Test and Itchen River Restoration Strategy completed projects in 2014 and projects for 2015
Name: Heb Leman
Test and Itchen River Restoration Strategy Project Officer
Polhampton, river Test – TOO3
500mm high barrier
Limestone blocks in position.
Management option – Restore
Collaborative project with owner to remove
structure and gain access to 500m of
upstream habitat. New ‘structure’ created
using limstone blocks
Redd count in 2013 saw 2 redds above the
structure. Redd count in 2014 saw 30.
SU 52047 50248
SSSI Unit 84
50/50 funded by EA/EN and owner
Contractor – Robert Bull
Upstream of Saddlers Mill, river Test – T148
Piling being dug out
After
Management option - Rehabiliate
Collaborative project with owner to remove
40m of steel piling and reprofile the true
right bank at various locations along a
400m stretch.
SU 34684 20917
SSSI Unit 90
50/50 funded by EA/EN and owner.
Contractor - Aquatics Management
Tufton (phase 2), river Test– T025, T026, T028
Management option – Restore
Collaborative project with owners to restore
both banks over a length of 1300m of
over wide, shaded, sluggish, and
impounded channel.
Improvements, based on a report by Nigel
Holmes, have provided light to encourage
plant growth, cut trees provided materials
to create meanders. Narrowing has
improved in channel habitat. Downstream
structure removed to reduce siltation
upstream and increase velocities.
SU 44661 46810
SSSI Unit 84
60/40 Contribution from owner and
Strategy
Contractor – Robert Bull
In-channel woody debris
Newly created meanders
Houghton club (phase 2), river Test – T089
Management option – Rehabilitate
Collaborative project with the Houghton
Club
Phase 2 of a project to restore 250m of
historically dredged river by narrowing
and bed level raising.
SU35937 36129
SSSI Unit 88
50/50 funded with Houghton Club
Contractor Brian Parson
Broadlands, river Test – T150
Management option – Conserve and enhance.
Although Conserve and enhance it was
recommended within the Strategy report to
remove these pilings.
Collaborative project with Fishery manager to
remove 100m of wooden piling and re-profile
bank.
SU 35386 17390
SSSI Unit 91
50/50 funded with fishery
Contractor – Broadlands river keeper
100m of wooden piling
Large faggots used to replace piling. Bank yet to be re-graded
Twyford , river Itchen – I65
Dredged over wide channel
Creation of islands
Management option – Rehabilitate
Collaborative project with Bishopstoke
Fishing Club
Historically over wide and dredged section
of river. Based on a report by Nigel Holmes
3 islands made of limestone rock and in-
filled with woody debris and locally won
soil, were built to increase velocity and
improve diversity.
SU 47944 24990
SSSI Unit 107
50/50 funded with Bishopstoke Fishing
Club.
Contractor Matt Ford
Chilland, river Itchen – I35
Management option – Rehabilitate
Collaborative project with owner and the
Hampshire and Isle Wight Wildlife Trust.
The Trust are now managing this area on
behalf of the owner. Nigel Holmes along
with the Strategy report helped guide the
restoration options. 50m of steel piling was
removed. A total of 300m of true left bank
bank was re-profiled to improve
connectivity. A 200m long back water
carrier was restored by an improved
undershot structure, re-profiling and the
addition of gravel.
SU 38439 39714
SSSI Unit 106
EA/NE contribution to HWLT = £30,000
Contractor HWLT
Newly restored carrier
Pilings removed and bank being reprofiled
Structure surveys
Options appraisal report will include the following:
• Set the scene/ introduction
• Surveys – structural, ecological, cross sections, depths, flow, stream
power calculations
• How is structure constructed?
•
• How easy it is to take out?
•
• Upstream off takes e.g. fish farm and side channels, both must still
be able to function.
• How much river will shrink down and length of effect upstream.
• Impact on upstream tributaries
• Model effect on channel in drought and flood conditions after
removal/partial lowering.
• Nic point changes upstream
• Survey upstream and downstream approx 1k to measure effect of
removal i.e. mobility of silt, how far will it go downstream.
• Services
• Archaeology
• Estimated Construction Costs
Projects for 2015
Mottisfont, river Test - T119
SU33087 28248
Management option – Rehabilitate
Working in collaboration with the National Trust
and Southampton University the works will see the
removal of a structure and bed level raising over a
length of 300m. Once complete the ‘new’ water
level will enable work to take place upstream at
Pittleworth estate.
Fullerton, river Test – T069
SU 38446 39711
Mangement option – Rehabilitate
Collaborative project with two
owners on either bank. Work will
improve 400m of double bank by
gravel introduction, narrowing and
the creation of meanders.
Bullington, river Dever – D05, D06
SU46145 41303
Management option – Rehabilitate/Restore
Potential collaborative project with owner,
fishing company and Wild Trout Trust to
restore 1000m by narrowing and the use of
woody debris.
Bossington, river Test – T112
SU34101 30494
Management option – Rehabilitate
Continuing collaborative project with the
owner of Bossington estate to restore the
river. Restoration will include bed level
raising, narrowing and the use of woody
debris over a length of 150m
Timsbury, river Test – T132
SU 33741 24379
Management option – Rehabilitate
One for 2016? Collaborative project with owners
on both banks to regrade/narrow 400m of main
river. Bed has already been modelled by
Hydrometry team. To increase funding will try
and incorporate into Romsey flood risk initiative.
Compton, river Test – T116
SU 33625 29409
Management option – Restore
Continuing collaborative project with
Compton estate. This is an impounded 800m
‘canal’. If funding allows works will take place
over two years and involve bed raising,
narrowing and the creation of pools and
meanders. Part of the agreement will be that
the structure at the down stream end will
also be managed to increase velocities
Vegetation Management
From this....
..to this
‘Conserve and enhance’
One of the easiest ways to improve bank side habitat and the status of the SSSI or is it?
Test and Itchen Restoration Strategy 2014
headline news
All projects have been 50/50 financial collaborations
Nearly 3km of river has been improved
4 structures have been removed/altered to improve habitat and fish passage
A total of 200m of steel/wood pilings has been removed
3 islands built
Recent phone call to various fisheries showed that at least 34 miles of bank is
now being managed more sympathetically.
The biggest challenge is educating fisherman. They want ‘neat and tidy’
traditionally managed fisheries. The customer is not always right!