RRC 16th Annual Network Conference

Abstracts

2015

Tuesday 19th May Click a presenters name to read their abstract Introduction

Robert Grabowski Diagnosing the root causes of hydromorphological degradation (Cranfield University) and identifying sustainable management solutions

George Heritage Floodplains: the forgotten and abused component of the fluvial (AECOM) system

Session 1

Duncan Huggett Natural flood management – barriers to progress (Environment Agency/MCIWEM)

Shona McConnell The Catchment Restoration Fund – What have we achieved? (SEPA)

Jerry Gallop The Catchment Restoration Fund – What have we achieved? (Natural England)

Jenny Wheeldon Implementing strategic river restoration plans in England (Natural England/ Environment Agency)

Session 2 - Parallel sessions

Catchment Restoration Fund

Peter Dennis River Worfe Restoration Initiative (APEM Ltd)

Toby Hull Addressing Fish Passage on a Catchment Scale in an Urban (South East Rivers Trust) Environment

David Harper A holistic approach to river restoration - restoring the Welland (Welland Rivers Trust) for wildlife and for people at Market Harborough

Jennifer Cox A holistic approach to river restoration - restoring the Welland (University of Portsmouth) for wildlife and for people at Market Harborough

Natural Flood Management

Sacha Rogers Holnicote – Exploring a PES approach (Penny Anderson)

Steve Rose From Source to Sea: Sound bites from Holnicote (JBA Consulting)

Andy Palmer Flood alleviation through river restoration (AECOM)

Cathryn Spence (AECOM) & Rapid Evaluation of NFRM Measures: River Elwy Case Study Jacques Sisson (NRW)

Restoring Designated Rivers

Kenneth McDougall ‘Pearls in Peril’ LIFE + Nature – Improving Freshwater Pearl (Envirocentre) Mussel Habitat through Restoration of Natural Processes

Martijn Antheunisse Volunteer delivered river restoration project on the Wylye (Wiltshire Wildlife Trust)

Ellie Phillips Land Use and River Restoration in a Predominantly Rural (Jacobs) Catchment – lower River Wye SSSI

Alasdair Maxwell Lower Woodsford river and floodplain enhancement (Environment Agency) & Jo Cullis (Halcrow CH2M HILL)

Session 3 - Parallel sessions

Dealing with weirs

Sebastian Bentley CIRIA Weirs Guide (JBA Consulting)

Jo Barlow (Black & Veatch) & Pont Aran – weir removal in a town centre Oliver Lowe (Natural Resources Wales)

Peter King (Ouse & Adur Working with Landowners to Deliver WFD Objectives Rivers Trust) & Gareth Williams (Environment Agency)

Addressing Multiple Constraints

David Mould Constraints on fish passage easement in Rotherham (JBA Consulting)

Alan McCulloch Restoring a contaminated ex - industrial river (SEPA)

Claire Barrett-Mold The Doe Lea - restoration in an agricultural and industrial (Environment Agency) catchment

New Tools for River Restoration

Victoria Janes Advances in bank erosion modelling and application to river (Cranfield University) restoration

Neil Entwistle Rapid aerial survey: A useful new tool for river restorers and (University of Salford) managers

Richard Williams Monitoring post-restoration morphology using Structure-from- (Aberystwyth University) Motion photogrammetry

Session 4

Nathalie Plum (International The Rhine – a phoenix rising: How the “sewer of Europe” Commission for the became the winner of the 2014 Thiess International RiverPrize Protection of the Rhine (ICPR))

Wednesday 20th May

Session 5 - Parallel Workshops

Workshop A: Citizen Science and Monitoring

Jim Jones & Glen Skelton RiverSearch: Delivering river restoration through citizen science (Surrey Wildlife Trust)

Ruth Craig Engaging all Ages In Chalk Stream Restoration (Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Project)

Eleanor Starkey Community-Based Monitoring for Catchment Management and (Newcastle University) Restoration

Richard Haine The ‘Citizen Crane’ Monitoring Network (Frog Environmental)

Sarah Taigel River EYE: A Citizen Science Tool for whole catchment reporting (University of East Anglia)

Workshop B: Best Practice Channel Management

Phil Williamson The Channel Management Handbook (Royal HaskoningDHV)

Rachel Hill Rural River Maintenance (Environment Agency)

James Maclean Emergency Dredging of The Somerset Levels – Responsible (Land & Water Services Ltd) Riverworks at speed

Workshop C: Managing Rivers with the Water Industry

Judy England (SEPA) & Morphological measures to improve low flow environments Sebastian Bentley (JBA Consulting)

Junaid Patel (United Utilities) Addressing legacy infrastructure in rural catchments in the north west

Sally German (ARUP) Reinstating hydro-morphological processes in a Heavily Modified Water Body

Irantzu Lexartza-Artza & Use of river restoration to mitigate the impacts of Daniel Newton impoundments: a process based approach in Yorkshire (ARUP)

Workshop D: How to Best Assess Morphology and Physical Change

Hamish Moir Ecological Evaluation of the ‘Process Restoration’ Philosophy on (cbec eco-engineering) the Allt Lorgy, Scotland

Helen Reid (Environment Learning from Monitoring River Restoration in Dynamic Agency) Cumbrian Rivers

Eric Gillies Hydraulic Modelling for River Restoration on the Allt Lorgy, (cbec eco-engineering) Scotland

George Heritage (AECOM) Fluvial Audit: An essential tool for all river related projects

Workshop E: River Restoration and Biodiversity

Emma Rothero (Open Floodplain meadows: a case for restoration University)

Session - 6 Parallel sessions

Working with Urban Rivers

Daniel Allum (BWB The Sketchley Brook: An Example of Urban River Restoration Consulting)

Leela O’Dea Urban Pocket Wetlands: A Biodiversity Offsetting Solution (Frog Environmental)

Ian Dennis Restoring Natural Processes in Wandle Park (Royal HaskoningDHV)

Monitoring: Effective Assessment

Murray Thompson Restoration, conservation and resilience in lowland rivers (University College London)

Michelle Smith Lessons learned from monitoring the ecological outcomes of (Hull International Fisheries river rehabilitation works in the UK Institute)

Simon Browning Monitoring sediment and nutrient pollution on the Lid Brook (Wavelength Environmental)

Partnership Delivery

Helen Batt Sheffield model for sustainable investment (River Stewardship Company)

Lyndon Baker (Atkins) Maximising the value of large infrastructure projects – delivering river restoration as part of major capital works

Gareth Greer (Rivers Agency) Ballymoney Riverside Park Restoration: from boating lake to & John Kane (DCAL Inland salmonid channel in three months Fisheries)

Session 7

Claire Gray & Paul Chapman Developing Lewisham’s Rivers (London Borough of Lewisham)

DIAGNOSING THE ROOT CAUSES OF HYDROMORPHOLOGICAL DEGRADATION AND IDENTIFYING SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS FOR A CHALK RIVER 1 2 R.C. GRABOWSKI , A.M. GURNELL 1 Cranfield Water Science Institute, Cranfield University, Cranfield, UK, 2 Queen Mary, University of London, London, UK

One of the fundamental challenges of integrated river management and restoration is the identification of solutions that tackle the root causes of hydromorphological degradation. Most catchments in Europe have been significantly altered by humans in multiple different ways, directly or indirectly, over the past centuries and even millennia. These alterations influence the flow of water and sediment in the catchment, resulting in a cascade of hydromorphological changes that propagate over space and time to impact the form and behaviour of rivers at the reach-scale. Consequently, hydromorphological degradation may be a result of changes that have occurred elsewhere in the catchment and/or at some point in the past. In this study we address this challenge by applying a process-based hierarchical assessment framework, developed within the EU-funded REFORM project, to the River Frome (Dorset, UK) to identify hydromorphological pressures, assess the current status of the river and its sensitivity to change, and identify sustainable management solutions.

The River Frome is assessed as having poor to moderate hydromorphological functioning and high levels of alteration and artificiality. Fine sediment delivery to the channel from the predominantly agricultural catchment is identified as the most significant hydromorphological pressure on the gravel-bed river over the last 50 years. An analysis of historical maps reveals that the River Frome has narrowed over this period due to fine sediment deposition, at the same time as agricultural records show an intensification of production and a shift in crops and livestock.

Detailed study of 4 sub-reaches of the River Frome suggests that management of aquatic and riparian vegetation dramatically affects how the channel adjusts to increased fine sediment loads. Sub-reaches that experienced little to no direct management in the last several decades had abundant aquatic and/or woody riparian vegetation. This vegetation increases the hydraulic and geomorphic diversity of the channel, encourages the trapping and storage of fine sediment along the margins, and the maintenance of clean gravel beds in the centre of the channel. Conversely, sub-reaches that experience regular aquatic and riparian vegetation management have uniform cross-sectional profiles and suffer from more widespread fine sediment ingress into the gravel bed.

This study demonstrates the utility of a process-based hydromorphological assessment to diagnose pressures and identify sustainable solutions. For the River Frome it suggests both the mitigation of fine sediment production at source and a relaxation of aquatic and riparian vegetation management. The study also highlights the significant potential for natural channel recovery even in a low energy, lowland gravel-bed river that continues to suffer from high fine sediment loads.

Go back to abstract list FLOODPLAINS: THE FORGOTTEN AND ABUSED COMPONENT OF THE FLUVIAL SYSTEM 1 2 G. HERITAGE , K. SHEEHAN 1 AECOM, 2 JBA

Additional authors S. BENTLEY 3 3 JBA

River restoration is strongly focussed on in-channel initiatives driven by fisheries interests and a continued desire for river stability. This contrasts greatly with the inherently mobile nature of watercourses across moderate elevation areas in the UK. What is often overlooked is the fact that many rivers have developed floodplain units that would naturally operate as integrated functional systems, moderating the effects of extreme floods by distributing flow energy and sediment transport capacity through out of bank flooding.

Floodplain utilisation for farming activities and landowner intransigence when it comes to acknowledging that the floodplain is part of the river system, has resulted in floodplains being the most degraded fluvial morphologic unit, both in terms of loss of form and function and sheer levels of spatial impact. The degradation has been facilitated by the failure of Europe’s status-based Water Framework Directive (WFD) assessment system to adequately acknowledge floodplain form and function. This is testament to the ‘inward looking’ thinking behind national assessment strategies.

This paper argues for greater consideration of the floodplain in relation to river management. It presents several examples of the local and wider values of reinstating floodplain form and function, demonstrating major ecological gains, improvement to downstream flood reduction, elevation of water quality status and reductions in overall fine sediment loss from our farmland. It also calls for a re-think regarding our approach to funding floodplain restoration, arguing for greater recognition of the natural role of the floodplain as a resource for upstream flood management and as an agent for overall biotic improvement in line with WFD objectives.

Go back to abstract list NATURAL FLOOD MANAGEMENT – BARRIERS TO PROGRESS 1 D. HUGGETT 1MCIWEM

In response to the 2007 floods, Sir Michael Pitt noted that flood risk cannot be managed by simply building ever bigger hard defences. Other approaches such as working with natural processes should contribute to a more sustainable approach. Natural flood management does not replace traditional defences. It complements them and increases their resilience to climate change. Natural flood management can also bring a range of other (multiple) benefits or ecosystem services such as enhanced biodiversity, carbon capture, sediment reduction and improved water quality.

Since we published out response to the Pitt review in January 20121, steady progress has been made, laying the foundations for more natural flood management. This has included a number of catchment scale trails2, and a detailed proposal for an R&D framework3. At the same time, Government policy increasingly promotes an integrated approach to achieving multiple outcomes – the need to meet several Government policy objectives through co-ordinated action is clear4. A first concerted effort to do this is the development of the FCRM investment programme which includes FCRM integrated environmental outcomes.

However, despite an increasing evidence base, widespread support both within Government, its agencies and other organisations, developing natural flood management still seems as challenging as ever. The potential is there, but finding a successful way of realising the multiple benefits of working with natural processes still seems to elude us. This paper will explore some of the possible reasons why this is the case.

1 Greater working with natural processes in flood and coastal erosion risk management - A response to Pitt Review Recommendation 27 2 For example: Slowing the Flow (Pickering, North Yorkshire); Source to Sea (Holnicote, Somerset); Moors for the Future (Upper Derwent, Derbyshire) 3 Working with natural processes to reduce flood risk – research and development framework. Project Summary SC130004 4 See ‘synergies’ report, Triennial Review, for example

Go back to abstract list HOW TO RESTORE MORPHOLOGY AND MANAGE FLOODS NATURALLY 1 1 S. MCCONNELL , R. JEFFRIES 1 Scottish Environment Protection Agency

Additional authors: 2 2 2 2 2 A. CONNICK , H. FORBES , K. LUNDBERG , J.MACPHERSON , R. MARTINEZ 2 Scottish Environment Protection Agency

In 2012 SEPA embarked on an ambitious pilot project to deliver catchment-scale restoration of physical condition in combination with natural flood management, as well as incorporating wider environmental, social and economic benefits.

SEPA’s effort to tackle one of the most challenging areas of WFD implementation led to the development of a successful approach to identify and prioritise key river restoration locations strategically within catchments. Underpinning the approach it is critical to have a parallel programme of targeted engagement with landowners and land managers to progress projects. The work has been divided into 5 key steps with stakeholder engagement a fundamental element running through all steps.

Step 1: Catchment baseline study to identify and prioritise opportunity reaches Step 2: Land manager engagement Step 3: Options identification and appraisal Step 4: Design: outline and/or detailed design Step 5: Delivery of measures

This presentation will look at the four catchments included within the project: River Dee, River South Esk, River Nith and Glazert Water, and outline the approach developed, considering what has been achieved to-date, and providing a practical overview of lessons learned. In addition, early findings of the application of the lessons learned and refined methodology in a further catchment will be provided. Importantly, we will explain how this work has influenced our restoration strategy for the second river basin planning cycle.

Go back to abstract list THE CATCHMENT RESTORATION FUND – WHAT HAVE WE ACHIEVED? J.I. GALLOP1 1 Environment Agency

Society needs water for life. To provide this, we need to reduce pollution that comes from the way land is used and improve the landscape through which water flows. In 2012 The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) created the Catchment Restoration Fund (CRF) to support this aim. A £25 million fund, providing between £6 million and £10 million for three years ending in March 2015, was allocated for projects to be delivered in 2012/13, 2013/14 and 2014/15.

The Environment Agency is administered the CRF to support third sector groups to deliver projects that at a catchment level would:

• restore natural features in and around watercourses • reduce the impact of man-made structures on wildlife in watercourses • reduce the impact of diffuse pollution that arises from rural and urban land use

Over 130 bids were considered. These were prioritised using River Basin Liaison Panels and technically assessed by Environment Agency experts and partners in Natural England and the River Restoration Centre. Forty-two of the bids were approved, with a total value of just over £24m over the three years, supplemented by over £5m of additional partners’ funding and contributions: this match-funding grew in light of the CRF awards. Over 300 water bodies received habitat improvement, improved access for fish or reductions in diffuse pollution as a result of these projects, making significant steps towards more waters at good status as well as providing wider benefits to society and the environment. The funds also bolstered the contributions from hundreds of partners in local communities, led by charitable organisations such as Rivers Trusts, Wildlife Trusts the RSPB and other local action groups.

Now that the CRF has formally closed the presentation will provide a summary of key project delivery, an overview of the outcomes associated with the completed work and how learning from the programme has helped us focus on the best use of available funding for catchment based work in the future.

Go back to abstract list RESTORING DESIGNATED RIVERS – THE STORY SO FAR, AND WHAT HAPPENS NEXT J. Wheeldon1 1Natural England and Environment Agency

The joint NE and EA approach to restoration of SSSI rivers involves development and implementation of strategic long-term whole-river restoration plans. The plans set out actions to move the river towards a more natural, self-sustaining state that supports a greater diversity and abundance of characteristic wildlife, whilst taking into account acceptable uses of the river. The programme has been underway since 2006, and the focus is increasingly on delivering projects on the ground.

The following aspects of the national programme will be presented:

 a summary of the approach to restoration of designated rivers and current progress with delivery;  an explanation of how the river restoration plans link to river basin management planning and the catchment based approach;  highlights from the programme including catchment partnership working on the River Dove, major restoration in Cumbria and other examples; and  the Restoring Designated Rivers hub which contains links to SSSI river restoration plans, implementation projects and the latest news on each river.

A number of key issues that need to be addressed in order to ensure continued progress with delivery is made have been identified as part of the IPENS project river restoration theme plan. The main issues influencing the delivery of river restoration on designated sites will be set out, including the need for continued effort over long timescales (20-50 years), and substantial amounts of funding from a range of sources. In particular existing and potential new delivery mechanisms such as links to natural flood risk management approaches and relevant “soil and water” options in the new Rural Development Programme for England will be outlined.

Go back to abstract list RIVER WORFE RESTORATION INITIATIVE 1 P.M. DENNIS 1 APEM ltd

APEM was commissioned by Severn Rivers Trust (SRT) to undertake a series of surveys in the River Worfe catchment, a tributary of the River Severn in Shropshire, England. Particular interest and survey effort was focused on a sub-catchment of the River Worfe, Wesley Brook which has, historically, been influenced by a wide variety of human activity. Pressures from surrounding land uses and development are causing the watercourse to fail Water Framework Directive (WFD) objectives. The brook was selected as a priority catchment which has significant capacity for improvement using funds made available to SRT via the Catchment Restoration Funding initiative.

In 2012/13 APEM undertook a walkover survey of the entire Worfe catchment to assess the current condition of the river and the pressures imposed on the watercourse by surrounding land practices. APEM undertook a walkover survey mapping fish habitat and diffuse pollution sources throughout the entire catchment. The findings of these surveys in partnership with high resolution imagery allowed accurate and informed interpretation of the sources and pathways of contaminants entering the river system with subsequent mitigation measures aimed at source inhibition. Validation of suspected diffuse pollution sources were also subsequently determined by a series of wet weather sampling events in winter 2013/14.

In addition, a variety of ecological surveys using both ground and remote sensing applications have been undertaken in order to establish a baseline in the most sensitive and impacted sub- catchments. As part of these surveys barriers to fish migration in the catchment have been mapped and subsequent site visits have been performed looking at potential fish passageway measures at each. In addition protected species surveys have been established, notably looking at the population status of white clawed crayfish in the catchment.

It was intended that these surveys would inform mitigation work to facilitate a potential move towards good ecological status in the catchment, as required by the WFD. Prior to the implementation of any improvement measures, it was essential to acquire a comprehensive understanding of the current pressures on the catchment. This understanding enabled measures to be targeted to the specific issues impacting the water body and, as a result, provide the most ecological and cost effective mitigation strategy.

This work has led to the initiation of a riverine restoration plan on Wesley Brook. In 2013 APEM presented the findings of the catchment surveys to the East Shropshire National Farmers Union in Telford. Subsequently, APEM have undertaken 40 farm visits in the Worfe catchment to discuss high priority issues. The contribution of the land owners and farmers in the area to date has been excellent and a number of proposals have been put forward to the SRT and the Environment Agency which aim to mitigate future diffuse pollution issues on Wesley Brook, of which a significant number have been implemented.

Go back to abstract list ADDRESSING FISH PASSAGE ON A CATCHMENT SCALE IN AN URBAN ENVIRONMENT T.A. Hull1 1South East Rivers Trust

The Hogsmill River is 6.5 miles long and situated in the urban sprawl of south London. It fails to achieve Good Ecological Potential under the Water Framework Directive for fish mainly due to a significant number of obstructions along its course. At the start of the Catchment Restoration Fund project there were 15 obstructions preventing fish passage ranging from historic milling weirs, bridge footings, railway culverts and a range of concrete ‘controlling’ structures. These obstructions resulted in the available habitat, of which much is heavily degraded, being highly fragmented and therefore limiting.

The project aim was to overcome each of these obstructions so that, upon project completion, the entire river would be ‘opened up’. This was undertaken on an overall project budget of £315,000 with several habitat improvement works included.

Where feasible the removal of the obstruction was sought, however, in some cases due to the urban nature of the catchment or the function of the structure, this was not possible. In these situations alternative solutions were required which, due to the diverse array of structures, meant a variety of techniques being implemented. These included various baffle arrangements, close-to-nature pool passes, rock ramps and pre-barrages.

The presentation covers the various techniques used, highlights the problems as well as opportunities that arise from working within an urban catchment and looks at the benefits of engaging the local community.

Go back to abstract list A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO RIVER RESTORATION - RESTORING THE WELLAND FOR WILDLIFE AND FOR PEOPLE AT MARKET HARBOROUGH 1 2 D. HARPER , L. SMALLWOOD 1 Welland Rivers Trust, 2 University of Leicester

Additional authors N. COOMBS3, P. BARHAM4, R. CHASE5, V. ROBINSON6 3 University of Leicester, 4 Peter Barham Environment Ltd, 5 Capita Symonds, 6 University of Leicester

The Welland Rivers Trust formed in 2010 with the goal of enhancing the biodiversity and ecosystem services from the Welland and its tributaries. The Trust strives to achieve conservation, restoration and education for the whole of the Welland Catchment. The members of the Steering Group leading up to this formation included volunteers from many professions - educationalists, farmers, fishermen, local authority and Environment Agency staff as well as retirees.

The Trust’s first engagement was with the Environment Agency’s Water Framework Directive, in collaboration with the Welland Valley partnership. The goal was to lead the Partnership into production of a Handbook of the Welland’s current state, and identify projects which could be enhanced to make measurable enhancements to the river ecosystem, and also improvements under the WFD.

The Trust was thus well placed to respond to the declaration of CRF in early 2011, composing an application for the urban river through Market Harborough. This market town had been at the uppermost location of a devastating “land drainage and flood alleviation” scheme in the late 1960s. The river had become a deep, overly wide and straightened channel, with just a small trickle of water under and around supermarket trolleys. This poor low flow led to an obligation by the NRA to fit a number of low weirs along its length, impounding flow to sustain water levels. - The WRT was awarded £600,000.

The restoration was designed with a holistic approach, using the principles of ‘biotopes’ which are the essential jigsaw pieces of a natural river, found to be different from the degraded “engineered” river. A profile of the hydrology and geomorphological characteristics of the channel was established and modelled using these ecological principles of biotopes to create a physical design.

Design alterations were made based on geotechnical considerations and ‘build-ability’ to meet FDC & CDM needs; a complexity due to the urban location of the river. Modelling demonstrated benefit to flood risk due to the replacement of impoundments with natural low flow features. The final design was delivered in collaboration with many partners (MHiB, HiT, UoL, HDC, and the Environment Agency). The design was also synchronized with independent Fish Passage works by the E.A, whereby the designs fulfilled the mitigation required of their works.

The restoration works included the removal of six weirs, the re-opening of a backwater channel, and the creation of a meandering pool-riffle system over 1.8kms of river. Ongoing works include 4 PhD projects to assess the physical and ecological response of the river to this holistically designed restoration.

The presentation will focus on the main objectives of the project which were both ecological, hydrological and social – a true ecohydrological approach in the concept espoused by UNESCO.

Go back to abstract list EXPERIENCES OF RESTORING PHYSICAL HABITAT WITH AN ARTIFICIAL RIFFLE 1 1 J.R. Cox , P.J. Soar 1 University of Portsmouth

The River Rother, West Sussex, is failing Water Framework Directive (WFD) standards through a lack of morphological diversity and sedimentation issues arising from bank erosion and catchment run-off, resulting in high volumes of sand in transit. In 2013, the Arun and Rother Rivers Trust was awarded a grant from the Catchment Restoration Fund (founded by Defra) to improve habitat availability for coarse fish species. As a component of the rehabilitation scheme a 60m riffle-glide feature was installed in August 2013 approximately 100m downstream of Shopham Bridge, near Petworth. The feature was constructed with a mudstone base overlain with a coarse gravel substrate to enhance spawning habitat availability.

The University of Portsmouth, in partnership with the South Downs National Park Authority, is currently monitoring the performance of the riffle-glide feature with the view of informing future river management practices within the catchment. An Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) is being used to monitor changes in channel bathymetry and 3D velocity patterns over the feature within a 180m reach. In addition to a pre-restoration survey, six post-construction surveys have been completed over an 18 month period, which include a range of flows up to bankfull. During the 2013-14 winter flooding, estimated as a 1 in 100 year event, the River Rother experienced multiple over-bank flows which have tested the resilience of the feature. Subsequent post-processing of the survey data has led to the development of a series of 3D datasets suitable for investigating the coherence and diversity of physical habitats within the reach.

The initial responses were a marked increase in the range of velocity, elevation of velocity in a zone sited over the riffle crest and promotion of bed scour immediately downstream of the feature. Following the extreme flood event, extensive deposition of sandy bed material over the gravels has been observed and illustrated by the bathymetric mapping, with a notable adjustment to the riffle shape and location of the crest. Further surveys will reveal if the feature is self-cleansing as temporary deposits are remobilised by subsequent events to re-expose some of coarse riffle sediments or whether the observed morphological adjustments represent more permanent changes to the reach.

This study has developed an expedient monitoring protocol based on high resolution data which has proven instrumental in detecting detailed changes to the river bed over the monitoring period and illustrating potential for physical habitat improvement. Two key learning outcomes have arisen from this project: artificial riffles i) can be resilient features for river rehabilitation although some degree of adjustment following extreme events must be expected, and ii) have significant potential for improving physical habitat coherence and diversity, and therefore might prove extremely successful elsewhere as an approach for improving ecological status.

Go back to abstract list HOLNICOTE – EXPLORING A PES APPROACH 1 2 3 S. Rogers , S. Rose , N. Hester 1 Managing Director - Penny Anderson Associates Ltd, Park Lea, 60 Park Road, Buxton, Derbyshire SK17 6SN, 2 Technical Director – JBA Consulting, Salts Mill, Victoria Road, Saltaire, Shipley BD18 3LF, 3 Projects and Grants Manager – National Trust, Holnicote Estate, Selworthy, Minehead TA24 8JT

This presentation aims to share the results of one of the third round of Defra pilot Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) research projects focused around the Holnicote Multi-Objective Flood Management Demonstration Project (the 'Flood Project') in Somerset which reports in March 2015. The 'Flood Project' had provided a valuable evidence base to support land management interventions as means of reducing flood risk. Core project funding for the 'Flood Project' comes to an end in March 2015, and the project is now investigating PES as a means of securing long term investment. The objective is to establish a self-sustaining source of funding which would allow the scope and geographic extent of flood management interventions to expand across the wider catchment area, to address other key environmental issues including water quality and soil management, and to ensure the continuation of valuable monitoring work. An initial PES opportunities assessment was undertaken to explore the full range of ecosystem services and goods provided by the National Trust’s Holnicote Estate. As well as flood risk management, key services and goods identified included biodiversity, water quality, erosion regulation, recreation, landscape, cultural value, health and wellbeing and carbon. Potential 'buyers' and 'sellers' of these goods and services were identified and a Communication Plan prepared to set out the key messages and mechanisms for engagement. The project team engaged in on-going dialogue with local residents, Parish Councils and Flood Community Group, local and regional businesses linked with sustainable tourism and energy use, statutory agencies, local authorities, the Local Nature Partnership (LNP) and the flood insurance industry to explore the key 'hooks' to securing support and long term investment in ecosystem services. The project identified a fascinating range of views and opinions around willingness to pay and highlighted a number of important lessons including the need to develop clear messages to 'sell' the concept of PES and the specific benefits on offer, to be able to demonstrate tangible benefits to key stakeholders and to invest significant time and effort in building trust. We will present the results of research into use of 'visitor giving' and agri-environment funding to bring about land management change. We will also discuss the importance of linking multiple benefits - especially biodiversity, water quality, sustainable tourism and carbon - to natural flood management as a way of engaging potential funding partners. Building trust and support amongst agricultural tenants through whom land management interventions will be implemented is another key strand of the PES scheme and we will highlight some of the tools and approaches used. The presentation will conclude with key lessons learnt, in particular whether there is real scope for a 'flood risk' based PES and whether the experiences, tools and approaches developed can be transferred to other catchments.

Go back to abstract list FROM SOURCE TO SEA: SOUND BITES FROM HOLNICOTE 1 2 S. ROSE , P. WORRALL 1 JBA Consulting, 2 Penny Anderson Associates

Additional authors: 3 4 5 N. HESTER , G. HAMMOND , D. MOULD 3 National Trust, 4 Penny Anderson Associates, 5 JBA Consulting

The Holnicote Multi-Objective Flood Management Demonstration Project has been investigating the effects of implementing Natural Flood Management (NFM) measures in two West Somerset catchments since 2009, both in terms of flood risk to rural communities and the additional benefits they can bring to the environment and society. The setting up of a comprehensive catchment monitoring and assessment platform, backed up by detailed GIS spatial analysis and hydrologic/hydraulic modelling approaches, has provided definitive evidence of the flood attenuation functions of NFM measures operating within sustainable rural land management systems.

Working from the source to sea across the National Trust Holnicote Estate, within the Aller and Horner Water catchments, the project has explored a range of NFM measures, including moorland restoration, headwater drainage management, hillslope hydrological connectivity, soil management, woody debris and temporary floodplain storage areas. Unfortunately, due to a number of constraints it has not been possible to fully implement examples of all these measures to date. However, the project team, with National Trust support, is committed to endeavouring to increase the coverage NFM measures across the catchments into the future by promoting and providing appropriate incentives and support to land managers in order for them to choose to modify their use or management of the land in an appropriate way.

The project has been able to investigate and analyse the whole process of attempting to implement NFM in a rural catchment, from the initial concept right through detailed assessment, stakeholder engagement, design, consenting, construction and demonstration. One of the key lessons learnt has been the value of regular open dialogue, engagement and demonstration events along the way with all the relevant stakeholders, including landowners, tenant farmers, regulators, asset owners, local communities and local businesses. The presence of a locally based trusted intermediary able to be on hand to liaise directly with the tenant farmers, local communities, regulators, statutory consultees and works contractors across all elements of the project has been essential to the success of the project.

The flood attenuation function of the NFM measures was particularly evident during the exceptionally wet winter 2013/14 when the presence and operation of a new system of temporary flood storage areas on the Aller floodplain reduced the flood peak for the largest event experienced by over 10%, helping to ensure that none of the vulnerable properties in the historic village Allerford, just downstream, were flooded. The cost-effectiveness of the NFM measures implemented to date on the Holnicote Estate can be quantified by the observation that the 90 properties at risk in the villages, with a total insurance value of £30M, are benefiting from a range NFM measures that are also providing multiple benefits in the catchments and which only cost £140,000 to build.

Go back to abstract list FLOOD ALLEVIATION THROUGH RIVER RESTORATION A. PALMER 1AECOM

Additional authors: M. KEMPSHALL3 3 AECOM

Traditional approaches to flood alleviation use hard engineering solutions, aimed at restricting flows and containing water. In recent years a more in depth understanding of the flooding mechanisms at work in urban areas and the recognition of river restoration as an effective tool in the flood management toolbox, have facilitated a shift towards more environmentally sensitive flood alleviation methods.

With increasing development pressure on our urban spaces, the integration of effective water management is essential to ensure future development that is both sustainable and delivers multiple benefits. Through an increased understanding of the benefits of more natural flood management techniques and their application in an urban setting, planners and designers have the opportunity to deliver flood alleviation schemes that provide urban enhancement through water sensitive urban design.

This paper presents three case studies where river restoration has been used in urban areas in order to deliver flood alleviation within the constraints of the existing system. AECOM have worked closely with Harrow Borough Council to deliver flood alleviation solutions that utilise the water environment but also create areas of habitat enhancement, recreation and provide an educational resource for local communities.

At Queensbury Park, Harrow the existing recreation ground was used to provide offline flood storage delivering flood protection to urban areas downstream. River and marsh restoration at Stanmore Marsh utilised online storage to decrease flood risk downstream whilst simultaneously enhancing the ecological value of the marsh. At Headstone Manor sediment ponds and reedbeds, along with a bypass channel, reduced sediment and pollutants to the Headstone Manor Moat as well as providing additional flood storage.

In all three projects hydrological and hydraulic assessment was key to understanding the flooding mechanisms at work at each site. In each case locally informed assessments of the local drainage system and surface water runoff was carried out. This analysis enabled the sources of flooding and probability of occurrence to be established. Development of options to control flows through online and offline storage methods were evaluated and selected based not only on their flood risk reduction potential but also on the additional benefits they provided. The methods used and the outcomes of the project are discussed demonstrating how effective utilisation of the water environment can deliver flood alleviation options with multiple benefits for local communities.

Go back to abstract list RAPID EVALUATION OF NFRM MEASURES: RIVER ELWY CASE STUDY 1 2 J. SISSON , C.SPENCE 1 Natural Resources Wales, 2 AECOM

Additional authors: 3 4 5 6 G. HERITAGE , A. ELLIS , A. HEATH-BROWN , A. GEE 3 AECOM, 4 Natural Resources Wales, 5 AECOM, 6 AECOM

Natural flood risk management is increasingly being seen as a valuable addition to conventional flood protection approaches and is being trialled across several catchments in the UK. Currently there is no spatially integrated approach to assessing the relative impact of combined measures across a catchment.

This paper presents an integrated approach to evaluating the flood risk benefits of NFRM measures using the River Elwy catchment in North Wales as a case study.

NFRM measures ranged from upper catchment afforestation, moorland restoration, grip blocking, and gully planting to floodplain woodland planting, riparian planting, on farm storage, wetland creation and channel morphological element re-introduction. The study has used geomorphology, hydrological and hydraulic modelling with Ecosystem Services approach to test natural flood management options that provide multiple benefits.

400 opportunities were first identified through interrogation of aerial imagery, applying geomorphological principles and analysis using LiDAR terrain data. These opportunities were then ranked by both the potential for flow attenuation and the constraints to implementation.

A routing model of the Elwy catchment with hydrological inflows and representations of the channels was developed based on LiDAR data and FEH catchment descriptors. The model was compared to the November 2012 event to ensure a robust representation of flows within the catchment. The November 2012 event together with a series of 4 design events made up the baseline to test the NFRM options.

Modifications were made to the model to represent NFRM measures, either the hydrological inflows were modified to represent changes within the wider catchment or Mannings ‘n’ of the channel was adjusted. These adjustments were, where possible, based on published studies or research. Multiple scenarios were conducted to optimise flood relief to urban areas downstream. A key part of the assessment was the combination of robust modelling with Ecosystem Services approach which provided a systematic review of options and identification of multiple benefits.

The modelling results indicate that implementation of NFRM within specific sub-catchments reduces flood risk locally and also further downstream in St Asaph with upper catchment measures probably delivering the most tangible benefits in this catchment. The Ecosystem Services analysis shows a positive or neutral benefit to all but one of the ecosystem services.

Go back to abstract list ‘PEARLS IN PERIL’ LIFE + NATURE – IMPROVING FRESHWATER PEARL MUSSEL HABITAT THROUGH RESTORATION OF NATURAL PROCESSES 1 2 K. MACDOUGALL , S. ADDY 1 EnviroCentre, 2 The James Hutton Institute

Additional authors: 3 4 4 5 H. BARKER , S. COOKSLEY , J. WEBLEY , L. WILKIE 3 EnviroCentre, 4 The James Hutton Institute, 5 Scottish Natural Heritage

‘Pearls in Peril’ (PIP) is a UK-wide project to safeguard the future of the freshwater pearl mussel. The project is funded in part through the EU LIFE + Nature programme and by 22 organisations across the UK. The PIP project has identified sites where removal of morphological pressures could be implemented to restore natural river processes and improve freshwater pearl mussel and salmonid habitat.

The detrimental impact of engineering structures on physical river processes and habitats is widely perceived, however case studies of their impacts in large, high energy gravel-bed rivers are rare, as are assessments to inform their removal. Here we present findings from three projects commissioned by Scottish Natural Heritage through the PIP project that focused on assessing restoration options for three reaches in the upper River South Esk in Angus and three reaches along the River Dee in Aberdeenshire. The freshwater pearl mussel population in both catchments is unfavourable due to a range of pressures including diffuse pollution and damage caused by engineering works. The three reaches in the upper River South Esk catchment feature large rock armour bank protection structures built during the 1990s to reduce channel movement and sediment input. These pressures have limited morphological freedom and created unnatural channel morphologies. Consequently, physical changes have potentially altered habitat conditions by simplifying channel complexity, coarsening substrate and reducing sediment transport processes key to sustaining diverse habitats. In the River Dee, there is a long history of constructing croys, mainly to improve fishing conditions by creating pools. The largest of these structures have significantly altered natural flow, sediment deposition and erosion patterns. In some cases, croys have been partially constructed from naturally occurring boulders found on the riverbed leading to a loss of boulder stabilised benthic habitat needed to sustain freshwater pearl mussel populations.

A combination of field based mapping, detailed topographical survey and sediment characterisation combined with 1D and 2D hydraulic modelling were used to assess the baseline hydromorphology and habitat conditions. In the River Dee, freshwater pearl mussel surveys were also conducted as a precaution and to provide further information on habitat availability and use. Using hydraulic modelling and expert based judgment gained from the baseline assessment, predictions of hydromorphological changes created by removing structures were made. These predictions in turn informed the prioritised selection of restoration actions by using a multi-criteria assessment that considered constraints and likely benefits for morphology and habitat. Potential constraints included impact on adjacent land use and fishing conditions. Landowner consultation has been carried out in South Esk catchment and is on-going on the River Dee. Three large croys at Aboyne, River Dee were removed in August 2014 and the remaining restoration measures will be undertaken during summer 2015.

Go back to abstract list VOLUNTEER DELIVERED RIVER RESTORATION PROJECT ON THE WYLYE 1 2 M. ANTHEUNISSE , M. BLACKMORE 1 Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, 2 Wild Trout Trust

The Wylye between Steeple Langford and Stapleford (Hampshire Avon, Wiltshire – designated as SSSI and SAC) was identified as in need of habitat improvement in the Hampshire Avon Restoration Strategy (2008). Historic, unfavourable river management and maintenance practices (dredging, straightening) had resulted in a bare, uniform and over-wide river channel that is mostly disconnected from its natural floodplain.

In spring 2014, the local Wylye Fly Fishing Club (WFFC) and the Wessex Chalk Streams Partnership (WCSP) prepared an outline design for the 2km long reach to improve degraded habitat and address the identified issues. This design was based on surveys, historic material and experience from local experts. Although degraded, the river Wylye still hosts many characteristic and protected species such as Atlantic salmon and Water vole. Therefore we agreed on a design and method statement with a very low ‘footprint’, working with the existing qualities of the river, using as much local material as possible.

With the outline design in place, buy-in of potential other stakeholders was sought. Two private landowners agreed to contribute in cash to the project, the Environment Agency almost doubled this contribution and the two main project partners (WFFC, WCSP) contributed in (volunteer) time. In addition, a local farmer allowed us to realign the channel with two meanders on his field and the Wild Trout Trust provided an expert to oversee the delivery of the work.

Delivery of the work took approximately four weeks. The majority of the work was delivered during 20 volunteer tasks. People from different backgrounds – fly-fishers, local villagers, wellbeing referrals, team days and Wildlife Trust – helped us with the installation of more than 60 in-stream habitat structures (Large Woody Debris, brushwood mattresses, log deflectors) to improve the habitat throughout the reach. Social media and local press were kept informed throughout the project to keep the local community informed and provide a continuous stream of ‘fresh’ volunteers; resulting in a total of 136 volunteer man-days on this project, worth more than £10K. The final touch was delivered by a contractor, who helped us rebuilding some of the riffles with locally sourced (<15 miles) suitable gravel.

The project was completed by the end of October 2014. As all stakeholders involved were really pleased with the outcome, this first phase paved the way for delivery of a larger project in the next years that will involve bypassing a weir, fully reconnecting the floodplain and creating additional riparian wetlands.

Go back to abstract list LAND USE AND RIVER RESTORATION IN A PREDOMINANTLY RURAL CATCHMENT – LOWER RIVER WYE SSSI E. L. PHILLIPS1 1 Jacobs U.K. Ltd

The River Wye is a transboundary river that flows through England and Wales. Jacobs were commissioned by the Environment Agency in October 2013 to investigate the morphological pressures on the Lower Wye SSSI, which flows predominantly through England. The project partners were the Environment Agency and Natural England, with close consultation with Natural Resources Wales. The driver for this study was the unfavourable recovering condition of the majority of the Lower Wye SSSI. Through River Habitat Surveys physical habitat modification was identified as a threat to the condition of the river. The investigation comprised a detailed desk study, including a review of Halcrow’s 2012 fluvial audit and targeted fieldwork, used to explore potential candidate sites for restoration measures. It revealed that the river has multiple demands upon it, is influenced by a number of uses and provides many ecosystem services.

The project had two deliverables; a Technical Report and a Management Report. The Technical Report detailed the geomorphological and ecological assessment of the Lower Wye. Whilst the Management Report provided a reach by reach breakdown of restoration measures for the Lower Wye. Through the production of both reports it became evident that there are several challenges to overcome in the form of land use (agriculture, forestry, urban areas and associated transport infrastructure) as well as recreational uses (walking, fishing and kayaking) when considering potential restoration measures in this predominantly rural catchment. The various delivery mechanisms and funding streams available along the Wye were identified and it is recognised that a combination of these will be required to achieve maximum restoration of the Wye over the next 20 – 30 years.

Consultation with stakeholders and interest groups is to be undertaken over the next few months (late 2014 through to early 2015) to build consensus on a strategic approach for the catchment. This is only the start of what should be a long term partnership effort to develop restoration projects and take forward action on the ground. Prior to this a small sample of the public were informally interviewed for the purpose of this presentation to begin to understand how they interact with the Wye and to gather their opinions on the pressures and constraints on the river and ways to restore it.

Go back to abstract list LOWER WOODSFORD RIVER AND FLOODPLAIN ENHANCEMENT 1 2 A. MAXWELL , J. CULLIS 1 Environment Agency, 2 CH2M HILL (Halcrow)

Additional authors 3 4 S. GALSWORTHY , S. WILLIAMS 3Environment Agency, 4Dorset Wildlife Trust

The Lower Woodsford River and Floodplain project on the River Frome in Dorset as part of the River Frome Rehabilitation Plan; a catchment plan aimed at improving Site of Special Scientific Interest condition. Through agreement with the landowner and a successful application of the Forestry Commissions English Woodland Grant Scheme (EWGS) arable floodplain land and the river corridor was targeted for Reconnection of the River and Floodplain, improving the condition of 2km and allowing 15ha wetland habitat creation including the planting of 20,000 native trees.

The Woodsford farm had in the 1970’s received grant support by MAFF to increase agricultural production within the floodplain through dredging, drainage and embankment creation. Changing priorities with the farm and increased difficulties in maintaining a floodplain element to their arable set up allowed discussions to start and expand allowing the 15ha of land to be taken out of production.

The project initially looked at ways to allow natural processes to occur through Assisted Natural Recovery by removing stone bank revetment and historically raised embankments. To maximise the floodplain habitat opportunities a network of channels and scrapes were created to ensure high flow inundation of the floodplain could be managed giving the planted trees a better chance of surviving.

An ecologically led design by CH2M HILL and a collaboration of agencies and environmental bodies including, Environment Agency, Natural England, Dorset Wildlife Trust (DWT), Forestry Commission, Woodland Trust as well as a very co-operative landowner enabled the successful delivery and realisation of the habitat potential throughout the site.

The Forestry Commission’s EGWS submission was supported by the Environment Agency’s Keeping Rivers Cool Project Officer while the specific tree planting design and guidelines were developed jointly by the Woodland Trust and DWT as part of the Environment Agency’s Wessex Tree Planting Project.

A number of constraints provided significant challenges to the project team. A National Grid high voltage power line through the site provided a significant constraint requiring the need for a geomorphological audit. The Pylon close to the river required protection including a new bund and revetment to deflect high and fast flows away. The bund was created from material dug for scrapes and channels including clay while the revetment was created by using over 1000tonnes of stone taken form river banks.

Water voles in the embankment and a variety of aquatic fish and amphibian species in the existing ditch were other key site constraints. DWT provided ECW support and specific help on water voles including Destructive Search; one key part of the bank had several burrows.

Go back to abstract list CIRIA WEIRS GUIDE S. BENTLEY1 1JBA Consulting

CIRIA has recognised the need to update the current version of the Weirs Guide in light of changes to legislation, policy and environmental drivers in the UK.

Management decisions have, and are, increasingly being driven by the desire to remove weirs as a result of the biological, ecological and hydromorphological improvements this can provide for river systems. The main driver behind this being the Water Framework Directive (WFD) and the need to achieve Good Ecological Status and Potential by 2027. The current guide does not reflect this change in decision making processes regarding weirs and this re-write of the guide will provide a tool for making management decisions regarding weir removal, modification, maintenance and new build.

The process of weir removal / modification / lowering will also be covered in terms of the necessary assessments to determine river response and acknowledging wider river users who will have interest in the structure. Response of watercourses to removal / modification / lowering from a hydromorphological perspective will also be achieved through an assessment of the robustness of river types in the UK. Case studies will be used to demonstrate key principles. The new guide will bring together existing information, and sign-post other relevant material, that will be available to all river managers, river users and stakeholders.

This presentation illustrates early progress in the development of the guide, demonstrating positive and negative hydromorphological impacts linked to weir work and demonstrating that a ‘one size fits all’ approach to evaluating outcomes does not apply to UK weirs.

Go back to abstract list PONT ARAN – WEIR REMOVAL IN A TOWN CENTRE 1 2 J. BARLOW , O. LOWE 1 Black & Veatch, 2 Natural Resources Wales

Additional authors: 1 1 1 2 2, 2 2 W. SHAW , H. BAUGHN , I. KNIGHT , J. DAVIES , A. GRIFFITH T. HUGHES , M. JONES 1 Black & Veatch, 2Natural Resources Wales

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) are constructing a scheme to reduce the risk of flooding to Dolgellau from the Afon Wnion and Afon Aran. Work recently started with the first element completed in Sep/Oct 2014 to remove a weir on the Aran. This presentation will illustrate the weir removal option, the removal works on site, and lessons learned. These are currently being collated and will be included in the final presentation.

On the Aran, water levels were affected by a high gravel bed which limited flow through a low bridge. A downstream weir had trapped gravel over time. Reducing flooding in this area was vital to providing the Standard of Protection. The challenge was properties (including Listed buildings) close to and forming part of the river channel, giving limited space for new or improved defences.

We compared the option of raising existing walls to an alternative of removing the weir. Hydraulic modelling showed the weir raised water levels by up to 1m during floods, causing potential overtopping of upstream walls.

The weir removal option had a number of advantages:

• Reduced Visual Impact. Avoided wall raising and impacts on listed buildings. Design of river bed after weir removal included features to provide a natural appearance. • Maintained flood protection during construction. • Water Framework Directive Benefits. The option helped deliver local benefits. Removal of the weir will restore more natural hydromorphology and improve fish and eel passage.

The weir removal was not without risks or impacts. These included:

• Fisheries. Short term impacts on fish during construction. Mitigated by fish rescue, timing of works and creation of in-channel habitat features, developed with the local Fisheries Officer. • Heritage issues. Whilst consultee feedback was generally positive some comments indicated that the weir formed part of the ‘character’ of the area. A historic study of the weir and adjacent walls was undertaken and archaeological records were made. • River Bed Level Changes. The risk of unpredicted changes in the river bed level following weir removal was considered low. Geomorphological changes were discussed on site and sediment transport screening undertaken. Post-construction monitoring has been recommended. • Construction Impacts. Silt mitigation measures were employed; however during the most intrusive works some sediment plumes were created. NRW communicated with local stakeholders and monitoring indicated that these dispersed quickly. • Services including a sewer beneath the weir required particularly careful working and protection. • Waste and invasive species. Most gravel was reused on site; however some was unsuitable especially if it had been potentially contaminated with knotweed.

Go back to abstract list WORKING WITH LANDOWNERS TO DELIVER WFD OBJECTIVES P. KING1, G. WILLIAMS2 1 Ouse & Adur Rivers Trust Project Officer – Ouse & Adur Rivers Trust, [email protected], 2 Fisheries & Biodiversity Technical Officer - Environment Agency, gareth.williams@environment- agency.gov.uk

The Adur Restoration of Physical Habitats (ARPHA) project is a partnership between the Ouse & Adur Rivers Trust (OART) and the Environment Agency. The project is focused on delivering WFD based benefits within the Adur & Ouse catchment in Sussex. Working within medium to large river catchments puts additional pressure on available budgets as, by their nature, large catchments are expected to have a wider range of pressures and influences which implies a greater amount of work is required to increase current ecological status classifications incorporating entire catchments.

Obtaining landowner and stakeholder support for projects, especially those which involve perceived “dramatic” changes to watercourses can be time consuming and is often considered an obstacle to achieving project objectives. The ARPHA project has an engagement officer who has been able to focus attention on building long term sustainable relationships with landowner and stakeholder groups who interact with the river system in different ways and often with different overriding objectives.

This presentation outlines how, set against budgetary constraints, the ARPHA project partners delivered three weir removals on two water bodies with the landowner as the principle contractor, a novel approach which, as far as can be ascertained is the first to be done collaboratively with the Environment Agency and Rivers Trust. The focus will be on the multiple benefits which have been realised through this approach both ecological and economic which include large scale cost savings on project delivery, reduced timescale and temporal flexibility in delivery, reductions in post project expenditure and liability and providing local people, communities and groups with ownership of river improvement projects and the reasons behind them.

Go back to abstract list CONSTRAINTS ON FISH PASSAGE EASEMENT IN ROTHERHAM D.C. MOULD1 1 JBA Consulting

River restoration and improvement projects in urban areas can often be more challenging than similar projects in rural locations as a result of the number and proximity of different receptors that need to be considered during options appraisal and design development. This was no more true than at Ickles Weir on the River Don in Rotherham.

JBA was commissioned to provide a solution for improving fish passage at the weir, to discharge a planning condition associated with the proposed development of a biomass power station on the adjacent site. Whilst the weir itself is not particularly large (hydraulic head at Q95 is 1.2m) the urban setting in which the weir sits created a challenging variety of constraints that had to be considered.

- 23 species of fish have been recorded in this and adjacent reaches of the River Don. These include cyprinid and salmonid species. - Historical records suggest a mill and associated ‘damm’ have been on site since the late 18th century, but that the site may have been used for milling as early as the mid-15th century. Any works to the weir have the potential to compromise any archaeological features of interest. - A significant industrial water abstraction intake is located upstream of the weir. Options that result in any decrease in retained water level upstream of the weir had to be carefully considered such that the existing abstraction was not compromised. - A Network Rail bridge exists approximately 100m downstream of the weir. Removal (or partial removal) had to consider the impacts on hydraulics and hydromorphology to ensure this freight rail infrastructure asset was not compromised in any way. - The Rotherham Renaissance Flood Alleviation Scheme extends on both banks upstream of Ickles Viaduct. Any works had to consider the structural integrity of the concrete and brick channel walls upstream of the weir. - The industrial heritage of the River Don means that contaminated sediments are likely to be present upstream of the weir. Removal (or partial removal) of the weir would likely require excavation and off-site disposal of accumulated, contaminated sediments.

The challenges and opportunities faced in dealing with these constraints will be reflected upon, and lessons learnt presented.

Go back to abstract list RESTORING A CONTAMINATED EX-INDUSTRIAL RIVER 1 1 A. MCCULLOCH , R. JEFFRIES 1 Scottish Environment Protection Agency

Additional authors: A. MACPHERSON3, C. PITTNER4 3North Lanarkshire Council, 4WSP Consultants

The South Calder water was realigned, confined, culverted, and contaminated by over 200 years of coal mining and ironworks: the river runs through the town of Shotts in the central coalfields of Scotland. Shotts Ironworks was founded in 1802 next to (and built over) the South Calder Water; and coal and ironstone was mined in the area, with several shafts right next to the river. Until recently the river was either culverted under up to 6 metres of contaminated ground with ingress of polluted groundwater, or lay in a concrete flume devoid of habitat potential.

In 2012 North Lanarkshire Council began to remediate an area of contaminated land next to the river and this highlighted the potential to restore the river morphology, which was failing to reach its objective of Good status under the Water Framework Directive. A partnership project between North Lanarkshire Council and SEPA was set up to restore the physical condition of the river, remediate contaminated land, and to create public greenspace in a location that has very deprived areas. The first phase of groundworks began in November 2014 with funding from SEPA’s Water Environment Fund and money from North Lanarkshire Council part of which came from the Scottish Government’s Derelict Land Fund.

The restoration has focused on achieving the objective of Good status for morphology, and has been based on a geomorphological vision to identify as natural a system as possible. Inevitably, site constraints such as infrastructure, spoil heaps and the presence of contaminated ground and old mine workings have had a major influence on what is possible. The resulting restoration is complex, challenging and large scale, involving major earthworks to restore around 600m of channel and de-culverting over 200m of channel buried to a depth of up to 6 metres beneath contaminated ground. The first phase of ground works began in November 2014 and should be complete by June 2015.

This presentation will give an overview of the challenges posed by this complex restoration project and of the benefits of partnerships to link morphological restoration with other initiatives such as contaminated land remediation.

Go back to abstract list THE DOE LEA - RESTORATION IN AN AGRICULTURAL AND INDUSTRIAL CATCHMENT C. BARRETT-MOLD1 1 Environment Agency

The River Doe Lea in Derbyshire has been heavily influenced by the land-use heritage of the catchment. Mining, industry, agriculture and urbanisation have all taken their toll on this watercourse; to such an extent that in 1994 the river had the unenviable reputation as the most polluted watercourse in Europe.

With such a range of issues affecting the river over a variety of scales it was important to take a catchment based approach to improve and restore both the water quality and physical habitat of the Doe Lea.

Within the upper catchment fine sediment input from agricultural sources was identified as the main pressure affecting the river. Here, working in partnership with the National Trust as significant landowners at Hardwick Hall, work is being done to reduce sediment runoff to the river. This work has included creation of settling ponds, buffer strip creation and installation of livestock drinking points. Work has also been done to improve the physical morphology of the channel where previous activities to improve drainage had created an over-deep uniform channel with low flow diversity. In these locations in-channel features such as berms and flow deflectors have been installed to create flow diversity and increase flow velocities in order to prevent fine sediment deposition and maintain areas of coarser bed.

In the lower catchment physical modification as a result of mining, industry and urbanisation has had a greater impact on the river. At Norbriggs Flash Local Nature Reserve the Doe Lea was placed in a straightened channel as far back as the 1770s as part of the construction of the Chesterfield Canal. Over 200 years of modification has resulted in a straight, over-deep channel with very little habitat diversity. The old meandering course of the river is still identifiable within the Nature Reserve and we are working with Chesterfield Borough Council to return the river to its original course.

However, restoration and improvement in this industrial landscape brings with it its own particular challenges. For example, as a result of historic pollution incidents there are high dioxin levels within the bed sediments; the need to consider these and prevent their release adds additional complexity to any restoration project.

Go back to abstract list ADVANCES IN BANK EROSION MODELLING AND APPLICATION TO RIVER RESTORATION 1 1 V.JANES , I. HOLMAN 1 Cranfield Water Science Institute, Cranfield University, College of Energy Environment and Agrifood

Bank erosion has been shown to significantly contribute to catchment sediment budgets within the UK (Walling, 2005) and may have detrimental impacts on river systems through a reduction in biodiversity and productivity, and delivery of various pollutants (such as phosphorus and heavy metals). Therefore bank erosion processes may impact several Water Framework Directive elements such as morphological conditions, chemical and ecological standards. The use of catchment models enables estimation sediment yields over large spatial and temporal scales, and assessment of potential impacts of environmental changes to sediment generation and transport processes. Current representation of bank erosion processes in such models is often overly simplistic, or non-existent.

In this study the representation of channel bank erosion processes within the physically-based distributed catchment model SHETRAN has been improved by incorporation of the influences of bank vegetation and channel sinuosity. The presence of vegetation on channel banks increases bank stability, reducing erosion rates. Large flood events have the potential to remove bank vegetation resulting in a sudden increase of bank erodibility, which then decreases over time as vegetation re-establishes. Channel sinuosity and channel curvature show a non-linear relationship with bank erosion due to the positioning of high-velocity flow within channels. Within the updated model, erodibility coefficients throughout the catchment are temporally variable and respond to high magnitude discharge events to represent vegetation removal. The influence of further flood events during the vegetation recovery period is enhanced due to the increased erodibility, enabling the model to represent the effects of flood clustering within the catchment. The simulated recovery time of the vegetation is determined by the rate of re- growth which is influenced by meteorological conditions. Additionally, the influence of sinuosity has been incorporated within the model by spatial variation of bank erodibility coefficients according to variation of sinuosity within represented channels.

This presentation will describe the application of the model within the Eden catchment, Cumbria. The bank erosion component has been validated using observed long-term bank erosion data from a GIS overlay methodology which indicates bank erosion contributes approximately 10% of the annual catchment sediment budget. The model provides an estimate of bank erosion across the catchment and differentiates between bank sections that would benefit from restoration techniques and those where natural processes will re-establish resilience to bank erosion following extreme events.

Walling, D.E. (2005) Tracing suspended sediment sources in catchments and river systems, Science of the Total Environment 344, 159-184.

Go back to abstract list RAPID AERIAL SURVEY: A USEFUL NEW TOOL FOR RIVER RESTORERS AND MANAGERS 1 2 N. S. ENTWISTLE , G. L. HERITAGE 1 University of Salford, School of Environment and Life Sciences, Salford M5 4WT. [email protected], 2 Technical Director (Hydromorphology) AECOM, Liverpool

Additional authors: 1 3 N.BURROWS , A.WHALLEY 3 Environment Agency, Cumbria and Lancashire, Preston, PR5 8BX

Surveying has tended to advance by quantum leaps, linked to the development of new technology. Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) based survey is set to be the next significant advance due to the rapid and coincident development of low-cost drone systems and user friendly automated photogrammetric software. UAV-based remote sensing systems offer varied solutions for different applications related to the acquisition of information about objects and processes. Their increasing cost-effectiveness makes them attractive as a way of obtaining detailed data on river and floodplain form and process. Image processing using photogrammetry software can produce positional accuracy that is equal to or better than conventional aerial photography and standard GIS software and AutoCAD can be used to stitch and georeference aerial photos to generate orthometric imagery.

This study assesses the potential for utilisation of this new technology for river restoration and management using exemplar sites at Long Preston on the River Ribble in Yorkshire, and along the River Naver in Sutherland, Scotland, to demonstrate opportunities and highlight inappropriate usage. Orthometric imagery has proved immediately useful in mapping morphology and habitat, capturing detailed information on flow type and sedimentology. In addition, direct comparison with historic imagery to quantify recent change direction and magnitude can be achieved – critical when trying to work with current processes. Digital elevation models developed using photogrammetry suggest that gross morphological mapping is possible, capturing both dry and submerged features of the channel and floodplain and these may be further used to generate 2D flow and morphologic change models.

Go back to abstract list MONITORING POST-RESTORATION MORPHOLOGY USING STRUCTURE- FROM-MOTION PHOTOGRAMMETRY 1 1 R.D. WILLIAMS , J.D. HART 1 Department of Geography and Earth Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Ceredigion, SY23 3BD

Additional authors: H.E. REID2, I. CREIGTON3 2 Environment Agency, Penrith 40 Business Park, Penrith, Cumbria, CA11 9BP, 3 West Cumbria Rivers Trust, The Old Sawmill, Thirlmere, Keswick, Cumbria CA12 4TQ

Monitoring morphological adjustment is a critical component of post-restoration monitoring strategies in dynamic river environments. One approach to quantifying morphological adjustment is to acquire repeat topographic surveys that can then be used to map patterns of erosion and deposition. Such surveys not only shed light on whether natural sediment transport processes have been reinstated by river restoration but can also provide information on short- term post-restoration adjustment and likely future adjustment trajectories. Quantifying river topography is, however, challenging since acquiring affordable, high-resolution data that is spatially continuous across a river restoration scheme is traditionally expensive and logistically challenging.

In the past few years, developments in image analysis and computer vision, have yielded a novel photogrammetric technique, termed Structure-from-Motion, that is capable of generating dense three-dimensional point clouds from images acquired using low-cost, consumer-grade digital cameras. Structure-from-Motion generates new opportunities for acquiring low-cost, system-scale topographic surveys of both dry, exposed topography (i.e. floodplain, banks, bars) and the wet, submerged channel, and is thus suited to the needs of the river restoration community for high-resolution, rapid and inexpensive surveys. The aim of this paper is to present the results from an evaluation of this novel survey technique, which has been used to monitor the topography of the 1.2 km long Whit Beck river restoration scheme, Cumbria, through a sequence of high-flow events that have occurred since the scheme was completed in autumn 2014.

The first section of this paper summarises the findings from a detailed evaluation of Structure- from-Motion photogrammetry, using sets of images acquired from Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) surveys. The results from a range of experiments are reported which address a number of practical elements associated with applying the technique to generate 5 cm resolution topographic models in riverine environments across channel lengths of up to 1 km. These include: (i) the relationship between target density and distribution, and vertical error; (ii) the potential of different refraction correction procedures and empirical-optical bathymetric techniques for reconstructing wet channel bed elevations; and (iii) the effects of varying camera orientation during image acquisition. Vertical errors are evaluated by comparing topographic models generated using Structure-from-Motion to a baseline survey acquired using terrestrial laser scanning.

The second section of this paper presents the results from repeat surveys, using topography reconstructed using the Structure-from-Motion, that record morphological adjustment during a sequence of high-flow events that have occurred since Autumn 2014. Results illustrate the importance of managing vertical thresholds in order to produce coherent maps of erosion and deposition. These maps of morphological adjustment reveal, for the first time, the efficacy of the Structure-from-Motion technique for guiding process-based restoration efforts.

Go back to abstract list THE RHINE - A PHOENIX RISING HOW THE ”SEWER OF EUROPE” BECAME THE WINNER OF THE 2014 THIESS INTERNATIONAL RIVERPRIZE N.M. Plum1 1 International Commission for the Protection of the Rhine (ICPR)

The Rhine figures among Europe’s most intensively used rivers. In spite of these uses, water quality and ecology are constantly improving since the Sandoz accident in 1986 killed all aquatic life downstream. This successful restoration of the river has been fostered for more than 60 years by the ICPR, whose work was rewarded in 2014 by the Thiess International Riverprize in Canberra (Australia). The International Commission for the Protection of the Rhine (ICPR) was established in 1950 as the first intergovernmental body for the management of transboundary waters. Today 9 States (Austria, Italy, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Belgian region of Wallonia, the Netherlands) and the European Union are closely co-operating in the field of water. As observers, other river commissions and several non-governmental organisations (NGOs, protectors as well as users) are allowed to contribute with their opinion and know-how in the fields of nature protection, flood protection, drinking water, chemical industry, navigation and hydropower. According to biological inventories of flora and fauna in the Rhine in 2012/2013, 64 fish species were detected; thus, all historically identified species except for the Atlantic sturgeon have returned. Due to improved water quality, macrozoobenthos has recovered to such an extent that more than 500 taxa have been inventoried. However, many species are still absent and invasive species often spread at the expense of the indigenous fauna and flora. One of the common objectives of the Rhine countries in the 1st and 2nd Internationally Coordinated Management Plan (2009 and draft 2014, see www.iksr.org) is the restoration of river continuity in the main stream of the Rhine as far as Basel and in certain programme waters to improve living conditions for migratory fish and numerous other organisms. The “Master Plan Migratory Fish Rhine” has been drafted in order to build a self-sustaining stock of salmon and lake trout by opening and restoring 1,000 ha of spawning and juvenile habitats. Improved river continuity and the protection of habitats attract more and more migratory fish returning from the sea for reproduction. The balance of the Program “Rhine 2020” showed measurable success of the various hydromorphological measures along the Rhine main stream: Between 2000 and 2012, 122 km² of floodplains were reactivated, 80 water bodies have been reconnected to the Rhine and on 105 km, the structural diversity of the river banks has been increased. In the connection of the different habitats along the Rhine in order to achieve habitat patch connectivity, the ICPR sets definite targets and spatial focal points aimed at linking water protection with nature and flood protection. A success control based on remote sensing data will show if the ecological functionality of the comprehensive Rhine system has improved between 2006 and today.

Go back to abstract list RIVERSEARCH: DELIVERING RIVER RESTORATION THROUGH CITIZEN SCIENCE 1 1 J. JONES , G. SKELTON 1 Surrey Wildlife Trust

RiverSearch was developed from the annual Essex Otter Survey which has been running for 18 years. 255 survey sites across Essex rivers are surveyed each year by volunteers and Essex Wildlife Trust staff and training days are run for otter & mink, water vole and harvest mouse. In 2012, RiverSearch volunteers funded by the Environment Agency completed walkover surveys, the data from which was used to secure Catchment Restoration Fund money for river habitat enhancement projects in Essex.

Partners in the newly formed Wey Landscape Partnership (WLP), one of the 15 hosted pilot catchments, inspired by the North Wey Trust’s River Warden Scheme, were eager for a tool to help local organisations, communities and river-users to collect data on the health of their river locally. Surrey Wildlife Trust proposed that the Essex model was a good one to adopt and the RiverSearch initiative was launched on behalf of the WLP at Dapdune Wharf, Guildford in 2013. The initiative has not been limited to the Wey however and currently volunteers also monitor stretches of the Mole Catchment.

SWT’s RiverSearch four aims are to:  reconnect local people with water;  educate people about the link between healthy rivers and wetlands, thriving wildlife populations and a sustainable clean water supply;  enable people to protect rivers and wetlands and  celebrate the connection between water, wildlife and people.

RiverSearch provides training to volunteers in a range of skills including as a minimum those required to complete catchment walkovers such as identifying diffuse & point source pollution and recognising obstruction to fish passage; the identification of Priority Non-Native Invasive Species (e.g. Himalyan Balsam); and survey skills for otter and water voles. Volunteers are allotted a minimum of 500m stretch of their local river accessible by public rights of way or by agreement with the landowner which they monitor at least once a season using the skills they have learned. The RiverSearch Coordinator, funded in part by SWT and the brewers SAB Miller, manages volunteers and collates data which is used to provide evidence to develop projects to meet the objectives of the River Wey and Mole Catchment Plans.

To date RiverSearch volunteers have submitted data on 50km of River (currently being analysed) which is being used to develop projects such as the Rye Brook Restoration Project. Demonstrating the RiverSearch model’s flexibility, in 2014 SWT became a training hub for the RiverFly Partnership adding another tool to the RiverSearch volunteers’ armoury. Volunteers have come together to carry out practical river restoration tasks as well as tackling NNIS. Local groups are becoming independent in their own right furthering the community engagement and awareness aims of the partnership. Future aspirations include monitoring chemical status of rivers including phosphate levels and River Habitat Survey training.

Go back to abstract list ENGAGING ALL AGES IN CHALK STREAM RESTORATION R. Craig1 1 Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Project

The Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Project (LCSP) has been an active partnership project working together with a project officer to restore chalk streams since 2006. The LCSP has, in the past, delivered two community restoration projects but they struggle with long term maintenance. Through awareness raising it became more apparent to the LCSP how little people in Lincolnshire know of the chalk streams and how little both urban and rural communities engage or have a ‘sense of ownership’ with them.

The LCSP funded an ‘Education Scoping Report’ to investigate ways of getting young people out learning about their chalk streams. The outputs identified constraints for teachers, which, are issues as simple as funding transport, not knowing access to chalk streams and risk assessments. We even had the opportunity to trail a site visit with a primary school to see the constraints alongside the benefits of the learning, something we learned a lot from.

Many of the LCSP partners already have well established successful initiatives they use within their own organisations – so why re-invent the wheel. The LCSP are utilising these already tried and tested methods of engaging with schools, young people and community groups to promote learning about the chalk streams and how they can play a role in their restoration and long term management. We have worked with the Wild Trout Trust (WTT) to train landowners and education officers how to set-up Mayfly in the Classroom projects. We worked with the Riverfly Partnership to establish 28 volunteer riverfly monitors project across the chalk streams. A surprise opportunity presented itself when we purchased four camera traps with a grant to help with pre and post monitoring, but then turned into an ‘Otter Monitoring’ project with a local Academy. We are now in our second year of filming.

As a result of the outcomes from the ‘Education Scoping Report’ and successful partner initiatives, a list of volunteers eager to get outdoors and community groups needing help, the LCSP applied for grant funding. Our successful bid has enabled the employment of another officer to drive the initiatives forward. We are; setting up RiverCare groups with communities in both rural and urban areas (Anglian Water initiative), establishing a new Lincolnshire Chalk Streams Conservation group, delivering Mayfly in the Classroom projects, (Wild Trout Trust initiative) bringing young people from schools in urban towns into the rural Lincolnshire Wolds, building on the volunteer Riverfly Monitoring group and running family events and competitions. We want to engage with all ages and provide a range of activities to reach as many willing people and community groups as possible, so that they will be there with the skills and knowledge to look after our chalk streams long into the future.

Go back to abstract list COMMUNITY-BASED MONITORING FOR CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT AND RESTORATION E. Starkey1 1 School of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Newcastle University

Additional authors: 1 2 2 3 G. PARKIN , P. QUINN , A. LARGE , C. GIBSON 1 School of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Newcastle University, 2 School of Geography, Politics and Sociology, Newcastle University , 3 Tyne Rivers Trust

Catchments are naturally complex systems which humans rely upon, live within and also heavily modify. Catchment managers therefore encounter multiple issues relating to flooding, poor water quality, sedimentation, erosion and habitat degradation, along with climate change projections. These unique hydrological basins need to be monitored over time in order to characterise their behaviour on a local level, model and design scenarios, implement mitigation measures and meet policy targets. However, data is often inadequate within small rural catchments, making it difficult to make sustainable decisions. Furthermore, despite being a valuable source of information, local knowledge is not routinely harvested by professionals. Long-term evidence is required to provide stakeholders, including local land owners and the wider community, with confidence if working with natural processes is the way forward.

Using effective engagement techniques, a community-based monitoring approach has been implemented within the rural 42km2 Haltwhistle Burn Catchment in Northumberland as part of a PhD research project. The Haltwhistle Burn Catchment responds rapidly, experiencing a number of flash flood events over recent years and like many small rural catchments in the UK, it does not benefit from any traditional flood defences or the Environment Agency flood warning system. Enthusiastic ‘River Watch’ volunteers are sharing their catchment-related knowledge and regularly monitoring various catchment parameters in order to understand their water environment. Using training cards and several data collection, submission and visualisation tools, low-cost monitoring techniques are now being used widely and successfully. Lengthy flood, rainfall, river level and water quality datasets are now available for this catchment and are shared online with the wider community. This local information is also being used to improve the performance of catchment models, design runoff management plans and motivate the wider community to be involved in the catchment management process. River Watchers are also monitoring the performance of Natural Flood Management features and with support from the Catchment Restoration Fund project, they are also contributing to the design and construction phases. Other community groups in Northumberland, including ‘Action 4 Acomb’, are also adopting a similar approach within the 14km2 Red Burn Catchment, following Haltwhistle’s success.

Although environmental citizen science and the co-production of knowledge is not a new phenomenon, evolving technology and communications provides a timely and low-cost solution to mass data collection, whilst offering various social benefits, including environmental education and community empowerment. It is acknowledged that community-based monitoring presents various opportunities as well as challenges but without this data, very little information would be available. Local involvement supports contemporary policies and frameworks, inducing the Catchment-Based Approach (CaBA), which are encouraging local stakeholders to establish ownership on a catchment scale. Innovative community-based participation therefore offers a potential legacy framework for catchment management and restoration.

Go back to abstract list THE ‘CITIZEN CRANE’ MONITORING NETWORK 1 2 R. HAINE , R. GRAY 1 frog environmental, 2 Friends of River Crane Environment (FORCE)

Additional authors: J. PECORELLI3 3 Zoological Society London (ZSL)

Urban catchments such as the Crane suffer from a wide range of pollutants from different sources such as road run off and misconnections. This allows sewage and other contaminants to enter the river. The resulting poor water has a negative impact on wildlife and reduces the value of rivers to local communities.

The ‘Citizen Crane’ monitoring network establishes an innovative Citizen Science programme to support the monitoring of water quality in the Crane catchment.

Friends of River Crane Environment (FORCE), frog environmental and Zoological Society of London (ZSL) coordinate training and field visits of the Citizen Scientists as well as the analysis of data. This data has already been put to good to use, identifying pollution incidents and highlighting high levels of ammonia and phosphorus; resulting in Thames Water reprioritising outfalls within their missed connection programme.

Local universities are also bringing their expertise to the table by undertaking studies that will contribute to the knowledge base in this urban catchment.

A sustainable approach to monitoring in an urban catchment has been developing in the Crane that is intended to deliver long-term benefit through effective stakeholder engagement and the efficient use of limited resources.

The ‘Citizen Crane’ programme delivers a significant cost saving on the retention of consultants, has allowed continual collection of valid data throughout the seasons and has empowered local people to play a role in the monitoring and restoration of this urban catchment.

Go back to abstract list RIVEREYE: A CITIZEN SCIENCE TOOL FOR WHOLE CATCHMENT REPORTING 1 2 S. TAIGEL , A. LOVETT 1 ESRC PhD Researcher, University of East Anglia, [email protected], 2 Professor Andrew Lovett, University of East Anglia,

Additional authors: G. DOGGETT3 3 Waveney Rivers Trust

Citizen Science projects can contribute to the development of an evidence base which would otherwise be prohibitively expensive to develop. Many river and catchment citizen science projects require volunteers to carry out sampling or report incidents by describing location. This collaborative project between the Waveney Rivers Trust, the Wensum Demonstration Test Catchment and the UEA collected photographic evidence with accurate location data using a GPS enabled smartphone app named RiverEYE. This project evaluated RiverEYE against six criteria identified by Pocock et al (2014); the aim of the research, the overall engagement with the project, the spatial and temporal scale, the complexity of the protocols used and the inherent motivation of the participants.

RiverEYE is independent of mobile phone networks or 3G/4G data networks making it useable in rural areas, data is stored until the phone returns to a mobile internet zone or WIFI whereupon the user can decide to upload. On upload RiverEYE records are stored in a secure online database, this is open source and fully customisable, data can easily be extracted for use in other GIS (including ArcGIS online) for further analysis. The RiverEYE internet portal has tools which allow the data to be displayed in a graphical and spatial manner facilitating rapid and immediate data evaluation. These tools allow records to be selected both by spatial and temporal criteria to resolve ongoing problems, this is particularly helpful in terms of those issues which affect the health of the river but which only occur irregularly or in certain meteorological conditions. This is considered particularly relevant for river trusts with insufficient resources to monitor entire catchments for problems which may occur irregularly even though these incidents can cause large scale problems, e.g. silt ingress after heavy rain or misconnected household sewer connections both of which have a cumulative effect on river water and groundwater quality.

RiverEYE is fully customisable to be adapted for use in a wide range of monitoring projects or surveying new projects. The collaboration study also considered the use of RiverEYE for use in building a robust evidence base for proactive identification of future catchment projects, the potential of an ongoing stakeholder led data collection tool was recognised as useful in contributing to project monitoring where before and after stages could be recorded. Reference:

Pocock, M.J.O., Chapman, D.S., Sheppard, L.J. & Roy, H.E. (2014). Choosing and Using Citizen Science: a guide to when and how to use citizen science to monitor biodiversity and the environment. Centre for Ecology & Hydrology.

Go back to abstract list THE CHANNEL MANAGEMENT HANDBOOK 1 2 P. WILLIAMSON , F. OGUNYOYE 1 Royal HaskoningDHV, 2 Royal HaskoningDHV

Additional authors: 3 4 5 6 7 O. TARRANT , I. DENNIS , P. SAYERS , K. FISHER , C. THORNE 3 Environment Agency, 4 Royal HaskoningDHV , 5 Sayers and Partners, 6 KR Fisher Consultancy Ltd, 7 University of Nottingham

Flood risk management and land drainage are only two of a number of functions that river channels provide, and that good channel management can also support to a broad range of ecosystem functions and services, including fisheries, navigation, amenity, habitats, biodiversity, landscape and water quality.

A team led by Royal HaskoningDHV was appointed through the Joint EA/Defra R&D Programme to produce a new handbook for flood risk management authorities and land owners promoting good practice in river channel management. This work was supported by a Project Advisory Group of representatives from the Environment Agency, the Canal and Rivers Trust, Natural England, the National Farmers Union and Internal Drainage Boards.

The Channel Management Handbook brings together over 10 years of research and practice to provide guidance on how to manage river channels for land drainage and flood risk benefits. The focus is on good channel management as something that promotes “the natural form and environment of the channel” alongside delivery of flood risk and land drainage benefits. The handbook consists of three main parts:

1. The Handbook itself, which provides the necessary scientific concepts to help a practitioner to understand the context within which a channel must be managed and sets out a clear process to follow when planning to undertake channel management work. 2. A Decision-Checklist, an interactive tool which takes individuals through the decision process, linking to the appropriate sections of the handbook for guidance at each stage and acting as a template for recording supporting evidence and decisions made. 3. A Technical Report, which provides further details on the types of measures (including river restoration activities) and their suitability for channel management once the decision to intervene has been made. The handbook incorporates case studies throughout, including good practice examples of rehabilitation and restoration works.

The Channel Management Handbook has been tested by external and internal users across disciplines. The handbook was seen to provide a comprehensive introduction to channel management, setting out a consistent and accepted view of what is good practice in the management of river channels. Furthermore, users felt that the handbook encourages the right conversations between the necessary technical experts (such as flood risk engineers, fisheries specialists and geomorphologists) to inform channel management decisions. This guidance, to be published in winter 2014/2015, will encourage decision-makers to consider a broader range of solutions to channel management, looking beyond standard maintenance activities to the restoration of natural processes that can also support a range of ecosystem services.

Go back to abstract list RURAL RIVER MAINTENANCE R. HILL1 1 Environment Agency

Additional authors: A. SHAW3, L.WARD3 3 Environment Agency

The river maintenance pilots aimed to ease consenting requirements for a landowner or occupier to carry out maintenance works in 9 pilot areas. The pilots gave farmers, landowners, community and environmental groups a greater opportunity to be involved in decisions around the future of river and flood defence maintenance in their area. They were designed to reduce the bureaucracy on landowners to allow them to carry out work and to help co-ordinate partners across the catchment. The initiative helped to facilitate conversations around asset maintenance and develop a collaborative approach to asset management. The Environment Agency monitored the uptake and impacts of the pilots and the lessons learned from them have helped inform how the Environment Agency can work better with landowners and communities in relation to river maintenance and how these activities will be incorporated into the Environmental Permitting Regulations in October 2015.

An Environmental Good Practice Guide was developed to assist farmers and land managers to maintain their watercourses in a way that protects the environment and will not increase the risks of flooding. The guide explained the environmental legislation and obligations that must be considered and adhered to when undertaking maintenance activities e.g. sensitive timing of works.

The guide also gave examples of the simple measures such as working from one bank and not driving in the channel that can allow works to be undertaken in an environmentally sensitive way. The guide clearly explained the measures that were legal minimum requirements needed to ensure works were within the law and not causing harm to the environment. The guide also contained good practice recommendations which could further protect and enhance the environment.

The working groups that have been formed to deliver the pilots are helping local partners and communities to find out about our maintenance plans and identify opportunities for joint working and non-Environment Agency delivered rural river maintenance.

In addition the new channel management handbook will be introduced. This handbook will guide flood risk management authorities through the process of deciding when and how to carry out channel management for the purpose of managing flood risk and land drainage. The handbook does this by helping those managing channels develop an understanding of channel performance in terms of a channel’s ability to convey water and how this can affect flood risk and land drainage. The handbook will help those using it understand the effectiveness of maintenance on channel performance, whilst accounting for the environmental and legislative contexts, and other functions of a channel.

Go back to abstract list EMERGENCY DREDGING OF THE SOMERSET LEVELS – RESPONSIBLE RIVERWORKS AT SPEED J.A. Maclean1 1 LAND AND WATER SERVICES Ltd

In early 2014 LAWS were invited (amongst others) to prepare a rapid response dredging strategy for the dredging of the tidal Rivers Parrett and Tone. LAWS proposed a unique combination of specialist dredging plant, a well-rehearsed legislative strategy (using their bespoke permits) and a significant local stakeholder engagement plan to deliver the works.

Working directly with Environment Agency officers, LAWS’ assisted in the development of the site wide-waste strategy, as well as an environmental monitoring and mitigation plan, which enabled the works to commence on 31.03.14 as the flood waters were still receding.

Throughout the summer of 2014 LAWS have worked relentlessly to remove more than 130,000m3 of sediment from the rivers, meeting the key project completion date of 31.10.14 just 3 days ahead of programme. Of more importance has been the social engineering in the locale where LAWS HAVE EMPLOYED UPTO 60% of the workforce from within the flood effected community, changing the perceptions of the works and influencing behaviours.

Utilising local farmers and equipment initially to give support for lost revenue, then to regenerate land damaged by the effects of flooding using dredged material for beneficial use but also to bring them forward as ‘real stakeholders’ with a vested interest in looking after their river both managing run-off and land use adjacent to the watercourse but to see the potential in long term maintenance and protection of the river and its environment/habitats.

FLAG (Flooding on the Levels Action Group were heavily in favour of river dredging prior to the government’s instigation of the Somerset Levels and Moors Flood Action Plan and were particularly ‘vocal’ and it has to be said hostile towards our client the Environment Agency due to the previous lack of river and catchment maintenance in the area. Throughout the project LAWS, alongside the EA weekly open door event to a) keep the public up to speed with progress and next stage events and b) to assist buy in to engagement with the rivers post contract. We firmly believe that whilst river maintenance is sometimes essential, local ownership and engagement is more vital to healthy river environments. A community open day hosted by LAWS also along with site walk overs and hand outs of many kind to improve public relations and perceptions.

The use of social media was also brought into play to engage and update throughout the project again bringing the environment and the rivers to life for the community and making them feel part of the strategy to improve where they live and therefore make it about them too.

Community Day

Restored river profile

Go back to abstract list MORPHOLOGICAL MEASURES TO IMPROVE LOW FLOW ENVIRONMENTS J. ENGLAND1, S. BENTELY2 1 Environment Agency, 2 JBA consulting

Additional authors: 3 4 D. MOULD , H. REID 3 JBA Consulting, 4 Environment Agency

The main action to mitigate the impacts of water resource abstraction is to reduce or change existing abstractions to increase the amount of water in our rivers. However, in some situations we need to undertake complementary morphological restoration measures to enhance the ecological benefits of increasing the amount of water in our rivers, especially under low flow conditions. We need evidence to help us select the right morphological measures to ensure ecological resilience and to aid the delivery of sustainable solutions to water resource pressures. Flow type diversity and the presence of refuge areas under extreme flow conditions are critical in maintaining ecological integrity. Understanding which restoration measures create this diversity is important in helping select the most appropriate techniques, ensuring the success of a project and improving ecological status. There is limited documented evidence to demonstrate the ecological effectiveness of channel restoration measures. We explore the use of remote sensing and 2D hydrodynamic modelling in assessing the performance of restoration measures. We have assessed a range of schemes using easily available aerial photography, LIDAR data and existing channel survey data to determine topography and then modelled flow patterns. Reviewing the before and after restoration data has allowed us to undertake hydraulic habitat mapping and species specific habitat modelling to assess the effects of the measures under low flow and high flow conditions.

Go back to abstract list ADDRESSING LEGACY INFRASTRUCTURE IN RURAL CATCHMENTS IN THE NORTH WEST J. PATEL1, M. BUCKLEY1, M. SCHOLFIELD1 1 United Utilities

Much of the water supply and treatment infrastructure in the UK has a long standing legacy reaching back over a century in many circumstances. As the water industry continues to renew assets and respond to its commitments under the Water Framework Directive a fresh perspective on existing assets is being taken. This presents a number of challenges in terms of reconciling competing technical, financial and social objectives.

This paper describes three recent projects where significant legacy assets have been removed from the river environment with the aim of ecological enhancement and increased social amenity value. All projects required strong partnership with local stakeholders and community groups to engage, optioneer and communicate to arrive at a blended solution. Each project required the benefits and impacts of structure removal to be considered in terms of ecology, hydrology, geomorphology and landscape. The projects continue to be monitored to better understand how and whether the success criteria have been realised.

Case Study 1: Concrete Dam Removal in the Lake District

This project identified an impounding reservoir which was no longer required for water supply purposes. As such it was deemed optimal to discontinue the reservoir by removing the concrete impounding weir and return back to a natural tarn. Due to the sensitive nature of the site within open countryside and a National Park, as well as being 3km upstream of a SAC, stakeholder participation was encouraged and engagement was key in developing a solution. Since the existing reservoir provided a flood attenuation function it was imperative to ensure that any future scheme did not adversely impact flood risk. Similarly, the geomorphological and ecological aspects of the proposed removed weir were assessed throughout the design and as part of the consenting process. Likewise different forms of fish passage were considered to improve fish passage immediately downstream of the dam, providing connectivity between the beck and the tarn. Good construction planning was essential to ensure that flood risk during construction was acceptable and that environmental impact was minimised.

Figure 1: Concrete Dam before removal

Case Study 2: Removal of a legacy Fish Pass in the Trough of Bowland

This project identified, alongside discussions with the EA, an existing fish pass within the vicinity of a water supply intake which was considered unsuitable for fish passage. The river at this location was constrained between a natural valley side and a highway embankment which was being undermined by the adjacent beck. In liaison with the EA, Rivers Trust, Lead Local Flood Authority, Natural England and the highway undertaker a solution was developed which allowed improved fish passage and ameliorated the issue with the adjacent highway. A step pool sequence was identified as the preferred option and was delivered quickly on site through a minor earthworks contractor.

Figure 2: Fish Pass Prior to removal

Case Study 3: Weir Removal in the Wirral

An existing weir downstream of a service reservoir scour outlet was historically placed in a small watercourse. The exact function of the weir was unclear however in recent years the weir was being bypassed by the watercourse resulting in loss of adjacent farmland and signification modification to the bed. Through consultation with the landowner and the LLFA a scheme was developed to remove the weir structure, reinstate the bed and channel and in doing so regain any lost land. Care was taken to ensure that the landscaping aspects of the scheme were sympathetic to the local environment. The presence of a badger set in close proximity to works presented a further challenge in terms of timing of the works. The location of the watercourse, a popular wooded area close to a youth community centre, resulted in a significant interest from the local public and an opportunity to engage the local community.

Figure 3: Weir bypassed on right bank

Go back to abstract list REINSTATING HYDRO-MORPHOLOGICAL PROCESSES IN A HEAVILY MODIFIED WATER BODY 1 1 S.GERMAN , D.NEWTON 1 Arup

Additional authors: I. LEXARTZA-ARTZA3 3 Arup

The River Washburn, North Yorkshire, is heavily regulated by a series of four water storage reservoirs (Thruscross, Fewston, Swinsty and Linley Wood), capturing over 70% of the flows coming into the catchment. Under the Water Framework Directive this catchment is classified as Heavily Modified and has Moderate Ecological Potential. Yorkshire Water Services (YWS), as the owner of these assets, is responsible for ensuring that WFD compliance for the waterbodies is achieved by 2027. Environment Agency monitoring has identified that low flows are a significant problem within the Washburn and unless this is addressed WFD objectives will not be met.

Sub-optimal flows are a particular issue downstream of the Swinsty reservoir as there is no formal compensation flow and in this 4km inter-reservoir site the first 1km has no formal flow input other than under drainage from the reservoir and some inputs from land drains unless the reservoir is spilling or a scour valve test is taking place. The channel is overwide with an abundance of large cobbles, boulders and fine gravels – a relic of a bigger historical flow regime and many years of impoundment. During normal (low flow) conditions water is only millimeters deep and fish are often stranded in the over-deep pools in the summer months.

As such YWS has identified the inter-reservoir site downstream of Swinsty as one of two river restoration pilot projects that will aim to undertake test the theory that river restoration can be used to mitigate the impacts low flows in order to help achieve ‘Good Ecological Potential’ (GEP). Arup have been tasked with developing and implementing this river restoration project ultimately to adjust the morphology of the channel to its regulated flow regime, whilst trying to create a diverse range of habitats to promote key species and support geomorphological processes.

This paper will discuss the challenges and the practicalities of how to design such a scheme whilst having some cost-benefit confidence and ensuring that key objectives are met. The detailed design phase of this project has been completed and construction is expected to commence in the spring. Existing in-channel materials along with bankside trees will be used to dictate the new form of the currently poorly formed and oversized channel. It is proposed that minimal material will be brought on to site and all existing materials (including sediment and trees) will be reused. Key features have been mapped and/or surveyed and then translated into plans to check dimensions and key assumptions to ensure achievement of objectives as well as aiding the contractor to accurately estimate construction costs.

Go back to abstract list USE OF RIVER RESTORATION TO MITIGATE THE IMPACTS OF IMPOUNDMENTS: A PROCESS BASED APPROACH IN YORKSHIRE 1 2 I. LEXARTZA-ARTZA , D. NEWTON 1 Arup

Additional authors: S. GERMAN3 3 Arup

Yorkshire Water Services is undertaking a series of investigations into potential actions that can be used to improve ecological potential in Heavily Modified Water Bodies (HMWB) where, as asset owners, they are responsible for ensuring WFD compliance by 2027). As part of these investigations, the use of river restoration to address the impacts on flow of impoundments has been assessed for sites where modifying the flows released from reservoirs is considered technically unfeasible and/or economically unviable.

A series of rehabilitation measures have been designed for Ingbirchworth Dyke, downstream of Ingbirchworth Reservoir (South Yorkshire), to improve existing poor hydromorphological and ecological condition caused by sub-optimal flows. The channel is currently too wide for the existing dominant flow and flow variability and habitat diversity are quite low for most of the reach.

The proposals have been developed following a detailed assessment of existing geomorphological conditions, understanding of the flow regime, and data from ecological monitoring, and have been designed to consider multiple objectives and cost-benefit considerations. Part of the channel will be re-routed along a meandering palaeochannel, and the existing channel will be partially used as a flood overflow, providing additional flood storage. Additional proposals include redistribution of in-channel material and woody debris deflectors to better define the low-flow channel, introduction of fish ledges to provide additional shelter for fish, and improve definition of existing bars and berms. The proposed options aim to increase morphological and habitat diversity.

Construction is expected to be completed during the winter of 2014-2015, and this paper will present early post-construction hydromorphological responses and report on the establishment of the new features. We will also discuss the ongoing ecological monitoring programme that will continue post-construction.

Go back to abstract list ECOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF THE ‘PROCESS RESTORATION’ PHILOSOPHY ON THE ALLT LORGY, SCOTLAND 1, 2 1, 3 H.J. MOIR , E. GILLIES 1 cbec eco-engineering UK Ltd, Alford, Scotland, United Kingdom, 2 Rivers and Lochs Institute, University of the Highlands and Islands, Inverness, Scotland, United Kingdom, 3 Aerospace Sciences, School of Engineering, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom

Often river restoration is undertaken with the implicit assumption of ‘if you build it, they will come’; this is fundamental to the concept of ‘process restoration’ where the reinstatement of natural physical processes is assumed to have a resultant benefit to ecology, at least in the medium to long terms. However, this presumed association has not been rigorously tested; budget and time constraints rarely permit direct monitoring/ measurement of biophysical linkages at representative spatial and temporal scales and, where this is undertaken, is often done so as a research exercise and not directly applicable to practical application of restoration works. There is therefore considerable utility in utilising hydrodynamic modelling to assess the ecological benefit of a proposed or implemented restoration scheme, potentially allowing the refinement of designs to provide optimal opportunity for biological improvement. A simple method of undertaking this is to relate physical hydrodynamic model output (i.e. spatial and temporal patterns of instream hydraulics and substrate) to established ‘preferences’ by target aquatic biota. Although ‘habitat modelling’ has been undertaken since the early 1980s (e.g. PHABSIM), it has tended to overly simplify the micro-habitat conditions that instream species select for, often characterising physical habitat at too coarse a scale, not considering important non-linear processes (e.g. vorticity, flow convergence/ divergence) and not addressing the implications for unsteady flow (i.e. rising or falling limbs on a hydrograph).

We applied the outputs from high resolution hydrodynamic modelling on the Allt Lorgy near Carrbridge, Scotland to various indices of micro-habitat preference for Atlantic salmon. The site represents a near unique case study of the application of the process restoration philosophy (albeit at a moderate spatial scale), providing the opportunity to monitor physical change and the associated implications that this has for instream habitats. We examined pre-construction, immediately post-construction and post-flood event conditions and determined how the site evolved physically and ecologically. Generally, a trajectory towards a greater absolute spatial and temporal availability of target species habitats and greater habitat diversity was observed over the chronological model run sequence. Importantly, it was demonstrated that traditional utilisation indices that do not represent integrated hydraulic-sedimentary controls on habitat are likely to significantly misrepresent availability and, therefore, the performance of the restoring channel. This is particularly the case where unsteady and non-uniform hydraulic processes are not considered.

However, it is important to stress that hydrodynamic modelling should not be the only method used to assess biophysical linkages relating to and the ecological performance of river restoration design. Rather, it should be one component (e.g. alongside direct monitoring of physical and ecological/ biological performance, larger-scale consideration of population dynamics etc) of a strategy to determine appropriate methods to realise ecological improvements.

Go back to abstract list LEARNING FROM MONITORING RIVER RESTORATION IN DYNAMIC CUMBRIAN RIVERS 1 1 H.E. REID , D. WISHART 1 Environment Agency

Over the last summer five significant restoration schemes have taken place in Cumbria, equating to ~ 3.5 km of new river channel. These new rivers are located in some of the flashiest and most dynamic catchments in the UK. Most of this work was undertaken to meet Environment Agency and Natural England obligations under the Habitats Directive, or by water companies to meet environmental requirements. Each project has had a differing level of scientific input into design, from quite simple and qualitative to intensive modelling. The amount of effort put into the design process reflected the degree to which former pre-modification, channel morphology, e.g. alignment, was known. Monitoring also has ranged in complexity from none (on a weir removal), to detailed mapping of change using photogrammetric techniques carried out by full time MSc and PhD students. This talk will discuss case studies, looking at the depth of information pre and post restoration and how the constructed design has been impacted by post project channel adjustment. For example, the channel at Ben Gill was designed using very detailed modelling and geomorphological data collection and expert judgement. Despite this, intense rainfall has resulted in incision of the lower channel. This highlights the variability and uncertainties for this system, which even intensive design could not eliminate. Neighbouring Whit Beck had a simpler design and was also hit by this rainfall, although in this case it has improved the channel diversity, creating a natural appearing assemblage of bars. Other rivers in the more gentle limestone Eden valley have not undergone the same degree of adjustment (so far). These systems used an even simpler design process as was appropriate for the risks, given that they were returned to the well defined paleo-channels they flowed within 200 years ago. Monitoring of channel adjustment has revealed that rivers in Cumbria will adjust, regardless of the quality and quantity of science used in the initial design. These systems are dynamic and in restoring process, we also restore the uncertainty of process as is inherent in any natural system. Geomorphic monitoring, which is sufficient to capture channel adjustment, be that bed lowering, whole scale resetting of process zones or more subtle improvements in habitat assemblages, is vital to determine the success of river restoration and how the site may continue to evolve in the future. In addition, monitoring morphological adjusts will, hopefully, reduce the level of uncertainty as to the likelihood of adjustment in future restoration projects in Cumbria.

Go back to abstract list HYDRAULIC MODELLING FOR RIVER RESTORATION ON THE ALLT LORGY, SCOTLAND 1, 3 1, 2 E. GILLIES , H.J. MOIR 1 cbec eco-engineering UK Ltd, Alford, Scotland, United Kingdom, 2 Rivers and Lochs Institute, University of the Highlands and Islands, Inverness, Scotland, United Kingdom, 3 Aerospace Sciences, School of Engineering, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom

In river systems, hydrodynamic forces are a major driver for geomorphic change. Representative modelling of channel hydraulics is therefore an invaluable tool in river restoration design, enabling a quantitative and objective assessment of complex processes that are essential to achieve restoration objectives. Hydraulic modelling can form part of an iterative design process, utilised to indicate ‘design performance’ through a wide range of descriptors (e.g. heterogeneity of channel depth and velocity, bed shear stresses, inundation extent) afforded by each stage of the design. However, it is important that the limitations of any computational fluid dynamic approach (e.g., 2D depth-averaged simulations) are well communicated to other specialists such as geomorphologists, ecologists, managers, regulators and clients. One aspect of hydraulics where this is specifically important is in the use of 2D depth averaged hydraulics in predicting erosion and scour, as these are often exacerbated by secondary flow effects and three dimensional vorticity (e.g. secondary flow in meander bends or at confluences). It has long been recognised that eddies from re-meandered channels or from re-introduced wood structures are specific drivers of erosion and deposition of sediment. However, fluid vorticity needs to be modelled with very high resolutions near solid boundaries, and the convected vortex structures themselves are inherently three dimensional. Neither of these is routinely captured in river hydraulic models. Specifically, the interpretation of vorticity patterns from 2D depth averaged river models must be treated with caution, or provided with further interpretation. To illustrate, we present work that demonstrates hydraulic modelling of the Allt Lorgy river restoration project. This upland burn, near Carrbridge, had been straightened for agricultural purposes many years ago, and at the same time had artificial flood banks and river bank rock armouring installed, together with in-river boulder placement. The restoration removed armouring, embankments and introduced wood features specifically to create eddies that would form pools. Uniquely, the river is now largely being left to form its own course. Indeed, observations post restoration showed re-establishment of more natural river processes. In August 2014, the river was subject to a large flood event, causing significant channel change. We were able to survey the channel and floodplain before and immediately after restoration and immediately after the large 2014 flood for the purpose of 2D hydraulic modelling. This set of models is therefore somewhat rare, in that we are able to present pre, post restoration and post flood model results and discuss what geomorphic change could have been predicted using interpreted post-construction hydraulics.

Go back to abstract list FLUVIAL AUDIT: AN ESSENTIAL TOOL FOR ALL RIVER RELATED PROJECTS 1 2 G. HERITAGE , S. BENTLEY 1 AECOM, 2 JBA

Additional authors: 3 4 K. SHEEHAN , A. GEE 3 JBA, 4 AECOM

The majority of UK rivers are low energy, single thread channels of varying sinuosity. Sediment transport and channel change is episodic and often moderated by engineered stabilisation works. Despite this, actions impacting on watercourses can, and often do, result in local morphologic response and this is often perceived in a negative way by stakeholders.

Despite these unanticipated outcomes linked to river works, river response is essentially predictable following a properly conducted fluvial audit. Schemes that are informed by the audit process benefit from improved process-linked design, reduced environmental and ecological impact and lower long term costs linked to reactive management and maintenance. In addition, the early assessment undertaken as part of a fluvial audit can help with the Water Framework Directive process, identifying and providing answers to hydromorphological issues which are presently delaying many current schemes, where engineer driven design is being questioned on the grounds of appropriateness and sustainability.

This paper describes the fluvial audit process and demonstrates the value of the various components through examples from the South Esk in Brechin, where gravel shoaling issues were in the spotlight, the River Stour around Suffolk, where floodplain reconnection had been proposed, Norbury Brook, Manchester, where a uniform engineered channel realignment had been rejected at the planning stage, and on the River Ribble SSSI at Long Preston where audit- informed actions are advancing river and floodplain naturalisation across the site.

Go back to abstract list FLOODPLAIN MEADOWS: A CASE FOR RESTORATION E. ROTHERO1 1 Open University

Additional authors: D. GOWING2, C. LAWSON2, M. KING3, H. PROCTER4 2 Open University, 3 Footprint Ecology, 4 The Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire and Cambridgeshire

Floodplain meadows are a rare yet species-rich habitat found on less than 1500 ha in the UK. Pre-agricultural intensification, this habitat would have been the major use on most lowland- river floodplains in England. Their rarity and concern over their management prompted the formation of the Floodplain Meadows Partnership (FMP) in 2007, with the objective of establishing long term monitoring on the major UK floodplain meadow sites. The Partnership carries out a programme of monitoring, survey, outreach and training. It has an objective to encourage the restoration (and monitoring) of this habitat. The Partnership is steered by the Environment Agency, Natural England, RSPB, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, The Field Studies Council and the Wildlife Trusts and hosted and directed by the Open University.

This talk will propose floodplain meadows as a use for floodplains alongside river and floodplain restoration schemes, arguing that they can deliver on multiple ecosystem services, absorbing nutrients from the wider catchment and turning them into an agricultural product with an economic value. They help reduce flood peaks, can offer carbon storage in the soil and deliver on biodiversity and habitat for pollinators. Those extant meadows have a rich cultural history and offer a place for relaxation, spiritual restoration and enjoyment of the natural world. Eight years on from the formation of the Partnership, we have an extensive dataset of botanical, hydrological and soils information on floodplain meadows from around the UK. This talk will look at a series of case studies following different methods used for restoration of floodplain meadows and demonstrating how they can deliver multiple ecosystem services including:

Broad Meadow and Middle Park: a previously arable site, now an increasingly species rich meadow delivering positive impacts on water quality (reduced pesticide, sediment and nutrient inputs); increased flood storage; the provision of habitat for pollinators; removal of nutrients through taking a hay crop and an increased grazing area. There is now also a permissive footpath through the site, enabling increased access to a beautiful environment.

Priors Ham, Wiltshire was previously an improved species poor pasture, spread with green hay and seed and then managed as a hay crop with aftermath grazing. This area has been subject to extensive flooding with high levels of deposited nutrients throughout the period of the restoration project that have now been turned into a crop with economic value. This project included a new permissive path, reducing the impact of extensive public use on the adjacent North Meadow NNR whilst increasing access to inspirational places.

The talk will conclude with an appeal to consider floodplain meadow restoration as part of wider river and floodplain restoration schemes given their wide reaching benefits.

Go back to abstract list THE SKETCHLEY BROOK: AN EXAMPLE OF URBAN RIVER RESTORATION 1 1 D. P. ALLUM , I. RASSOOL 1 BWB Consulting, 5th Floor Waterfront House, Station Street, Nottingham, NG2 3DQ

Additional authors: L.H. TEWSON3 3 BWB Consulting, 5th Floor Waterfront House, Station Street, Nottingham, NG2 3DQ

The Sketchley Brook in Hinckley, Leicestershire, is an urban watercourse that has suffered due to urbanisation. It was culverted beneath the former Johnson’s dry cleaning facility west of Rugby Road for approximately 260m towards the Ashby Canal, and culverted further upstream beneath the Rugby Road recreation ground. In addition to the culverting, a number of sheet- piled lakes were used as part of the dry cleaning process, resulting in serious contamination of the surrounding ground and wider water environment.

As part of potential redevelopment of the site, Goodman consulted BWB Consulting to explore options to daylight the culvert and restore a natural watercourse, including naturalising the lakes where possible. The work involved commissioning a CCTV survey of the culvert before carrying out a catchment hydrology study to inform hydraulic modelling. The hydrological study required a thorough review of the catchment due to substantial urbanisation around Hinckley that included a number of surface water outfalls and combined sewer overflows directly into the Sketchley Brook. The hydraulic model included all the main hydraulic structures and representation of the floodplain that were then modified accordingly to simulate the impacts of the proposed development.

Daylighting of the watercourse afforded significant ecological benefits, allowing the proposed design to incorporate numerous habitats including pools, riffles and gravel bars within the channel, marginal planting and wetland areas in addition to removing some of the sheet-piling from one of the existing lakes to provide a more natural habitat. The creation of this green corridor within the site also complemented Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council’s strategic vision to provide an uninterrupted access corridor between the Ashby Canal to the west and Burbage Common. It will also provide an open space for residents and other occupiers of the proposed development, improving the amenity value within the development as a whole.

The scheme also incorporated elements to reduce flood risk. The scheme allowed storage of flows offline during periods of high water level within specifically designed wetlands and widened channel sections. This attenuation of flows means that flood risk to areas downstream could be significantly reduced. The watercourse also forms an integral part of an extensive sustainable surface water drainage strategy shaped for the proposed development that discharges into the Sketchley Brook after being treated through a staged natural treatment train.

The daylighting and creation of the new watercourse is now largely complete and in situ on site. Planting of the watercourse banks and wider riparian zone is complete and a number of habitats have already established and begun to flourish. A monitoring programme is in place to observe and record the changing habitats and biodiversity that establishes along the river corridor.

Go back to abstract list URBAN POCKET WETLANDS: A BIODIVERSITY OFFSETTING SOLUTION 1 1 L. O’DEA , R. HAINE 1 frog environmental

Additional authors: 3 4 M. THOMPSON , A. MCLEAN 3 London Wildlife Trust, 4 Environment Agency

The redevelopment of Kings Cross in Central London is a massive ongoing civil engineering programme. But when competition for space is fraught it required innovative thinking to integrate habitat solutions that could sustain the wildlife that calls this urban centre home.

The London Wildlife Trust teamed up with frog environmental and the Canal & River Trust propose the creation of pockets of urban wetland habitat on the Regents Canal to improve habitat connectivity and deliver biodiversity offsetting measures for the kings cross redevelopment. This initiative attracted funding from Royal Bank of Canada, the Heritage Lottery Fund and Kings Cross developers Argent.

BioHaven floating wetlands in combination with BioCoral were a cost effective solution that engaged volunteers from London Wildlife Trust’s ‘Wildlife on your Waterways’ project to assist in the installation of ten islands to provide 50m2 of new wildlife habitat and associated underwater features.

BioHaven Floating Wetlands have a novel design, overcoming the failings of other floating systems by providing durable and resilient habitat, excellent long-term plant success and proven water quality treatment. At the bottom of the chain, microscopic organisms build up naturally, forming a biofilm on the surface of the islands which can help to clean the water and provides food for zooplankton, micro and macro invertebrates like dragonfly nymphs and snails, and further up the chain, food for fish. The islands’ vegetation can create important nesting areas and feeding opportunities for terrestrial insects and water birds.

Our urban waterways, so often overlooked, are well placed to offer knowledgeable delivery partners through catchment groups, provide cost effective and innovative offsetting measures that at the same time achieve Water Framework Directive catchment ‘actions’ and open new, untapped funding prospects.

The River Brent Catchment Partnership benefitted from a BioHaven Wetland installation on the Brent Reservoir SSSI, a project funded by Barratt Homes as a requirement of their planning conditions. This reflects the importance of effective engagement with stakeholders and the achievements that can be gained through collaboration of the partners working towards the same goal. Whilst it will never be possible to engage all developers, architects and ecologists in catchment planning the awareness of such partnerships is building at the same time as general interest in our water environments and sustainable urban drainage. This will bring opportunity that makes the co-operation and support of the local authorities invaluable and facing the challenge to word a plan that authorities have the confidence to sign up to will be worth the undertaking! ‘Off the shelf’ value propositions and solutions that may be tweaked to meet the local needs are ideal in these situations whether providing for habitat or water quality cleansing such as an end of pipe treatment.

Go back to abstract list RESTORING NATURAL PROCESSES IN WANDLE PARK 1 2 M. PIERIS , I. DENNIS 1 Senior Environmental Scientist, Royal HaskoningDHV, 2 Principal Geomorphologist, Royal HaskoningDHV

Additional authors 3 4 5 C. TOOVEY , D. CHAPMAN , T. SWEENEY 3 Senior Engineer, Royal HaskoningDHV, 4 LDA Design, 5 London Borough of Croydon

For several decades, Wandle Park in a deprived urban area in Croydon, south London, suffered from lack of investment and was under-utilised by local communities. The historic River Wandle once flowed through the park in an open, meandering channel; however this was culverted in the 1970s due to water quality problems. Other features such as a nineteenth century boating lake and rose garden had also been lost or infilled.

Royal HaskoningDHV worked in partnership with LDA Design and the London Borough of Croydon to oversee the design and implementation of an ambitious scheme to regenerate Wandle Park, improving an important green space into an asset for the local community and contributing towards the delivery of WFD objectives. At the heart of this ambitious £2 million scheme was the restoration of over 250m of the River Wandle, previously culverted below ground, into an open, naturally functioning meandering channel.

This project had a range of key challenges that were overcome through the design process, including:

 The restoration of natural hydromorphological processes whilst minimising the potential for large scale channel migration. This was resolved through the design of a multi-stage channel which allows the low flow channel to adjust within a more permanent high flow bank line. Seeded gravels were also allowed to rework naturally to create a wide range of in-channel habitat niches. The two stage channel safely accommodates both the low dry weather flows and the high flood flows.  Ensuring that the river could be re-meandered through contaminated land at the site without increasing remobilisation of in situ contaminated sediments and leachate. An uncontaminated capping layer using uncontaminated soils was used to protect the environment and park users from contaminated materials.  Minimising the need for expensive off-site disposal of contaminated materials and the need to import uncontaminated soils for capping. Soils on the site were categorized as contaminated and less contaminated (i.e. with contaminant concentrations below hazardous levels), and the former were used as a base layer for landscape features within the park. These were capped with less contaminated soils from the site to prevent exposure to the wider environment.

This presentation will focus on how these challenges were overcome to deliver a successful river restoration and urban regeneration project. Construction commenced in late 2012, and the restored river and parkland was opened to the public in 2013. The park is now an extremely popular public open space that is highly valued by the local community whilst providing real habitat benefits and a significant contribution towards WFD targets for the River Wandle.

Go back to abstract list RESTORATION, CONSERVATION AND RESILIENCE IN LOWLAND RIVERS 1 1 M.S.A. THOMPSON , C.D. SAYER 1 Environmental Change Research Centre (ECRC), Department of Geography, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1 E6BT, UK

Ecological restoration is considered key to conserving ecosystems and biodiversity, but what is practiced is often not underpinned by scientific evidence. We focus on two main areas that can advance the field of river restoration: firstly, diagnosis and monitoring practices and secondly, choosing appropriate response variables. In the former instance, actions aimed at addressing the cause of ecological decline may be inappropriate due to inadequate prior assessment, and restoration monitoring is often lacking or poorly designed meaning ineffective solutions persist. In the latter case, post-restoration monitoring may focus on habitat change, for instance, which is a poor surrogate for ecological response but is still widely applied as an indicator of success.

We present findings from a study of LWD restoration across multiple sites and an insecticide spill in the River Kennet, UK. We quantified the impacts on assemblages of fish, invertebrates, diatoms and microbes and measured leaf litter decomposition and microbial functional potential and combine this with Riverfly monitoring data. We report how coordinating the effort of practitioners, citizen scientists and ecologists can reveal the spatial and temporal extent of ecosystem degradation and recovery and how this can be used to inform restoration.

Go back to abstract list LESSONS LEARNED FROM MONITORING THE ECOLOGICAL OUTCOMES OF RIVER REHABILITATION WORKS IN THE UK M.A. SMITH1, N. ANGELOPOULOS1, I.G. COWX1 1 Hull International Fisheries Institute, University of Hull, Cottingham Road, Hull, HU6 7RX.

As a result of numerous anthropogenic stressors, river systems, and consequently fish physical habitat, have undergone considerable transformation. Following the emergence of the EC Water Framework Directive (WFD) and EC Habitats Directive (HD), there has been an increase in river rehabilitation schemes to ameliorate anthropogenic pressures of rivers and augment ecological status to meet specific obligations. However, despite the extensive implementation of river rehabilitation programmes little follow up monitoring, and dissemination of results takes place leaving a paucity of information on the outcomes of such schemes on which new schemes can be designed.

Given the importance of fish as an indicator of ecological quality under WFD guidelines a series of rehabilitation projects were monitored for their impact on brown trout (Salmo trutta) population structure and habitat availability, case studies included small-scale weir removal, gravel installation and channel narrowing. The results of these case studies are drawn upon to represent the outcomes of several small-scale rehabilitation projects. Evaluation of the outcomes of these case studies and the monitoring used highlighted a number of common themes occurring from the river rehabilitation case studies, these themes will be presented as lessons learned from monitoring small-scale river rehabilitation projects.

Lessons learned relate to the need for setting of specific objectives related to specific features; the need for specific monitoring to address specific objectives – one size does not fit all; and the need for catchment-scale thinking for even small-scale rehabilitation projects. These lessons highlight the difficulties in defining the success of rehabilitation projects. The findings presented not only highlight the need for robust monitoring schemes built into the project design phase but emphasise the need for inter-disciplinary and catchment-scale thinking as well as a synergistic approach to river rehabilitation to generate multiple benefits.

Go back to abstract list MONITORING SEDIMENT AND NUTRIENT POLLUTION ON THE LID BROOK S. BROWNING1 1 Wavelength Environmental

Additional authors: J. GREAVES2 2Bristol Avon Rivers Trust

Water quality monitoring was carried out on the Lid Brook and on the By Brook during two storm events in winter 2013/14. The Lid Brook was chosen for this work as it is one of the most heavily impacted watercourses in the catchment, in terms of riparian damage from livestock poaching. These data will form part of a simple bio-geo-chemical baseline of the state of the Lid Brook, ahead of remedial works, (fencing, provision of drinking troughs and gateway repositioning) against which, future improvements can be measured.

The primary focus of the monitoring was to assess pollution due to suspended sediment and nutrients – especially phosphorous. Automatic water samplers were used to collect regular samples during storm events. Flow measurement was carried out using an area velocity flow sensor. Estimations of total pollutant load were made by coupling concentration data from the water samples with flow information. Once the area velocity sensor had been deployed at one site over a range of flow conditions a level/flow relationship for that site could be defined. The flow sensor was then moved to another location to compute the level/flow relationship for that site. In this way it was possible to estimate flow volumes for multiple sites during multiple events with only one flow sensor.

During the 48 hours over which samples were taken, approximately 6 tonnes of soil were lost from the Lid Brook catchment, almost two thirds of which was lost from the lower section of around 1 km in length. During the same period, approximately 46 tonnes of soil were recorded as suspended sediment in the By Brook. Associated with this sediment was approximately 85 kg of phosphorus. While a proportion of this would have been expected as part of the natural process of soil movement, it is clear that a significant amount was the direct result of poor land management practices.

This study used a variety of monitoring technologies to monitor specific storm events across a small sub-catchment at a high temporal resolution. Automatic samplers were used to take 24 hourly samples across the two separate storm events. In this instance the samplers were programmed and triggered by staff and volunteers from Bristol Avon Rivers Trust. The combination of area velocity flow sensors with low cost level sensors is particularly useful for the headwaters of catchments where multiple sites need to be measured and budgetary or practical constraints prohibit the installation of primary flow measurement devices (weirs, flumes etc.).

Go back to abstract list SHEFFIELD MODEL FOR SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENT, FLOOD REDUCTION, AND MULTIPLE BENEFITS H. BATT1, S. BIRCH2 1 River Stewardship Company, 2 Sheffield City Council

Additional authors: J. MEAD3, A. ROLLITT4 3 Environment Agency, 4 River Stewardship Company

The Sheffield Lower Don Valley Flood Alleviation Scheme (FAS) led by a partnership comprising of Sheffield City Council, Environment Agency, Sheffield Chamber of Commerce and the River Stewardship Company is delivering built flood defences and a programme of river channel maintenance to reduce the risk of flooding in an area of Sheffield primarily occupied by businesses. The scheme is unique in two respects:

1. It has been partially funded by the creation of a Business Improvement District, this being the first BID in the UK to support the delivery of a capital build scheme and a flood defence project. This enables local business beneficiaries in the flood risk zone to invest in the scheme.

2. Those businesses are financing a five year river channel maintenance programme delivered by the River Stewardship Company, a local social enterprise. This innovative approach is unlocking a new source of investment, a sustainable mechanism for ongoing channel maintenance, and a model which delivers community engagement and partnership working.

This model has exciting potential for application in other business areas at risk of flooding, with interest in both areas of the project being shown by the EA, DEFRA and local authorities across the country. The presentation will be of interest to delegates looking at innovative ways to finance flood schemes, taking a sustainable approach to river maintenance and engaging local businesses and communities in the care of their waterways.

Helen Batt, from the River Stewardship Company, will describe the innovative aspects of the scheme, challenges and benefits and discuss the potential for delivering this approach in other locations with business areas at risk of flooding.

The presentation will cover: o Background to the flood scheme in Sheffield – 2007 floods, impact on business The Sheffield Lower Don Valley FAS - modelling and design o The three innovative elements: new investment; incorporating river maintenance; social enterprise/local communities. o The Business Improvement District – what it is and lessons learnt on building business support o Opportunities for wider river restoration outcomes Working with the RSC – the benefits and challenges The role of the partners – lessons learnt o How the scheme is managed and implemented o Looking ahead – expected outcomes, ongoing challenges and opportunities to use the approach in new places

Go back to abstract list MAXIMISING THE VALUE OF LARGE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS – DELIVERING RIVER RESTORATION AS PART OF MAJOR CAPITAL WORKS 1 2 L. BAKER , K. SKINNER 1 Atkins, Chadwick House, Birchwood Park, Warrington, WA3 6AE, 2 Atkins, Chilbrook, Oasis Business Park, Eynsham, Oxford, OX29 4AH

Economic, political and environmental policies can often conflict. In what has been a very challenging economic climate over the last 6 years there has been increasing pressure to build out of the recession to boost economic growth. This has led to significant investment in large infrastructure projects.

Whilst no-one can argue that the environment is less important, despite its contribution to the economy and the overall society being much less tangible, it tends to be viewed as a barrier to overcome rather than a partner to embrace. There remains pressure to deliver development cost-effectively, while trying to protect, preserve and (where possible) enhance our environment.

Nowhere is this more of a challenge than when these developments coincide with our river systems. The Water Framework Directive was partly created to protect our water bodies from further harm. The aims and objectives tend be misaligned, with large engineering schemes driven by tight programmes and tight purses. Whilst river restoration schemes face similar constraints, they tend to be viewed as a small cog in a rather large wheel. The question remains on how you persuade investment in environmental enhancements when a culvert is seen as a more economically advantageous and less risky option?

This presentation aims to present a working example of a large infrastructure project. It demonstrates how early engagement and regular discussions encouraged a collaborative approach with engineers and regulators which can achieve multiple benefits for the water environment. The Norton Bridge Rail Improvement is a £250M upgrade of the west coast mainline and it is being delivered by the Staffordshire Alliance; the rail sector’s first ‘pure alliance’. The scheme aims to remove a bottleneck at the existing Norton Bridge Junction; increasing capacity and reliability. The rail alignment is located in a predominantly rural area, crossing the River Sow, Meece Brook and a tributary of the Meece Brook in Staffordshire.

In the reaches of the rivers impacted, sections of the Meece Brook were considered to have high conservation value because the channel was relatively unmodified exhibiting many natural features along its sinuous course. Working alongside the rail engineers, Atkins’ geomorphologists undertook a baseline assessment, identified potential issues and constraints, providing detailed design as well as construction supervision for four river realignments totalling 1km. Mitigation measures being delivered on the ground offering an improvement in the river habitat rather a loss. The realignment designs were undertaken sensitively to ensure that the existing character was not compromised and in agreement with the Environment Agency, a 5-year monitoring programme has been agreed to assess how the realignments evolve.

Construction is currently underway and the railway is expected to be completed 2017.

Go back to abstract list BALLYMONEY RIVERSIDE PARK RESTORATION: FROM BOATING LAKE TO SALMONID CHANNEL IN THREE MONTHS 1 2 G. GREER , J. KANE 1 Rivers Agency, 2 DCAL Inland Fisheries

Additional authors: 3 4 R. BAIN , C. CORR 3 Ballymoney Borough Council, 4 Rivers Agency

This presentation will highlight the recently completed river restoration works on the Ballymoney river (N. Ireland). The waterbody was classified in 2009 as heavily modified with poor ecological potential. The scheme was situated in an urban setting where an ‘on-line’ boating lake was constructed during the early 1970s on an otherwise productive salmonid stream. The river channel had been over widened with excavations undertaken in order to create the ‘pond’ with a small weir (<1m) impounding the water at the downstream end. The ‘pond’ had been de-silted once in the past, however concerns continued to be raised by the local council with increasing sedimentation causing a deterioration in the aesthetic and biodiversity value of the area. Numerous newspaper articles highlighted the poor condition of the pond and calls began for dredging to take place once more. In the background informal discussions between biodiversity, fisheries and flood alleviation staff were taking place to find a more sustainable and environmentally sound solution.

These discussions led to a proposal going to the council to re-instate a natural river channel through the park including floodplain wetland restoration. The park area has a history of flooding including properties downstream, therefore before works could commence a flood risk assessment was completed before permission to proceed could be granted.

The assessment concluded that there was no discernible increase to flood risk and the council agreed to proceed with the scheme. Funding for the channel restoration was provided by Inland Fisheries via NASCO with the wetland and landscaping funded by the Council and Rivers Agency (main contractor).

Several difficult issues had to be overcome during the scheme including sediment and flow management, riverbank / in-channel features construction and the management of local expectations (where are the ducks going?!)

Works began in September 2014 and were completed in around 13 weeks.

Go back to abstract list DEVELOPING LEWISHAM’S RIVERS 1 1 C. GRAY , P. CHAPMAN 1 London Borough of Lewisham

Planners play a crucial role in the decision making process for development near rivers. While local authorities hold the decision making power, the planners dealing with individual applications do not have the resources or knowledge to enter into detailed discussions on the engineering or ecological considerations of proposals. Planners are generally looking for successful schemes that deliver good outcomes across a range of issues, and are something that they can support and recommend for approval.

Land owners and developers hold the crucial resources of land and money which is the key to making river restoration work in an urban setting. However, for developers these resources are limited and there is a fine balancing act between many different competing interests, such as delivering river improvements, profit, design issues and provision of affordable housing. This presentation will show, through examples of urban development, how the practicalities of the development and planning process can pan out. It will look at the process, the tensions, the parties involved and what kind of systems or policies can help navigate us through to consistently positive outcomes.

The London Borough of Lewisham has, in the last year, seen development start on two major sites next to rivers. Lewisham Gateway is a key site within the dense urban environment of Lewisham town centre. The development involves the creation of Confluence Place, a new park where the Ravensbourne and Quaggy rivers meet, the delivery of around 800 new homes, major changes to the road layout, better pedestrian connections between the railway station and the town centre, and new cafes, shops, restaurants and leisure uses. The Lewisham Gateway development illustrates how a range of competing interests on a very dense urban site can be addressed while achieving de-culverting of a section of the river and reinstatement of some natural processes.

The former Catford Greyhound Stadium is a site in Catford town centre, located between two railway lines, with the Ravensbourne River also running through the site. This section of the river is predominantly contained in a deep culvert, approximately 5 metres deep. The development involves over 500 new homes and will include retail, community space and landscaped links through the site. The scheme was approved in 2009 and includes in-channel enhancements and an 8 metre buffer zone along one river bank. While these works would be an improvement to the existing situation, lessons should be learned about working with site constraints to achieve the best results.

In order to deliver consistently positive development for river corridors as well as other urban planning considerations, Lewisham has developed planning guidance to be used to illustrate the high standard of development that is expected and that can be used to negotiate good outcomes on different schemes that come forward.

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