Removal of Homersfield Sluice a Overview The removal of Homersfield sluice has been a unique example of a combined river restoration and structural removal in the East Anglian region. Continued monitoring of the site post works will enable a case to be made for similar removal techniques to be used on other redundant structures in the region. Project Type River Restoration Watercourse River Waveney Partners Environment Agency, River Waveney Trust, Wild Trout Trust Project Status Completed Aim Improve river ecology Improve fish passage Reduce operational costs Restore river to natural form Before and after at the Homersfield site (Photos courtesy of Environment Agency) Description Over a six week period in August and September 2013 Environment Agency staff removed two vertical lifting gates and the associated structure at the Homersfield sluice on the border between Norfolk and Suffolk. In place of the sluice a set of three riffles were constructed with deep pond sections between to replicate a natural pool riffle sequence. The faster flowing shallow water over the gravels has given fish an ideal habitat in which to spawn and the river now has the energy to transport sediment downriver to make natural river forms. The removal of the sluice has opened up an extra 8km of river to fish and eels and the riffles have been designed to maintain upstream water levels which are an integral part of the Waveney valley. Contact Trevor Bond, Geomorphology Technical Officer, Environment Agency [email protected] .