Test and Itchen River Restoration Strategy completed

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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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!

Documents

Test and Itchen River Restoration Strategy completed