The recently produced deliverable D3.4 of REFORM, a Guidance to detect impact of HyMo degradation on riparian ecosystems, addresses such possible complications and includes guidance on how to identify impacts of hydromorphological degradation on riparian ecosystems. In addition, many of the findings gathered in the document are directly relevant to assessing in-stream conditions.
Next year's conference will be held in Blackpool on the 26th and 27th of August. We are looking for abstracts under the title: "Planning, delivery and evaluation of our rivers: Challenges and choices". There are three specific themes underneath this overarching theme:
The RRC has secured new funding from The Esmée Fairbairn Foundation which will enable us to expand to meet the needs of the growing area of locally driven river restoration projects. Traditionally the RRC has provided information and advice to key agencies, consultants, and contractors, whilst making guidance documents openly available to all sectors. However this new funding will enable us to extend this support to third sector groups, such as River and Wildife Trusts, and local catchment partnerships.
JBA Trust is fully funding places on Lancaster University’s Flood and Coastal Risk Management Postgraduate Certificate course in 2015/16.
The Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) in Flood and Coastal Risk Management will equip delegates with theory, practical skills and experience of industry best practice for modelling, understanding and managing risk.
On the 5th June Atkins, London Borough of Lewisham, Planning for Water and the River Restoration Centre held a workshop which aimed to discuss how to integrate river corridor improvement measures into the planning system within all London Boroughs. There were a series of presentations that concentrated on policy implementation, valuing the environment, scientific evidence for river restoration and partnership working. A site visit to Ladywell Fields on the River Ravensbourne complemented the days talks.
The Freshwater Biological Association have announced a £900,000 three year project to restore rivers and improve the mussel’s habitat across Cumbria. The money is part of a £1.5m grant from Biffa Award for rivers in Devon, North York Moors and South and West Cumbria. The project will culminate in the release of specially reared young mussels in 2018. BBC Article
Yet more fisheries are set to benefit as the Angling Trust has announced that an additional £50,000 is up for grabs later this summer as part of the hugely successful 'Fishery Improvement Fund'. The funding comes from the Environment Agency's rod licence sales.
The Norfolk Rivers Trust has developed a smartphone app through which volunteers can report a variety of river issues, such as littering, invasive species or pollution events. They are now at the testing stage need a handful of volunteers to help them out by trialling it and reporting back with how you get on.
Restoration of river habitats by restoring physical habitats offers significant opportunities for improvements to biodiversity. To date in the UK and Republic of Ireland (RoI) there have been many different examples and types of restoration work undertaken. Despite this progress there remain issues relating to the quality of the evidence base for restoration, its implementation and its promotion as a viable strategy to improve river biodiversity, ecosystem status and maintain the key services that we rely on.
This grant scheme forms part of the new Countryside Stewardship scheme. It builds upon the capital grant scheme within the Catchment Sensitive Farming project.
Farmers and other land managers can apply for a grant to help pay for work to reduce diffuse water pollution from agriculture (DWPA).
Applications can be submitted from 2 March 2015 and must be received by Natural England on or before 30 April 2015. Late applications will not be accepted.
The maximum available grant for each farm business is £10,000.
For more information click the link below