheugh as the highest priority barriers in the Clyde catchment. Providing fish passage will open up significant areas (up to 35km) of excellent quality habitat to migratory salmonids.
Lessons learnt
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Catchment
Subcatchment
Other case studies in this subcatchment: Avon Barriers Project, HLS New Forest, Holmsley Inclosure Stream Restoration
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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
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