Working together To improve our water environment

Glazert Water

Potential options for river restoration and natural flood management in the Glazert catchment Draft summary report

Report produced by:1.0 Introduction 1

2.0 Catchment description 3

3.0 Identificationofpotentialopportunities 5 4.0 Next steps 5

5.0 Measuring success 6

6.0 Gettinginvolved 6 AppendixA: ShortListofOptions

Further information about this management plan can be obtained from:

SEPABallochOfficeCarrochan Carrochan Road BallochG83 8EGEmail: ClydeAAG@sepa.org.ukTelephone: 01389727770

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1.0 IntroductionOurchangingclimateandrecentwetweatherhighlightstheimportanceofunderstandingandimprovingthewayrivercatchmentsaremanaged.Tohelpinformthis,theScottishEnvironmentProtectionAgency(SEPA)isrunningpilotprojectsinfourcatchmentareasacrossScotland.Thepilotprojectisseekingto:

improvethephysicalconditionofScotland’swater•environment;demonstrateoptionsforthecoordinateddeliveryofriverbasin•planningandfloodriskmanagementobjectives;developacatchmentapproachforbothriverbasin•managementandfloodriskmanagement.

Theprojectisdeliveredinfourphases.

Table 1.1 Project phases

Project Phase Summary Pre-work CatchmentSelectionPhase 1 ScopingopportunitiesformeasuresdeliveryPhase 2 Detaileddesignofmeasuresandpreparation

forPhase3Phase 3 Implementationofmeasures

Thisreportseekstosummarisetheapproach,findingsandrecommendationsofPhase1oftheproject.

1.1 The Glazert WaterTheGlazertWaterrisesintheCampsieFellsanddrainsacatchmentareaofover53km².Thebulkoftheuppercatchmentisruralinitsnature,buttheriverrunsthroughtwomainsettlements,LennoxtownandMiltonofCampsiebeforejoiningtheRiverKelvinatKirkintilloch.ApproximatelyhalfoftheGlazertWatercatchmentislocatedwithinapotentiallyvulnerablearea(PVA).Fromariverbasinplanningperspective,theGlazertWateriscurrentlyclassifiedatbadecologicalpotentialandhaspointsourcepollutionpressuresandmultiplemorphologicalpressures,themostsignificantofwhichareembankments(withandwithoutreinforcement),highimpactchannelrealignment,lowimpactchannelrealignmentandsetbackembankments/floodwalls.

Themorphologyoftheriversystemreferstotherelationshipbetweenforms(ortheshapeofthechannel)andtheprocessesthatformthem.Themostsignificantmorphologicalchangesarechannelrealignment(straightening)andfloodembankmentsorfloodwalls.Thesechangestotheriver,togetherwithchanginglanduseanddevelopmentonthefloodplainhaveincreasedthevulnerabilityofcommunitiestoflooding.

TheGlazertWaterhasbeenselectedasapilotcatchmentbecause:therearenumerousmorphologicalpressurese.g.•embankments,realignment,instreamstructures;exacerbatedfloodingandidentifiedfloodriskareas(PVAs)are•presentalongitslength;itisasmallsemi-urbanisedcatchmentthathasthebeginnings•ofamorphologicalrestorationplanpartwaydeveloped,butnotimplemented;itwasidentifiedashavingpotentialopportunitiestocombinein-•riverhabitatimprovementswithwiderscaleriverandfloodplainrestorationworksbytheClydepilotstudywhichinvestigatedthedeliveryofmultiplebenefitsthroughriverbasinplanning;asteeringgroupincludingEastDunbartonshireCouncil,•CentralScotlandGreenNetworksupportunit,GlasgowandClydeValleyGreenNetworkPartnership,andClydeRiverFoundationalreadyexists.

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1.2 Aims and objectivesTheaimofthisprojectistodeveloparangeofsustainablelandandrivermanagementstrategiesthatwillsignificantlyimprovemorphologicalstatusandreducefloodrisk.

Itwillbeimportanttotakeintoaccountthewaythatthelandandchannelshavebeenmanagedinthepastaswellasthecurrentandfutureneedsoflandmanagersandriverusers.Anyproposedoptionswillalsoneedtobedesignedtotacklethesource(s)ofproblemsrather than the impact.

Keyobjectivesareto:

investigatethecurrentsituationandunderstandthephysical•natureoftheGlazertcatchment;exploretherelationshipbetweenlanduse,floodrisk•managementandmorphology;identifythepressureswithinthecatchment,particularlythose•causinglowmorphologicalqualityandincreasedfloodrisk:proposeaprioritisedrangeofoptionsthatcouldbeputinplace•bylandandrivermanagers;useamulti-criteraanalysistodevelopashortlistof•managementoptionstoshowhowmorphologicalrestorationandnaturalfloodmanagementcanworktogethertoachievemultiplebenefitse.g.accessandbiodiversitybenefits;makerecommendationsforPhase2,duringwhichland•managerswillbeinvitedtobecomeactivelyinvolvedintheimplementationofmeasures.

1.3 MethodologySEPAcommissionedEnviroCentretoundertakethisfirstphaseoftheprojectandtheapproachtheprojectteamtookisoutlinedinTable1.2.ThroughouttheprocesstheprojectteamhaveengagedandconsultedwitharangeofstakeholdersincludingSEPA,EastDunbartonshireCouncil,ForestryCommission,ScottishNaturalHeritageandCampsieAnglingAssociation.Partnershipwiththesestakeholdershasensuredthatthisfirstphaseoftheprojectreflectswhatisrealisticandachievable.Continuedengagementwillalsoberequiredthroughoutfuturephases.

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Table 1.2 Methodology Phase TasksCharacterisation Desktopresearch-anumberofenvironmentalmapsanddatabaseswerecompiledandanalysedtoprovidea

comprehensiveunderstandingofthedynamicsoftheGlazertcatchment.Sourcesofinformationincludedfloodrecords,floodmapping,riverengineeringdatabasesandlandusemaps.Catchmentwalkover-TheentirelengthoftheGlazertwaswalked,togetherwithimportanttributariesandfeaturese.g.floodplainareas,reservoirs,wetlands,culverts.Interpretdynamicsofthecatchment,particularlyintermsofrelationshipsbetweenlanduse,hydrologyandmorphology.Dividecatchmentintosub-catchmentswithdistinctissues,opportunitiesandconstraintsDividemainriverintoreacheswithdistinctissues,opportunitiesandconstraints

Identifypressures GIS-basedanalysistomapsurveyfindingstogetherwithexistingdatae.g.SEPAmorphologicalpressuresdatabase,IndicativefloodmapandCouncilfloodrecords

Identifypotentialmanagement measures

Rangeofrestorationandmanagementactivitiesatvariousspatialscales,nestedwithinthecatchment

Target opportunities GIS-basedanalysistoprioritiseandtargetcriticalareasformanagementactions,e.g.:Highlightareasofhighrunoffgenerationpotentialandimportantareasoffloodplainorbottlenecksinthe•system.Highlightmorphologicalpressureswhichexertsignificantcontrolonmorphologicalcapacityclassification.•Determinepotentialsynergiesbetweennaturalfloodmanagementandmorphologicalopportunities.•

Excludeconstraints Discountunrealisticoptionsonthebasisofe.g.conflictinglanduse,potentialnegativeimpactsonfloodriskProduceinitialoptionslist DevelopmentofpotentialoptionsandconsultationwiththeSteeringGroupMulti-criteriaanalysis(MCA) IterativeprocesstoestablishtemplateforMCAwhichprioritisesoptionswhichmayoffermultiplebenefitsina

proportionatemanner,withparticularfocusonfloodriskandmorphologyProduceshort-listofoptions RankoptionsandhighlightoptionsconsideredtoprovideoptimumbenefitMakerecommendationsfornextphaseofwork

OutlinerequirementsforfurtherassessmentatnextphaseStakeholderengagementImplementation

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2.0 Catchment descriptionTheprojectteamuseddesktopanalysis,targetedsitevisits,analysisanddiscussionswithstakeholderstocreateanoverviewoftheGlazertWatercatchment.Thisprocesswascriticaltounderstandingkeyenvironmentalcharacteristicsandlandusepressureswithinthecatchment.

Thecatchmenthasarichagriculturalandindustrialhistoryandovertimelandusehaschangedforavarietyofreasonsincludingconstructionoffactoriesandhouses.PhysicalchangeshavebeenmadetotheGlazertWatertosupplywatertoindustrialprocessesandprotectpropertiesfromflooding.

2.1 Hydrology and flood riskHydrologyisasciencewhichexploresthepropertiesoftheearth’swater,particularlyitsmovementinrelationtoland.ThehydrologicalcharacteroftheGlazertcatchmentisdictatedbyarangeoffactorsincludinglocalclimate,topographyandgeology.

TheteamhavefoundlittleevidenceofhistoricfloodeventsintheGlazertcatchmentpriortorecentdecades,butthepresenceofembankmentssuggestfloodingmusthavebeenakeydriverforthemanymodificationsseentodayincludingthetwoformalfloodpreventionschemeswithinthecatchmentatLennoxtownandGlazertbank.

TherearetworivergaugingstationsontheGlazertWaterandtheinformationfromthesehasbeenusedtogainabetterunderstandingofthehydrologyofthecatchment.

Studyingthisdata,togetherwithlanduseandtherainfallcharacteristicsofthecatchment,helpedtheteamtounderstandthecausesoffloodingandthelikelihoodofrisk,couldthenbeconsideredoptionsforreducingfloodriskinthefuture.

IntheGlazertcatchment,mostfloodingappearstobeassociatedwithsmall,highlymodifiedburnsaroundurbanisedareas.Therearerelativelyfewrecordsoffloodingfromthemainriver,suggestingthattheembankmentshavebeenperformingrelativelywellinrecentdecades.

However,inmanyinstancestheembankmentsarenotbeingmaintained,andwithclimatechangeexpectedtoincreasefloodinginfuturedecades,communitiesarelikelytobecomemorevulnerable.

Toprotectfuturecommunitiesthereisaneedtoreduceourrelianceonembankmentsandpromotemoresustainableandnaturalmeansoffloodmanagement.

Figure 2.1 Catchment map

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2.2 Morphology ThebadmorphologicalstatusoftheGlazertWaterisaresultofextensiveembankments,includingtheformerrailwayembankment,andhistoricrealignmentandre-shapingofthechannel.Thesehumanmodificationsseparatethechannelfromitsfloodplainandcanresultinsedimentandwaterbeingtransportedmorequickly.

Theuniformityandstaticnatureoftheriverhasanegativeimpactonriverhabitatsandtheabilityoftherivertoadjustnaturallytoanyfuturechangesinfloworsedimentload.

Engineeredbankprotectionandin-channelstructuressuchasweirsorbridgepiersalsoaffectthenaturalshapeofthechannelandthenaturalmovementofsedimentandwaterthroughthesystem.

Inordertoplanforthefuture,theteamhasworkedtounderstandthecurrentmorphologyofthecatchmentaswellashowchangesovertimeareaffectingtheGlazertWaterandthewiderarea.

2.3 PressuresThesourcesofmorphologicalproblemsandfloodriskwereidentifiedtoallowtheprojectteamtotargetmanagementoptions,whichwillrelievethesepressuresinasustainableway.Table2.1showsanoverviewofkeypressuresusingphotographstakenduringthecatchmentwalkover.

Table 2.1 PressuresFlood Risk Pressures Morphological PressuresGrazinganddeforestation

Habitatlossandmorphologicalimplicationsassociatedwithengineeredbankprotection

Artificialdrainageofwetlands

Artificialbedsubstrates

Floodplainsdisconnected byembankments

Embankmentsandsetbackembankments

Floodplainfunctionalityreduced by drainage andlossof‘roughness’e.g.woodlandandwetland

High impactrealignment,oftenassociatedwithstraightening,regrading,re-profiling,bankprotection/embankments.

Floodplainconnectivityreducedbychannelmodificationse.g.straightened and incisedchannel

Hydraulic,sedimentaryand habitat continuityaffectedbyweirsandother impoundments

Localisedfloodriskassociatedwithhydraulicconstrictionse.g.culvertsandbridges

Morphologicalimpactsofredundant/unsuitablestructures,e.g.localisedscouringand deposition.

Developmentonfunctionalfloodplain

Lossofripariantreecover,exposingbanksto increased erosion

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3.0 Identification of potential opportunities 3.1 Options appraisal

Inordertoimplementsuccessfulchangesinthefutureitisimportanttoidentifytherootcauseofproblems,ratherthanthesymptoms.Ourapproachforreducingtheimpactofpressuresincludeschangingthemanagementoflandandriverstoworkwith,ratherthanagainst,naturalprocesswhereverpossibleandremovingstructuresthatarenolongerneeded.

Theteamidentifiedandconsideredtherootoftheproblemstodevelopalistofoptionswhichcoulddelivermorphologicalimprovementsandreducedfloodrisk.

Thisprocesswasaboutidentifyingallthepotentialwaysofachievingtheaimsoftheproject,furtherworkwithlandownersandprojectpartnerswillbeneededbeforetheseopportunitiesbecomeworkonthe ground.

3.2 Long listTheoptionsappraisalresultedinalonglistofopportunities,thathavebeendividedintotwocategorieslandscapescaleandsitespecific.Insomecasesacombinationofoptionswillberequiredtodeliverchange.Intotal49optionshavebeenincludedonthelonglist.

3.3 Multi-critera analysis Multi-criteraanalysisisaprocessbywhichthelonglistofoptionscanbeprioritisedinordertoachievemaximisemultiplebenefits.Thisprocessmeantthelonglistwasassessedonanumberoffactorsincludingthekeyprojectdriversofmorphologicalimprovementandnaturalfloodmanagement,aswellasarangeofwiderbenefitsincludingpotentialforwiderhabitatimprovementsandopportunitiesforrecreationalandaccessbenefits.

Themulti-criteriaanalysisprocessenabledtheteamtoscoreeachoptionandidentifyatoptenoptions.

3.4 Top ten Thetoptenidentifiedbytheteamisalistofpriortisedsitesthatwilldeliverthemostbenefitforthecatchment,however,thisisjustafirststepandmoreinvestigationworkwillneedhappeninthenextphase.

AppendixAusesamapandtabletoprovidesummarydetailsoftheshortlist.

4.0 Next stepsMovingforwardwiththeprojectitisimportanttounderstandifitpossibletoturntheidentifiedopportunitiesintoonthegroundreality.TodothisSEPAwillbeengagingwithstakeholdersandlandownersandthisprocesswillhelpshapethefuturedirectionoftheproject.

4.1 Stakeholder engagementWorkinginpartnershipwithstakeholders,includinglandownersandlandmanagers,willbecriticaltothesuccessoftheproject.Thisengagementwillprovidelocalknowledgeandperspectivewhichwillgiveanideaofhowtheproposedlandandmanagementoptionswouldimpactontheground.Futureengagementislikelytoinclude:

continuedworkingwiththeestablishedSteeringGroup;•anengagementprogrammeofworkshops;one-to-onesand•discussionsessionstodetermineattitudesandwillingness;andtoaskforopinionsonoptionsandanyotherideas;communicationwithlandmanagersfocusingonthetangible•benefits(e.g.improveddrainagebehindembankmentsorshelterbeltplanting)aswellassecondarybenefits(e.g.improvedaestheticorhabitatvalue);developingasystemtoencourage;collectandreviewfeedback•fromtheengagement;buildingonpreviousengagementandcommunication;•landownersandotherstakeholderswillberegularlycontactedandupdatedthroughoutthedurationoftheprocesstoensuresustained interest.

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4.2 Developing the restoration projectOncelandownersandstakeholdershaveindicatedtheirsupportorinterestintakingforwardarestorationoption,thenextstepistoundertakeadetailedstudy-scopingandmodellingtoensurethatwhatisproposedisappropriateandwillnothaveanegativeimpactontheland/landowner.Restorationandre-engineeringriverscanbecomplexanditisimportantthattherightcheckshavebeenundertakenbeforeprogressing.

Toensurethatoptionsareachievableandrealisticconsiderationwillbegiventoarangeoffactorsincludinglandtakeandcosts,withacost-benefitanalysisundertakenasameansofcomparingoptionsagainst each other.

Thedeliveryandimplementationofthesemeasureswillrequirethecommitmentofindividuallandownersandlandmanagers.Toenablethis,asupportframeworkwillbeestablishedtoencouragecollaborationbetweenlandowners,landmanagers,thecommunityandagenciestotakerecommendationsforward.

Thesuccessfuloutcomeofthisprocesswillbetheimplementationofmeasuresthatwillbeintegratedwiththedaytodayneedsoflandmanagers and communities.

5.0 Measuring success ThisworkisdrivenbytheEuropeanWaterFrameworkDirective(WFD)andFloodsDirectiveandtheassociateddomesticlegislation(WaterEnvironmentandWaterServices(Scotland)Act2003andFloodRiskManagement(Scotland)Act2009.

Intermsofthestatutoryrequirementsassociatedwiththeproject,itwillbeconsideredtobeasuccessifitdeliversmeasuresonthegroundthatwillhelptomeetWaterFrameworkDirectiveandfloodriskmanagementtargets,throughimprovedmorphologyandreducedfloodrisk.

However,theprojectaimstodelivermultiplebenefitsandthisisonlypossiblewithacontinuedpartnershipbetweenlandmanagers,communitiesandresponsibleauthorities.Itishopedthatthiswillencouragetheimplementationofsustainablemanagementsystemsthatwillsupportfarmingpractices,maintainthevalueofthelandandsafeguardpeopleandtheirproperties.

6.0 Getting involvedThefuturedesign,deliveryandimplementationphasesofthisprojectdependonpartnershipworkingbetweenSEPA,stakeholders,landownersandlandmanagerslivingandworkingacrossthecatchmentandthewidercommunity.

Ifyouwouldliketofindoutmoreinformationorgetinvolvedinfuturephasesoftheprojectpleasecontactusby:

Email: ClydeAAG@sepa.org.ukTelephone: 01389727770

Appendix A. Short List of Options

Appendix A. Table 1. Top Ten

Forsitelocationspleaserefertothemapprovidedoverleaf.

Site ID Morphology opportunities Natural flood management opportunities FocusFIN02_S04Finglen/Kirkconfluence

Riparianplanting(RightHandBank)Removebankreinforcement(RightHandBank)Removeset-backembankment(LeftHandBankRemoveembankment(RightHandBank

Reconnectfloodplain(LeftHandBank)LeakybarrierplantingDrainage management

Combined

LAND_NW_01Upper catchment

N/A Nativewoodlandplanting NaturalFloodManagement

LAND_WE_01Upper catchment

N/A Wetlandrestoration/creation NaturalFloodManagement

GLZ02_S01Lennoxtown

Removebankreinforcement(bothbanks)Removeembankment(RightHandBank)Addresshighimpactrealignment

Reconnectfloodplain(RightHandBank)LeakybarrierplantingDrainage management

Combined

GLZ01_S01LennoxCastle

Removeembankmentsandset-backembankment(bothbanks)(notethisdoesnotincludethefloodpreventionsworksonRightHandBank)Addresslowimpactrealignment

Reconnectfloodplain(LeftHandBankandRightHandBank)LeakybarrierplantingDrainage management

Combined

GLZ03_S01BetweenLennoxtownandMiltonofCampsie

Riparianplanting(RightHandBank)Removebankreinforcement(bothbanks)Removeembankments(bothbanks)andset-backembankments(LeftHandBank)Addresslowimpactrealignment

Reconnectfloodplain(LeftHandBankandRightHandBank)LeakybarrierplantingDrainage management

Combined

GLZ05_S02AdjacenttoBirdstonCommunityWoodland

Riparianplanting(LeftHandBank)Removeembankments(bothbanks)Addresshighimpactrealignment

Reconnectfloodplain(LeftHandBankandRightHandBank)LeakybarrierplantingDrainage management

Combined

GLZ05_S03DownstreamofBirdstonFarm

Removebankreinforcement(RightHandBank)Removeembankments(bothbanks)AddresshighimpactrealignmentRemoveset-backembankment

Reconnectfloodplain(LeftHandBankandRightHandBank)LeakybarrierplantingDrainage management

Combined

GLZ05_S01DownstreamofMiltonofCampsie

Removeembankment(RightHandBank)Addresshighimpactrealignment

Reconnectfloodplain(RightHandBank)LeakybarrierplantingDrainage management

Combined

POW01_S01PowBurn

Removeembankment(LeftHandBank)Addressrealignment

Reconnectfloodplain(LeftHandBank)LeakybarrierplantingDrainage management

Combined

Figure 1. Landscape Level Natural FloodManagment Options

Figure 2. Site Specific Options