10 TOP TIPS FROM 100 CASE STUDIES ON OUR WEBMAP

1. BE INTUITIVE –RESTORE NATURAL PROCESSES, WORK WITH NATURE

Case in point: River Bure at Blickling, Norfolk (RRC Manual of Techniques)

“Woody material (entire trees) was felled into the channel in as natural a form as possible to

increase flow variability. It was envisaged that the trees would either create scour or trap mobilised

silt and sediment. Marginal deposition would eventually vegetate and stabilise creating a faster,

flowing, narrower channel with clean gravel substrate. There was no formal desk-based process

beyond the broader planning of the improvement of the river reach. Rather, an intuitive approach

was used in the field, as near as possible forming natural features with natural materials” (open).

2. THINK LATERALLY - NATURAL RIVERS & FUNCTIONING FLOODPLAINS

Case in point: Gwen Finch wetland, Worcestershire (RRC Newsletter)

“The two schemes demonstrate different approaches to enhancing floodplains. However, the

principles remain the same: river restoration should not end at the edge of the main channel and a

variety of mechanisms and approaches are available to improve the continuity of hydrology and

habitat quality from the channel into the floodplain” (open).

Before tree felling One year after restoration works

3. REVISIT – LEARN LESSONS FROM YOUR SITE AS IT CHANGES OVER TIME

Case in point: River Tall, County Armagh (RRC Manual of Techniques) “The bays are inundated at high flows, acting as a fish refuge, however due to siltation these may be

becoming too shallow. The success of the bays varied depending on the presence, or otherwise, of a

structure deflecting water into them. If the project was to be carried out again, more consideration

would need to be given to either the location of the bays within the overall flow regime of the river,

or be designed to include a deflection structure to maintain flows into the bay. The site would have

benefitted from a long term management plan, particularly for tree planting” (open).

4. USE VISUAL TEMPLATES - REFERENCE REACHES CAN HELP PARTNERS

FORM A SHARED VISION FOR RESTORATION

Case in point: Inchewan Burn, Perthshire (RRC Manual of Techniques)

Reprofiling back ditch and improving connectivity with the floodplain, Gwen Finch, Worcestershire

Topsoil stripping and ground surface lowering on the River Avon floodplain, Gwen Finch, Worcestershire

March 2006 May 2012 – Well vegetated

“The method statement for the works was a simple concept based on utilising the gradient of the

degraded reach (1 in 14) to form a series of step-pools, replicating as closely as possible the

upstream bed form… The success of the scheme was in part a result of basing its design on the

upstream reference reach. This provided a visual template for restoration which could be easily

understood as a ‘shared vision’ by the design engineers, stakeholders and contractor” (open).

5. WORKIN’ 9 TILL 5 – IT’S AMAZING WHAT CAN BE ACHIEVED IN A DAY

Case in point: River Great Ouse, Water Stratford, Bucks (RRC Bulletin) In September 2013 for one day… and one day only, Wild Trout Trust and River Restoration Centre

staff joined forces to undertake some practical enhancement measures to mitigate the risk of bank

erosion along two sections of the left bank. Willow bundles were created and staked into the bank

toe to protect the exposed bank face and provide habitat and cover for fish (open)

The restored design aimed to mimic the step pool configuration of the natural upstream reach (top left)

Below the A9. August 2006 (top right); 5 years post works in May 2012 (right)

9am – start of the day 5pm – end of the day

6. EDUCATE OTHERS - USE COMPLETED SITES TO SHARE EXPERIENCES

Case in point: Woodsmill Stream, West Sussex (RRC Case Study Series) “The land is owned by Sussex Wildlife Trust (SWT) and the restored river forms an integral part of the

SWT’s education and schools programme. They regularly visit the Woodsmill Stream with groups of

children or students to learn more about natural river features and wildlife” (open).

7. GET INVOLVED – LOCAL VOLUNTEER GROUPS ARE LEADING THE WAY

Case in point: River Pool, Lewisham, London (RRC Case Study Series) “The empowerment of local volunteers fosters understanding, and long-term, there is a greater

aspiration to re-visit the works - and maintain where necessary” (open).

Berms have established and the stream has a more natural cross-sectional profile than the old (mill leat) channel – October 2013

A student visit led by Dr. Kevin Skinner who was involved in the design and planning of the scheme

Organisations like Thames21 engage with local people and encourage them to take ownership of waterways in their local area

Volunteers helping to backfill a side berm on the left bank of the River Pool

8. GATHERING EVIDENCE – MONITORING TELLS US IF IT WORKED

Case in point: River Rother, West Sussex (RRC Manual of Techniques) “Monitoring of the site between 2002 and 2009 indicated a positive performance of the

technique. Changes were observed in cross-sectional area suggesting a dominance of erosion over

deposition in the loop. There was not significant (more than one metre) lateral channel change

between autumn 2004 and a survey in 2006, but small-scale channel adjustment has been

widespread. Therefore it can be concluded that the pre-restoration issue of sedimentation in the

loop has been resolved and that the newly-excavated channel is slowly adjusting to a more

natural, and desirable, form” (open).

9. DON’T JUST SAY NO – REMOVING STRUCTURES ISN’T ALWAYS RISKY

Case in point: Montford Weir, Lancashire (RRC Case Study Series) “The removal of Montford Weir has transformed the previously impounded section. A lowering of

the water level upstream following the weir works has uncovered gravels and this section of

Pendle Water now has greater flow variation” (open).

Montford weir acted as a barrier to fish migration and impacted on natural hydro geomorphological processes

The result is a more diverse stretch of Pendle Water which will continue to adjust, naturally, over time

10. STAY IN TOUCH - TELL US WHAT YOU’VE DONE & WE’LL SHARE IT

We can share your experiences (good or bad) with over 2,000 contacts in the UK or more through

the European River Restoration Centre! We continually update the National River Restoration

Inventory (NRRI) and the RESTORE RiverWIKI with all of the information that we receive to learn

lessons and strengthen understanding of best practice.

The RRC now use many different communication channels including those we have used for years

(Technical publications like the RRC Manual of Techniques, our website and through RRC Bulletins

and Newsletters)

and others which work just as well! (Social media channels - Facebook, Twitter and YouTube).

13th November 2013