Case study:Wensum River Restoration and Floodplain Enhancement, Pensthorpe

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Location: 52° 49' 18.39" N, 0° 53' 4.15" E

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Project overview

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Status	In progress
Project web site	http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/wildlife/114676.aspx
Themes	Habitat and biodiversity, Hydromorphology
Country	England
Main contact forename	Robin
Main contact surname	Chase
Main contact user ID
Contact organisation	Pensthorpe Conservation Trust
Contact organisation web site	http://www.pensthorpetrust.org.uk/
Partner organisations	Environment Agency, Norfolk Rivers Trust, Natural England, Norfolk Rivers Internal Drainage Board
Parent multi-site project
This is a parent project encompassing the following projects	No

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Project summary

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The unfavourable ecological condition of the River Wensum SSSI/SAC has arisen over the years through a series of adverse modifications in hydromorphology of the River Wensum, leading to failure of Waterbody GB105034055881 to achieve ‘Good Ecological Potential’ under the WFD. Diffuse water pollution to River Wensum from both agricul-ture and urban sources and disconnection of the River Wensum from its floodplain have also led to consequent eco-logical impoverishment of the floodplain. The River Wensum and Floodplain Restoration Project is therefore designed to implement restoration measures to restore the form and function typical of a Norfolk Chalk River (e.g. channel narrowing, restoring gravel beds, in-creasing sinuosity, increasing woody debris). This will Improve fisheries, invertebrates and plant communities within the SSSI and SAC and restore the connectivity of the floodplain and floodplain wetland habitats; including the restoration and creation of reedbed and fen habitats. Water quality of urban run-off from Fakenham and adjacent agricultural land will also be improved before reaching the river. Significant and measureable improvements in habitat for designated features of the River Wensum SSSI/SAC (as identified in the River Wensum Restoration Strat-egy) are key objectives of the project.

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Site location plan

Catchment and subcatchment Select a catchment/subcatchment Edit the catchment and subcatchment details (affects all case studies in this subcatchment) Catchment River basin district Anglian River basin Broadland Rivers Subcatchment River name Wensum US Norwich Area category 100 - 1000 km² Area (km2) Maximum altitude category Less than 100 m Maximum altitude (m) 9898 m <br />0.098 km <br />9,800 cm <br /> Dominant geology Calcareous Ecoregion Great Britain Dominant land cover Arable and Horticulture Waterbody ID GB105034055881 Other case studies in this subcatchment: Great Ryburgh End Restoration Scheme, Meander reinstatement on the River Wensum at the Ryburgh Loop, River Wensum Restoration, Reach 10 Lenwade, River Wensum Restoration, Reach 3a Costessey, River Wensum Restoration, Reach 9 Attlebridge, River rehabilitation on the River Wensum at Swanton Morley, Sculthorpe Moor Restoration Scheme, Wensum River Restoration and Floodplain Enhancement Site Edit site Name River Wensum WFD water body codes GB105034055881 WFD (national) typology WFD water body name Pre-project morphology Straightened Reference morphology Sinuous Desired post project morphology Heavily modified water body No National/international site designation EU - Special Area of Conservation Local/regional site designations Protected species present No Invasive species present No Species of interest Dominant hydrology Dominant substrate River corridor land use Intensive agriculture (arable) 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 2012/07/01 Works started Works completed Project completed 2015/03/31 Total cost category 500 - 1000 k€ Total cost (k€) 900900 k€ <br />900,000 € <br /> Benefit to cost ratio Funding sources Catchment Restoration Funds 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 Pollution incident, Urbanisation Hydromorphology Continuity for organisms, Substrate conditions, Structure & condition of riparian/lake shore zones Biology Invertebrates, Macrophytes Physico-chemical Other reasons for the project Measures Edit Measures Structural measures Bank/bed modifications Restoring gravel bed Floodplain / River corridor Floodplain reconnection Planform / Channel pattern Channel narrowing 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 Additional links and references Edit links and references Link Description http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/ UK - Environment Agency website http://www.pensthorpetrust.org.uk/ The Pensthorpe Conservation Trust (PCT) was formed in January 2003 to carry forward the work of its predecessor, the Pensthorpe Waterfowl Trust; and to establish a centre of excellence in ecological restoration. Its focus is the captive breeding of threatened species, particularly those associated with wetlands, such as cranes and wildfowl (ducks, geese and swans); ecologically sustainable farming; plus habitat restoration and management. http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ Natural England is an Executive Non-departmental Public Body responsible to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The purpose is to protect and improve England’s natural environment and encourage people to enjoy and get involved in their surroundings. Supplementary Information Edit Supplementary Information