Case study:Fairham Brook Restoration Project
Project overview
Status | Complete |
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Project web site | |
Themes | Environmental flows and water resources, Fisheries, Flood risk management, Habitat and biodiversity, Land use management - agriculture, Water quality |
Country | England |
Main contact forename | Rebecca |
Main contact surname | Brunt |
Main contact user ID | User:Jfreeborough |
Contact organisation | Environment Agency |
Contact organisation web site | http://https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/environment-agency |
Partner organisations | Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, Trent Valley Internal Drainage Board |
Parent multi-site project | |
This is a parent project encompassing the following projects |
No |
Project summary
To improve the ecology of the Fairham Brook working with local landowners. Remove branches from trees and bushes that have the potential to snag debris during flood events and clear a central channel in areas where reed and reed mace fill the brook bed. Install pre-planted coir rolls to create pinch points and speed up water flows, allowing the riverbed to be scoured, uncovering gravels which are used by breeding fish. Install a hard cattle drink to reduce the amount of soil leaching into the brook. Install a rock ramp to allow fish passage over a weir, which itself created a wildlife friendly pool.
Historic deepening and straightening of the brook’s channel has led to low ecological value through the straightened section. A new management regime is in place in addition to this project to implement habitat enhancements.
Future plans aim to restore the fen habitat by installing a number of ditches and ponds to re-wet the reserve, this is being taken forward by Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust.
Monitoring surveys and results
The coir is positioned to narrow and meander the channel to alter the flows and to scour and clean gravels. Improvements have already been noted.
WFD and habitat improvements and new management of the brook.
Lessons learnt
Further elements were planned to be completed as part of the project but the landowner pulled out due to timing issues and weather, which may have affected his livery business.
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Reasons for river restoration
Measures
MonitoringHydromorphological quality elements
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Supplementary InformationEdit Supplementary Information
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