LIFE Dee River project / J. Rees-Jones (Natural Resources Wales)
LIFE Dee River is a £6.8m project to transform the River Dee and its catchment by restoring the river and its surroundings back to their natural state. Project Actions:
This will bring many benefits to the environment, most notably improving the numbers of salmon, lamprey and freshwater pearl mussels to help them become more sustainable in future
4 Rivers For LIFE river restoration; successes, learning and challenges so far / S. Gott, S. Kinghan (Natural Resources Wales)
The 4 Rivers for LIFE project is a 5 year, £9.11m collaborative river restoration project, focussing on the rivers Cleddau, Teifi, Tywi and Usk in South Wales. The project uses several different strategies of river restoration.
We are now 2 years into the project. This presentation will highlight the work done so far, the key challenges and learning for the future.
KEYNOTE ADDRESS
River restoration: are we there yet?
P. Boon (Freshwater Biological Association)
Reviewing poor restoration performance / G. Heritage (Dynamic Rivers), J. England (Environment Agency) & D. Mould (JBA Consulting)
Much of the scientific literature centred around ecological response to river restoration draws negative conclusions regarding the effectiveness of many projects. This paper summarises the findings of literature reviews in 2014 and 2024 into restoration works to increase ecological resilience to high and low flows. The 2014 study concluded that scheme assessment was both patchy and, in many cases, unscientific, lacking objectives and survey design and evaluating poor and/or inappropriate data. The 2024 update reviewed a further 69 peer reviewed publications. It found that engineering focussed works aimed towards an historic reference state are being superseded by process-based projects where dynamism is anticipated as part of a natural self-sustaining process of habitat creation and evolution. Evidence of positive ecological response remains sparse principally due the recentness of more holistic schemes and the persistence of unstructured evaluative approaches.
Biotic and Abiotic response to system naturalisation along the Patterdale Valley / R. Powell (National Trust), G. Heritage (Dynamic Rivers) & M. Powell (Ecosulis)
We report on the performance of the National Trust naturalisation schemes in Patterdale completed in 2021 and 2022. The works on Goldrill Beck delivered a doubling of channel length and a quadrupling of connected floodplain area including 2.5 ha of flowing wet woodland. The works on Kirkstone Beck impacted 2.1 km of river creating a new wandering channel and rejuvenated a flowing wetland zone approaching Brothers Water lake. Monitoring data suggests that the naturally functioning systems are flooding more frequently, in the process storing coarse and fine sediment and flood velocities and conveyance have reduced, assisted by a general valley bottom vegetative roughness development. Ecological response is occurring at a sub-morphologic unit level with distinct community development associated with a more variable morphology, sedimentology, hydrology and hydraulic regime. Non-main river interventions are also acting to restore valley bottom hydrological and ecological functioning.
Working with land managers to develop resilient catchments and farm businesses / B. Eardley (National Trust), H. Purdey (Horner Farm) & J. Neville (National Trust)
The National Trust continues to work closely with its farm tenants on the Holnicote Estate to increase natural function while increasing the resilience of local farm businesses. This includes practical works through the Riverlands programme at Holnicote and the development phase of a Landscape Recovery Scheme aimed at making space for water and wildlife - moving from drainage to habitat linked throughout the catchments. A farmers perspective to restoration and farming - how do we develop win wins.
Delivering river restoration in partnership with landowners, thoughts from both sides / R. Llewellyn-Smith (Natural Resources Wales)
Ryevitalise Landscape Partnership: Enhancing, restoring & reconnecting the River Rye catchment / J. Caldwell & A. Cripps (North York Moors National Park Authority)
The Ryevitalise Landscape Partnership work to enhance and restore the western River Rye catchment across 413km2 in North Yorkshire. We’ll present on work with land managers entering long term agreements with a bespoke sliding scale funding matrix to deliver habitat restoration, such as creating resilient riparian corridors. Undertaking feasibility and expanding data gaps is central to our work ensuring targeted funding focusing on improving water quality and retention, restoring habitat connectivity, and addressing in-channel obstacles to aid natural river function.
We’ll summarise citizen science survey work (including juvenile fish, riverfly and bats) and the importance of volunteer and engagement work to reconnect people to the catchment’s natural and cultural heritage. From delivering farmer events, creating walking routes and school outreach programmes to telling the story of the landscape through LiDAR– this is a great example of a holistic catchment scale restoration programme.
The wilder Frome: a catchment based approach to river conservation in the Severn Vale / L. Reynolds (Severn Rivers Trust)
The Wilder Frome is the first flagship project developed by the Severn Vale Catchment Partnership - our 2030 vision for a thriving, ecologically diverse, resilient river Frome. We hope to implement a range of restoration and habitat creation measures from the river’s source to the Severn estuary.
The plan includes 8 environmental priorities: removing barriers to fish movement, making space for wildlife, working in the wider landscape, cleaning up our rivers, restoring healthy flows, taking action on INNS, monitoring and data, and community engagement and partnership.
Since 2020, completed projects include Flourishing Floodplains - restoring wetland habitat in the farmed landscape, and Severn Vale Waterscapes- habitat creation, water quality improvement, and multi species fish passes.
Projects still in delivery and development include Fishier Frome, citizen science training, further fish barrier removal, Cotswolds Canals Connected, and white-clawed crayfish recovery.
Uwch Conwy / Upper Conwy Catchment / S. Aubrey (Natural Resources Wales) & D. Davies (National Trust)
The Uwch Conwy project is a landscape scale partnership project covering 3% of Wales. The overall aim of this project is to work with tenants and other partners to improve land and water management whilst providing benefits to the communities and wildlife that call this part of Eryri home. This is a partnership project between NRW and NT which started in 2015.
We working at a catchment scale to restore modified peatlands, river systems, as well as creating and connecting habitats through woodland and hedgerow planting and meadow creation.
The project aims to bridge the gap between people and nature through community e-bike sessions, access improvements that help link rural villages with their landscape and an education programme aimed at reconnecting local schools with climate and nature.
This talk will give examples of the restoration work we have undertaken to deliver catchment scale restoration.
Catchment nature-based solutions masterplan for carbon, biodiversity, water and community on the Western Rother / J. A. Herriot (Binnies) & J. Pollitt (Southern Water)
Binnies is working with Southern Water to develop an NBS master plan to positively impact the Western Rother catchment. The overall project 'Western Rother Catchment Resilience Project' will identify, promote and deliver NBS options linked to SW business priorities. The current inception phase is focused on three estates to identify feasible opportunities linked to marketable benefits such as BNG and carbon. Working closely with stakeholders, Binnies will consider a range of NBS including river restoration, habitat restoration and catchment management. The presentation will detail the project's lessons learnt and demonstrate how opportunities for river restoration/NBS can be funded through layered marketable benefits.
Scaling up ambition. Restoring the River South Esk - a nature rich & climate resilient catchment / K. Dempsey (River South Esk Catchment Partnership)
River South Esk Catchment Partnership members and catchment landowners have worked together to restore natural processes on the River South Esk in the Angus uplands for over a decade. Following on from the Restoration of the Rottal Burn in 2012, the successful partnership are now two years into an ambitious five-year multi-habitat project that encompasses river restoration, large-scale wetland creation, upland and riparian planting and hedgerow creation.
The project scales up action in this area of Northeast Scotland from a single restoration focus to restoring ecosystem health across the upper catchment from Cairngorm Munros to rolling floodplain farmland. A shared ambition, and diverse expertise across the small delivery group has shaped a project that truly considers the function and interaction of multiple habitats and species in supporting freshwater habitats and in addressing the climate and biodiversity crises.
Management of sediment and habitat mitigation at large dam structures: case study from the River Shin / H. Moir (cbec eco-engineering), L. Munro (Kyle of Sutherland Fisheries), E. Gillies (cbec eco-engineering) & K. Williams (Kyle of Sutherland Fisheries)
While the full removal of barriers (dams, weirs etc) is best for physical/ ecological continuity in rivers, often this is not possible due to ongoing use of the structure (e.g. hydropower, water supply etc). An alternative option is to mitigate the impacts to river processes and habitats through the addition of lost coarse sediment, in combination with other measures to improve instream condition. A project on the River Shin used gravel augmentation and large wood structures to improve instream geomorphology downstream of a large dam, for the benefit of salmon and pearl mussel habitats. These measures were applied across four specific sites, since sediment transport modelling showed the managed hydrology was not able to redistribute sediments downstream of the dam. Since implementation, the sites have been monitored for physical change and habitat utilisation (redd mapping and electrofishing), determining that the works have been a success for geomorphic and biological condition.
Undoing 100 years’ worth of gravel starvation / G. Morris (Natural Resources Wales)
Weir removal using an iterative design and morphodynamic modelling process on the Bronie Burn, Scotland / L. Jorge, H. Moir, E. Gillies & K. Comins (cbec eco-engineering)
A ‘nature-based’ design was developed to support the removal of a weir on the Bronie Burn, Scotland. The project was designed to not only benefit fish passage but also the geomorphic restoration of the study reach by reinstating natural sediment transport processes. Restoration works involved re-grading the channel bed and encouraging active meandering of the channel using Large Wood Structures (LWS) placed at key locations. Sediment transport modelling of an initial design indicated that the LWS would have no significant effect on the pattern of sediment transport with the LWS being buried by the incoming sediment supply. Modelling of a refined design in which the river bed was raised indicated a far greater continuity of sediment transport with an active meandering channel. This iterative design process demonstrates the considerable value of morphodynamic and sediment transport modelling to arrive at a stable, sustainable and successful design and to minimise any associated potential risks.
The weir removal and watercourse realignment work was successfully completed during the summer of 2022. cbec undertook an as built survey immediately following construction and further post construction monitoring in August 2023. The monitoring has shown that cbec’s design delivered so much more than improvements to fish passage with significant improvements to the channel, river processes and habitat diversity, also evident at the site weeks after construction. The river is now better connected to its floodplain at smaller flood events and has a more natural channel bankfull capacity than the channel in its current form. The sinuous channel planform combined with the LWS has increased form roughness providing greater energy dissipation, channel stability and potential for sediment storage.
The use of passive impact plate sensors in informing and appraising river restoration / J. L. Moore (APEM)
River restoration and gravel augmentation schemes frequently use modelling to understand potential effects on sediment mobilization and transport, but these seldom present a complete picture, and more importantly, do not provide post-implementation validation that schemes are working as intended. We present three examples of recent work where we have used passive seismic impact plate sensors to understand sediment mobilisation in response to gravel augmentation, flow regime change and river restoration. This method has enabled us to collect in-situ sediment transport data which we have used to determine the bedload sediment transport response to natural and controlled flows in free supply and supply limited reaches, allowing us to inform restoration more effectively. We outline data collection, analysis, how we use this invaluable data to guide river restoration and appraise effectiveness, and discuss benefits over traditional methods of quantification e.g., modelling, traps.
A natural processes toolkit for England / R. Jeffries, O. Grant & A. Duncan (Environment Agency)
Despite decades of river restoration, physical modifications are still the top pressure affecting England’s waterways (DEFRA 2023). The Climate Emergency and Biodiversity Crisis add to the pressure and the challenge. In response, land management policy and practice is starting to change. And we now value our natural environment more than ever – not just for the money it makes us, but for the natural processes given to us by nature. At the Environment Agency we want to encourage future catchment management that works with nature, building on Maas and Diamond’s 2019 vison of letting nature do the work. To do this, we are creating a natural process toolkit. The toolkit brings together existing and new geospatial catchment data sources including stream power, natural valley form, artificial modifications in valley floors, and how river channels may respond to future climate change. These tools will help us to let nature do the work of creating healthy future catchments.
Linking river restoration and disaster risk reduction / J. Anthony (Institute for Risk and Disaster Reduction UCL)
Within the growing field of ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction (eco-DRR), the management and restoration of wetland services to reduce disaster risk is a well-established concept. However, river restoration has not been separately evaluated as a DRR tool. In this presentation, a DRR framework is used to qualitatively evaluate the objectives, processes, and outcomes of river restoration— both physical (e.g., lateral mobility, longitudinal and channel-floodplain connectivity, ecological services) and social (e.g., community engagement, recreation)—and examine their impacts on hazard, vulnerability, and exposure. Comparison of the two practices reveals the benefits and challenges of using river restoration for DRR, assesses their compatibility, and produces recommendations for reconciliation—fostering better communication and project-setting by bridging gaps between different sectors, disciplines, and policies such as Climate Change Adaptation and Working with Natural Processes.
Chalk stream restoration to increase ecological resilience to climate change / J. England (Environment Agency), T. Johns (Environment Agency), R. Sarremejane (Nottingham Trent University), R. Stubbington (Nottingham Trent University) & J.C. White (University of Birmingham)
Chalk streams have been described as our tropical rainforests. Their gin-clear waters are internationally famous as are the ecosystems that they support. We explore how chalk streams are expected to respond to climate change, facing an increase in extreme flows and warming waters. We consider how these effects interact with existing human pressures, including physical modification. We conceptualise how river restoration can improve resilience to extreme events through creating refuge areas. We demonstrate where river restoration, through removal of impounding weirs, has restored physical processes and longitudinal connectivity, improving habitat composition. We consider the ecological responses to the restoration, which have been largely positive, with macroinvertebrate communities reflecting transitions from lentic to lotic conditions. We review how restoring physically modified chalk streams can help increase resilience to climate change and what else we need to do to restore with more confidence to help chalk streams adapt to climate change.
Catchment scale initiatives in the lower River Cuckmere and underlying chalk aquifer / S. Howe, D. Wilkinson & S. Lohrey (South East Water)
The lower part of the river Cuckmere flows through East Sussex from Arlington through the South Downs to Cuckmere Haven. The catchment comprises low permeability geology which results in a flashy flow regime.
South East Water operates a surface water abstraction on the Cuckmere and groundwater sources in the chalk aquifer located either side of the river. Investigating and understanding the hydrology, hydrogeology and environmental pressures has been done.
South East Water has engaged with other abstractors to develop a holistic view of the water environment. Our work with farmers to promote water efficiency and rainwater harvesting will be developed in combination with nature based solutions.
South East Water has partnered in the PROWATER project which aims to increase water retention and infiltration at the landscape level. Results show that higher soil moisture occurs at certain land uses and that changing the landscape should improve groundwater recharge and river baseflow.
Removing Garlogie Dam / C. Perfect (Scottish Environment Protection Agency)
Garlogie reservoir was 3HA of open water located 15KM west of Aberdeen. The dam is 6m high, more than 50m across and now has a hole in the middle big enough to drive a double decker bus through. We describe four challenges faced by the project:
The project made a splash in the local media when it completed. But the practical tools used to overcome the challenges might be considered rather mundane. We present real world examples demonstrating the value of detailed objectives, the importance of communication, building an evidence base and applying the knowledge learned, controlling the narrative, and balancing determination with compromise.
Removing a two metre tall weir by hand... Hang on, what! / J. Louis, S. Muir & A. Tragis (Forth Rivers Trust)
Find out how the Forth Rivers Trust removed a two metre tall weir, in house and by hand using skill and innovation. Morton Quarry Weir was situated in a steep gorge with little access for machinery. In this talk, we will cover our thought process behind the removal, the planning for this kind of work, understanding the skills and experience needed to carry out the removal process, coming up with innovative techniques to remove the weir, health and safety requirements, funding of the works and the benefits to the river for migratory fish and river processes.
Focus on barriers to barriers – planning, designing and delivering removals / J. Rees-Jones (Natural Resources Wales)
Winning over hearts and minds when removing barriers in the Lake District / L. Baker (AtkinsRéalis), S. Maas (AtkinsRéalis), W. Stringer (Cain Bio-Engineering), M. Buckley (United Utilities) & G. Lovell (United Utilities)
Atkins and Cain Bio-Engineering led the design for the decommissioning of three impoundments in the Lake District on behalf of United Utilities. The aim is to re-naturalise lake habitats, restore >1km of river and reconnect >3ha of floodplain. The sites have historically been artificially raised for public water supply.
The project has huge benefits to the local landscape and ecological communities, but the technical challenges are complex and conflict with existing designated sites. The designs have sought to promote natural recovery, balanced with UU’s responsibility to ensure the structures are appropriately and safely decommissioned, with no increase in flood risk.
The schemes could be perceived as controversial (due to aesthetics and recreational impacts) within local communities and landowners, with some remaining sceptical.
The presentation demonstrates the approach taken to engage, adapt and overcome the complexities whilst aiming to ensure the fundamental objectives are met.
Building enough capacity to have an impact at a catchment scale
P. Powell (Welsh Dee Trust)
I (Peter Powell) became the first full-time CEO of Welsh Dee Trust at the beginning of 2021 after working at the organisation for 1 and a half years. The specific aim of my employment was to build the capacity and strength of Welsh Dee Trust into an organisation that can make a significant impact towards the restoration of the river Dee. At the beginning of 2023 we launched a five-year strategy for the Trust setting out our proposed actions. In my presentation I will talk about the approach we took to building this strategy and the capacity required to deliver it and how we plan to monitor the impact we are having. The talk will cover many of the challenges faced by an Environmental NGO trying to build capacity to undertake river restoration including the mistakes and solutions we made along the way.
Urban citizen's 6.3.2: monitoring Dublin’s rivers and streams through citizen science / L. Ribero, S. Hegarty, F. Regan & R. Clinton (Dublin City University)
Urban Citizen's 6.3.2 is an ongoing citizen science project, monitoring rivers and streams across the UNESCO Dublin Bay Biosphere. Volunteers from the general public and community groups are trained to conduct regular surveys, that include visual observations, nutrients testing, and macroinvertebrate monitoring. In order to examine geographical and temporal patterns, the project spans over two years and involves four different catchments, that are surveyed monthly. The project aims at filling existing data gaps, detecting unnoticed issues, and ultimately creating a scalable model that can be expanded to other geographical areas for river restoration. Through training workshops, regular interactions and co-creation, volunteers are provided with background knowledge and practical monitoring skills, empowering them to become long-term river stewards. Here, we are presenting insights on the project development, current results, challenges and lessons learnt, and potential outcomes.
Riverhub - scaling up citizen science to safeguard rivers across the Wessex catchment / S. Hunter (Bristol Avon Rivers Trust) & T. Culmer (Riskaware)
The Bristol Avon Rivers Trust (BART) has been running citizen science campaigns since 2016 and over that time has built up a wealth of knowledge and experience. BART’s latest citizen science project, RiverHub, is their most ambitious yet. With backing from Wessex Water, they are aiming to bring together all their existing citizen science data into a single dashboard, alongside real time readings from the water board’s own sensors. The funding is allowing BART to greatly expand its campaigns, increasing volunteer numbers and engaging with other local NGOs to collect data across the whole Wessex catchment. Supporting them with this project is Riskaware (a scientific software consultancy located in Bristol, UK) who is helping develop the dashboard.
The project will empower hundreds of volunteers to help protect our rivers and is serving as a demonstration catchment for the national OFWAT-funded CaSTCo project. This presentation will include details and progress of the project to date.
River restoration in Norway: from salmon-ladders towards ecological and nature-based approaches / A. Iversen (Norwegian Environment Agency)
Anders Iversen has coordinated implementation of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) in Norway since 2007 and initiated the Annual River Restoration Seminars in Norway in 2010. Anders Iversen represents Norway in the WFD Strategic Coordination Group (SCG), the OECD Water Governance Initiative (WGI), and the European Centre for River Restoration (ECRR).
Reconstruction of a former anastomosing wet woodland at Avon Water, new forest using UAV-derived structure-from-motion photogrammetry / E. Fleming (Mott MacDonald)
In recent years there have been significant technological advances in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). This, combined with the development of structure-from-motion (SfM) technology have provided river restoration practitioners with a new tool that can be used to give an affordable, repeatable, and objective assessment of river restoration projects. In this study, SfM photogrammetry is utilised on a section of the Avon Water, a small watercourse in the New Forest National Park. It was subjected to extensive Victorian-aged straightening and channelisation which have left the SSSI in an unfavourable ecological and morphological condition. Much of this is now being reversed by river restoration projects led by Forestry England. Whilst historic maps reveal the rivers former alignment, the straightening pre-dates these maps in places. Furthermore, even where the former route is shown, it is likely that anthropogenic modification began much earlier, and these maps may not represent the natural course of the river. High resolution orthophotos and 3D photogrammetric models of the site are created that reveal a palaeolandscape consisting of a series of anastomosing and anabranching channels. These are interpreted to represent a former anastomosing wet woodland and ‘Stage Zero’ of the river system. Cross-cutting relationships suggest that initial anthropogenic perturbation transformed the site into a single meandering thread. This was then followed by the most recent Victorian-aged straightening. The palaeolandscape revealed by the study could provide a template for future ‘Stage Zero’ river restoration in the New Forest and demonstrates the capabilities of low-cost, UAV-derived photogrammetry in river restoration research.
Science and river restoration: two recent examples to stimulate debate / D. Sear (University of Southampton)
The science of restoration arguably does not exist, rather it is drawn from a range of scientific disciplines. It is often seen by practitioners as remote and academic – with the ‘real work’ done by those who are “making a difference” on the ground. In part this reflects the differences between the values of practical conservation and the desire to improve degraded ecosystems and more pragmatically, the requirement to chase the money to preserve the posts of rapidly expanding restoration teams. At the RRC conference it seems pertinent to reflect on the goal of science and its methods. At the same time, we need to reflect on the practice of restoration and its potential value to science. Drawing on two case studies, the talk will look at how review of science can support wider policy and justification for restoration practice through the lens of carbon storage, whilst in the second case, a reflection on the wider evidence for adoption of a popular restoration practice is challenged. The paper concludes that science, evidence, and monitoring need to be better defined and recast in terms of their specific role in supporting river restoration. Similarly, with increasing funding and opportunity for restoration driving progress on the ground, scientists should get engaged more with the restoration practitioners to better understand what support the community needs to help them deliver the resilient rivers and catchments we all ultimately are seeking to restore.
In-stream habitat unit additions: if you build it, will they stay?/ I. Barrett (Waterways Centre, University of Canterbury & Lincoln University, New Zealand)
River restoration in New Zealand is often focussed on riparian planting, hoping water quality improvements will improve overall ecosystem health. These interventions are important but successful community recovery requires additional steps to improve aquatic habitat. We trialled the addition of simple, instream habitat units as a practicable restoration tool and opportunity to investigate community recovery mechanisms. Habitat units were designed to be simple to construct using sustainable, readily available materials, and optimised to create heterogeneous habitat and refugia. Here, we present the outcome of three trials: (1) a preliminary trial as a proof of concept that habitat addition can facilitate establishment of drifting invertebrate colonists; (2) a trial in streams with varying physical characteristics to identify methodological constraints; and (3) a project co-developed with local iwi (indigenous people) in NZ, demonstrating the value of indigenous knowledge in restoration.
Chalking up the evidence - increasing ecological resilience of chalk streams to climate change / J. England (Environment Agency)
Our internationally famous biodiversity rich chalk streams will be affected by climate change, with an anticipated increase in extreme flows, warming waters and changes in intermittence patterns. Restoring physically modified chalk streams can help chalk streams adapt to climate change and increase their ecological resilience. Restoration, by removing impounding weirs, has restored physical processes and longitudinal connectivity, improving habitat composition. Ecological responses have been largely positive with macroinvertebrate communities reflecting transitions from lentic to lotic conditions. Taxonomic diversity, richness and evenness became more like communities in control sections, which acted as targets for the restoration. However, the recovery of functional diversity varied depending on the scale of observation and the presence of other pressures. By creating a body of evidence to understand the ecological response to river restoration we target restoration actions and adaptation measures more effectively.
Achieving Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) – river units / E. Ryder (Mott MacDonald)
As we prepare for mandatory BNG, delivering river units presents a series of new challenges for practitioners, consultants and governing bodies. Complexities include land ownership, feasibility, construction and the number of river units it delivers, all of which must factor into the costs. BNG 4.0 metric requires solutions to the bank top, bank face and in channel in order to improve the condition score for the river reach. Therefore, the creation of riparian habitat alone is not sufficient. In this presentation, we will demonstrate how through collaborative efforts with Northumbrian Water scheme, river units in both on-site and off-site locations spanning multiple catchments can be delivered. We also highlight the challenges of delivering river net gain and the solutions. This demonstrates that a multi-disciplinary approach involving a range of specialists is essential to devise solutions that not only deliver the required river units but also benefits the whole catchment.
Chester Wetland Centre: biodiversity net gain unlocking opportunities / M. Boothroyd (Binnies)
The Chester Wetland Centre is a community-driven project to create wetland habitat within a country park beside Chester’s hospital, while improving access to green space, improving water quality, and delivering Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG). Working with local stakeholders, Binnies has taken a community group’s original idea to a detailed, fundable, deliverable and sustainable design. The first step was a pre-feasibility study including a high-level assessment of potential BNG; this helped secure funding for further project development. Subsequent design development was informed by UKHabs and river condition assessments. An iterative design approach involved collaboration between Binnies’ interdisciplinary team and the local authorities’ Green Infrastructure team, optimising BNG benefits and aligning these to the needs of local developers. The project is embedded within the Local Nature Recovery Strategy, and BNG will be a key funding source for delivery and future management.
Biodiversity Net Gain: tools to identify opportunity areas / J. Mant1, L. David1 & J. Sayers (Ricardo)
Providing a high-level assessment of biodiversity net gain-related opportunities that also have wider benefits requires an assessment of identifying accessible sites ideally close to development that are cost-effective and deliver benefits. Identifying potentially suitable sites prior to habitat surveys is not easy, especially at scale or where multiple sites are needed to achieve net gain. Ricardo recognised the need to develop a tool (the Potential Biodiversity Opportunity (BPO)) to assess the 'best' net gain opportunity areas. This tool was initially devised to support local planning authorities map out Local Nature Recovery Strategy opportunities. It was then further developed to account for a wider range of benefits. Scores are assigned to a range of adaptable parameters to identify opportunity areas where outputs are converted to geospatially scored and referenced maps. It has been successfully used to support a range of organisations with biodiversity and wider ambitions.
Utilizing Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) assessment and the watercourses module to make enhancement recommendations for river restoration / P. Cowley (AECOM)
BNG Assessment is a powerful tool in quantifying watercourse and riparian conditions, and post-development scenario, for development or restoration schemes. AECOM has developed an innovative approach to utilizing the outcomes of River Condition Assessment to make appropriate enhancement recommendations to achieve BNG for watercourses. The results of Modular River Physical (MoRPh) surveys, using an Enhancement Modeler Tool, inform site-specific enhancement objectives, tailored to specific BNG objectives of the project. Enhancement options are presented for a range of projects, for example reducing vegetation management in the riparian zone, installing fencing along the riparian zone to reduce the impacts of agriculture, increasing the diversity of channel and marginal vegetation and morphotypes, enhancing channel bed and hydraulic feature richness, and others. Enhancements are tailored to particular watercourse types (rivers and streams, ditches) according to BNG trading rules.
Natural function in freshwater nature recovery – linking the river channel to the catchment / A.J. Poynter, D. Matthews & L. Nixon (Natural England)
Process connectivity between rivers and the wider landscape is critical for environmental resilience and nature recovery. At landscape scale, river catchments are logical spatial units to consider water in nature recovery planning, prioritisation and monitoring. Catchments are complex areas defined by climate, land use/geology, and hydrological pathways – interaction between suites of catchment processes then defines the template for species, habitats and environmental resilience. This ‘natural ecosystem function’ should underpin restoration, from river microhabitats through to entire catchments. Restoring our rivers in this way is essential for freshwater nature recovery, but if unsupported by the rest of the catchment, there are likely to be limits to achieving ambitions toward naturalness. In exploring the interface between natural function, catchment restoration opportunities, and nature recovery mechanisms, we can ensure river habitats are healthy and resilient into the future.
Restoring naturally functioning river catchments - policy drivers and funding mechanisms / D. Matthews (Natural England), A.J. Poynter (Natural England), O. Burns (Environment Agency), J. Old (Environment Agency) & L. Nixon (Natural England)
Exploration of recent policies and new funding mechanisms in England that should provide a new impetus to remedy the modification pressures on rivers and river catchments. Naturally functioning river catchments are critical in supporting healthy river habitats and wildlife. Restoring the hydrogeomorphology of rivers and their catchments is fundamental to achieve government targets for nature recovery and will also help reduce society’s vulnerability to climate change. Two key spatial plans that have potential to direct how and what nature recovery looks like for our rivers are Catchment Plans and Local Nature Recovery Strategies. But more policies and plans will not recover nature without delivery mechanisms. Defra’s revision of Countryside Stewardship aims to mainstream river, riparian and floodplain restoration, the Landscape Recovery scheme looks to deliver naturally functioning catchments co-funded by green finance and water company fines are being redirected to fund restoration.
Northumberland LNRS pilot informing integrated catchment delivery in the Wansbeck Catchment / L. Nixon (Natural England), H. Harrison (Environment Agency), A.J. Poynter (Natural England) & D. Matthews (Natural England)
Following the Northumberland LNRS Pilot in 2020, Natural England (NE) undertook landscape scale testing of the LNRS outputs, working with Wansbeck CaBA partnership to co-create the Wansbeck Nature Recovery Plan. We utilised NE’s Habitat Network Model to create woodland, peatland and grassland networks using national and local data sources, and integrated river and wider habitat restoration and creation opportunities with an ambition to improve catchment function. In 2022 the Partnership used the Plan to make a successful bid to the Nature Based Solutions for Climate Change programme. This project will run until March 2024, delivering 144 Ha habitat restoration and creation across 13 project sites including floodplain, woodland, peatland and grassland, monitoring carbon sequestration and exploring green finance models. An application to DEFRA’s NFM Programme will build on the work already underway further supporting catchment scale delivery.
Post Ice Age river evolution and implications for landscape scale riverine ecosystem restoration / J. Payne (Environment Agency)
The River Axe SSSI/SAC is in unfavourable condition. Ecological communities and channel geomorphological conditions are in decline in the upper catchment. Research has been carried out to explore existing theories on the evolution of the river and its floodplain since the last ice age, and to improve understanding of the downstream SSSI/SAC river. This charts conditions from a braided river type system, through to valley wide wetland, and finally to an increasingly dry and disconnected floodplain. The research reveals pressures at a landscape scale, dating back to the 15th century, that are now impacting on species declines. It demonstrates the affect of floodplain accretion over that time, which is now leading to erosion of the gravel river bed that the ecology depends on. The research also challenges stereotypes of the pool riffle sequences, requiring different interpretations of environmental damage within the SAC river.
River Aller: combining a stage 0 restoration scheme & a catchment based restoration approach / M. Hemsworth (JBA Consulting) & B. Eardley (National Trust)
Led by the National Trust and designed by JBA Consulting with support from Wolf Water Resources, University of Nottingham, and the Environment Agency. The landmark project has transformed a 27-acre area of former arable land into a new waterscape, reconnecting the river and floodplain, increasing habitat diversity, combating flooding and drought and acting as a future carbon store. The project has seen a 1.2km section of Main River, previously straightened and deepened, reset and reconnected to the surrounding floodplain. The re-set involved moving over 4,000 tonnes of earth to fill the river channel and placing 700 tonnes of fallen timber within the floodplain to provide important ‘deadwood’ habitat. Taking over three years to implement, with several challenges and barriers along the way, which were overcome, lessons learnt can now be shared, alongside the early outcomes of a developed long term monitoring programme to provide a foundation for the implementation of future schemes.
Mud Pool Meadow stage 0 / B. Eardley (National Trust), M. Pang (Environment Agency) & P. Powers (USFA)
National Trust working with the USFA following a knowledge trip to Oregon. The Stage 0 project was delivered autumn 2019. Application of the Stage 0 method across 5 ha with NT staff and local contractors and GGL design from the USFA. The team had previously employed conventional in channel NFM measures such as leaky dams with scrapes and cross flow ponds.
The restoration filled 550m of watercourse and placed 100 tonnes of wood. This immediately reconnected the water with the surrounding landscape developing a mosaic of waterscapes. Site left to develop naturally and has been grazed with pigs to develop softer ecotone with the woodland and develop hydrological and ecological diversity. Significant increase in ecosystem function and associated biodiversity and abundance.
Monitoring on the site includes hydrological, soil and ecological monitoring including high resolution drone imaging, butterfly transects, grass snake, bats, aquatic invertebrates and vegetation diversity.
Valley sides and the connectivity of small tributaries to floodplain wetlands / K. Sheehan (JBA Consulting) & G. Heritage (Dynamic Rivers)
The (dis)connectivity between the floodplain, channel and large tributaries is the driver of many river restoration schemes. However, the role of small tributaries in the creation of floodplain wetlands is under-appreciated and the practice of straightening, deepening, embanking and piping these across the floodplain to the channel is frequently encountered. On many rivers, small tributaries arise from flushes high on the valley sides and, whilst their connection with the channel has been retained, their functional role in floodplain ecology has been lost. We believe that these springs once emerged and then soaked away again into the talus slopes along the edges of valleys, raising the water table before emerging again as groundwater at the break of slope, creating floodplain fens; potentially enhanced by natural levees. These fens have been lost along with the loss of groundwater. We propose that project aims should be more holistic, covering the entire floodplain and valley sides.
Urban large woody material, barrier removals and stage zero / T. Hartland-smith (Severn Rivers Trust)
Looking at the development and delivery of several projects by the Severn Rivers Trust, which have been delivered through the Black Country Blue Networks ERDF partnership project. From Stage Zero restoration within an urban National Nature Reserve to multiple barrier removals across the river Stour catchment. Working with the local authorities to change perception on what river restoration can look like within the urban environment whilst addressing concerns over flood risk with the local community and council officers. Showcasing bankside and in-channel enhancement projects, the introduction of large wood in-channel and the lessons learnt before, during and after delivery.
Putting the Trent back in Stoke-on-Trent / M. Lawrence (Environment Agency) & D. Cadman (Staffordshire Wildlife Trust)
A part of the redevelopment of Stoke City's former football ground, the River Trent was diverted into a new river channel. The project had to contend with a global pandemic, contaminated land, conflicting deadlines, funding issues and the challenges of moving a major river out of a concrete river channel without increasing flood risk and risking a major trunk road and electricity sub station.
Salisbury River Park – delivering river corridor improvements in the heart of the historic city / K. Skinner (AtkinsRéalis), M. Vaughan (AtkinsRéalis), A. Cross (AtkinsRéalis), A. Wallis (Environment Agency) & M. Porter (Environment Agency)
The Environment Agency has been working in partnership with Wiltshire Council and Salisbury City Council to deliver a scheme that offers exciting improvements to the riparian corridor of the River Avon SAC within the heart of the historic city of Salisbury. AtkinsRéalis was commissioned in 2020 to develop the detailed design for Phase 1 working closely with stakeholders to ensure that the scheme met expectations of all parties. AtkinsRéalis has since been working with the Environment Agency and Kier during the construction process to ensure that the designs get fully realised. This presentation will focus on the delivery of these works which includes i) the creation of a new reach of the Summerlock Stream, and associated wetland area, in Fisherton Recreation Ground; ii) fish pass, pocket park and new river corridor along the main River Avon alongside the central car park and iii) narrowing works within the main mill stream, through instream berm creation, into the heart of Salisbury.
Controlling erosion and scour in small urban settings / T. Martin (Greenfix) & C. Metcalf (Greenfix)
The intention of this talk is to look at small urban and suburban waterways and ditches, with regional variations in names such as Rhyne, Reen, or Burn, as well as Streams and Brooks.
As many of these are in settings that often have intermittent flooding events followed by long periods with very little water the need to support banks and divert or create channels in both situations means that selection techniques and materials needs careful consideration.
Balancing the need for stabilising slopes over the long term with the demands of habitat creation and biodiversity can be problematical. There are design considerations around site access, installer skill levels and cost, which usually falls on the Riparian owner.
Using practical site examples, we aim to offer guidance for those advising Riparian owners, including designers, contractors, and other stakeholders, on solutions that remove the temptation to either do nothing or use a solution that offers no environmental benefit.
Fisheries monitoring unlocking the benefits of river restoration / R. Cove (Natural Resources Wales)
DNA based methods for catchment prioritisation / C. French & J. Huddart (NatureMetrics)
NatureMetrics supported River Dee Trust, to undertake eDNA sampling of the River Dee and River Don to map population distribution of Atlantic and (invasive) Pink Salmon. Samples were taken during two different seasons along the length of both rivers with fish and invertebrate metabarcoding applied to samples. Novel eDITH models were used to map the distribution of the two species within the catchments, incorporating river flow and level data provided by the Trust. The output of this work has identified areas of river with the highest probability of each salmon species being present with implications for catchment-scale planning and prioritisation. From the same samples, freshwater invertebrate data was fed into various methodologies for assessing invertebrate health. Reasonable agreement was found between SEPA published ASPT scores and those derived from the eDNA dataset, highlighting the ability for eDNA based monitoring techniques to scale up our understanding of catchment health.
Eryri Torgoch / A. Smith (North Wales Rivers Trust)
We have secured funding to protect the last remaining native Torgoch in Snowdonia. Principal fisheries officer and Torgoch specialist Antony Smith will present on his research and findings and river restoration techniques.
Removing redundant gauging weirs to benefit migratory fish in wales / R. Thomas (Arup), M. Mahavar Snow (Natural Resources Wales) & P. Smith (Arup)
In 2023, Natural Resources Wales removed two redundant river gauging weirs that posed significant barriers to fish movement. This talk presents the projects from conception to post-construction, including lessons learnt for future schemes.
The first project, on the Afon Honddu near Brecon opened up 20km of habitat to migratory fish. Working in a well-used public woodland and the River Usk SAC, it required close collaboration with the local council. Ash-dieback felled timber was used to stabilise the bed and banks in the restored river reach.
The second project, on the Afon Clywedog near Llanidloes opened up 4km of habitat to migratory fish. As river flows were heavily regulated by a large upstream dam, the works were co-ordinated with the reservoir releases, also allowing the demolition to take place over the closed season of an adjacent caravan park.
As well as restoring fish passage and natural processes, removing the assets reduced future maintenance and liabilities to NRW.
The long run: targeted interventions to deliver at-scale outcomes / R. Powell (Natural Resources Wales) & A. Humphreys (Binnies)
Natural Resources Wales has produced Strategic River Restoration Plans for catchments in Wales as a long-term commitment to reinstate natural conditions and biodiversity. NRW’s project is funded via the Nature and Climate Emergency Fund from Welsh Government to deliver against the nature and climate emergencies. NRW looks at river restoration at whole-river scale, developing strategic restoration plans and geomorphological appraisals to assess the physical state of the rivers. We will describe how we identify and prioritise restoration measures, targeting those that will deliver at-scale outcomes across Wales. The vision can be delivered in partnership with key stakeholders. We will include case studies of projects delivered under this programme, along with designed schemes that are ready to be delivered. We will include the perspective of the key stakeholders in the continued development of project sites, and helping to raise public awareness of what a natural river looks like.
Working with natural processes evidence directory
M. Baldwin (JBA Consulting), J. Broomby (JBA Consulting), S. Rose (JBA Consulting), E. Pearson (JBA Consulting) & T. Jones (JBA Associate)
Following the publication of the Working with Natural Processes Evidence Base in 2017, JBA Consulting have been working with the Environment Agency and its partners to update the evidence directory, reflecting on and analysing the research that has taken place in the last 5 years. The presentation will summarise the review process and key findings covering the key NFM categories; river and floodplain management; woodland management; run-off management and coast and estuary management. We will discuss the risk flood evidence and wider benefits as drawn from studies in the last five years. We will present a summary of studies looking at the effect of NFM measures used in combination, and advances in approaches to monitoring and modelling. The presentation will conclude with an overview of the newly identified and updated research gaps and recommended areas of focus required going forward.