Case Study
River Restoration on the Amwell Magna Fishery
Location
Ware, Hertfordshire
Date
September 2018
Client
Thames Water
Stakeholders
Environment Agency, Natural England, Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust and Amwell Magna Fishery
Tasks
- Extensive tree works to daylight and clear in channel obstructions.
- Bed level raising using 3200 tonnes of imported gravels over 1 km of historically dredged river
- Creation of a sinuous channel using site won materials.
- Adopted a variety of large woody material techniques including tree hinging and brushwood berms.
- Wet grassland turf translocation for quick establishment.
Key remarks
- Acting as designer and contractor we were able to deliver bespoke works with a flexible design approach.
- Use of specialist plant and equipment designed to mitigate the impact of works on the environment.
- Appropriate mitigation and consultation with consenting bodies over significant populations of protected species including Roman Snails and Water Voles.
Effects
- Large scale restoration of an important part of the Old River Lea, increasing flow conditions and creating extensive habitat.
- Improved fishery conditions, creating spawning habitat.
- Encouraging river to become more sustainable, passing excess material through and maintaining an appropriately sized, flowing channel.
