Case study:Pearls in Peril LIFE+ GB Project - River South Esk

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Location: 56° 52' 0", -3° 10' 24"

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Project overview

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Status	Complete
Project web site	http://https://www.pearlsinperil.org.uk/
Themes	Fisheries, Habitat and biodiversity, Hydromorphology, Water quality
Country	Scotland
Main contact forename	Jackie
Main contact surname	Webley
Main contact user ID	User:Pearlsinperil
Contact organisation	Scottish Natural Heritage
Contact organisation web site	http://http://www.snh.gov.uk/protecting-scotlands-nature/protected-species/life-projects/pearls-in-peril/
Partner organisations	Esk District Salmon Fishery Board, Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA)
Parent multi-site project	Case_study:Pearls in Peril LIFE project
This is a parent project encompassing the following projects	No

File:Pearls in Peril 2015 Summary Photos - Moulzie credit EnviroCentre.pdf

Project summary

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The River South Esk is designated as a Special Area of Conservation with internationally important populations of freshwater pearl mussel and Atlantic salmon. It is presently assessed as being in ‘unfavourable’ condition by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH). ‘Pearls in Peril’ is a UK-wide project to safeguard the future of the freshwater pearl mussel. The project undertook to restore sections of the River South Esk and an important tributary the 'White Water'. A study was commissioned to assess the impact of identified bank protection works on natural river processes and habitats important to the freshwater pearl mussel, prioritise sites for restoration and provide restoration designs.

A total of 21 bank protection sites in the upper river have previously been identified as impacting natural river processes since their construction during the 1990s. These are similar in appearance and purpose, comprising of large rock armour located on meander bends. They are present along three reaches of the upper River South Esk catchment, with nine at Moulzie in upper Glen Clova, eight at Acharn on the White Water upstream the confluence with the River South Esk, and four at Braedownie downstream of Acharn. There are no recorded populations of freshwater pearl mussel in these three river reaches, however downstream populations are influenced by the supply of suitable sediment from these reaches and by the health of the salmonid population.

Following stakeholder engagement,achieving all relevant licences and implementing necessary environmental protection measures; PIP removed 13 sections of rock armour river bank protection followed by bank reprofiling at Moulzie, Acharn and Braedownie as well as the re-connection of three paleochannels - one at Moulzie and two at Acharn on the main stem River South Esk and its tributary the White Water extending to 873m of in-stream river restoration work.

Monitoring surveys and results

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The work was completed in August 2015. Monitoring work is now underway and being implemented by the Esk District Salmon Fishery Board. Following large floods in December 2015 initial observations are showing a wider channel, improved composition of river substrates, availability of new salmonid spawning habitat, channel has become more sinuous.

Lessons learnt

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The timescales involved from conception to completion were longer than anticipated. The site presents a range of environmental sensitivities and land uses that required further consideration as part of the planning and physical works processes.

Image gallery

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Catchment and subcatchment Select a catchment/subcatchment 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 National/international site designation Local/regional site designations Protected species present Invasive species present Species of interest 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) 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 Hydromorphology Biology Physico-chemical Other reasons for the project Measures Edit Measures Structural measures Bank/bed modifications Floodplain / River corridor Planform / Channel pattern Other Non-structural measures Management interventions Social measures (incl. engagement) Other 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 PIP White Water River South Esk Feb 2015 Photos.pdf Additional links and references Edit links and references Link Description Supplementary Information Edit Supplementary Information In addition to in-stream restoration, Pearls in Peril (PIP) has worked with a local landowner to implement an agri-environment scheme creating 12ha of wet woodland. PIP successfully applied for additional funding from Angus Environment Trust and with landowner permissions completed fencing and tree planting along 7km of the Quharity Burn, a main tributary of the South Esk.