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Special Projects River Restoration Managing River Levels
Special Projects River Restoration Managing River Levels
Controlling river bed levels, water levels and flows
Both of these measures have the potential to seriously alter both the hydrology and geomorphology of an area and as such statutory bodies such as the Environment Agency must always be consulted prior to commencement. The A.G.A Group would therefore only consider such projects with the appropriate consents from the regulatory bodies. By raising water levels wet meadow habitats can be facilitated and enhanced and fish migration routes re-open where previous water level management, historically options such as weirs have been introduced. Weirs, although serving valuable functions often serve to cut off migration paths which can severely impact on fish populations, reducing habitat and areas where the fish can potentially spawn. By introducing material back into the fluvial system (locally sourced gravel or limestone) this serves to raise water levels to a desired height allowing fish to traverse weirs and travel upstream. Introducing material can also serve to allow for an element of over banking, this controlled flooding allows for a diversity of species to flourish on the floodplain. By definition floodplains in the past experienced an element of flooding which helps spread valuable nutrients adding to the fertility of the soil. By allowing these controlled floods at certain times of year natural cycles are re-introduced which benefit the ecology on an area. |
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| Last Updated ( Sunday, 02 March 2008 18:21 ) |
Controlling river bed levels and flows is a management technique used either to reduce water levels by widening or deepening the channel or to raise water levels by reducing the channel size. By widening and deepening river channels in certain areas flood risk can be reduced. 
