On Wednesday 16th March
Temporary silt traps created using posts and bales
On Thursday 17th - Friday 18th March
Demolition and removal of concrete rubble
An immediate speeding up of the flow upstream was apparent and we look forward to seeing sediment incrementally washed away and gravels exposed.
On Friday 18th March
The riverbed upstream looked a lot clearer, with sediment already beginning to clear
Key benefits of removing dams and weirs are:
- Re-establishing the natural continuity of hydromorphological processes (reducing impoundment, upstream siltation and downstream erosion) along the river system.
- Re-establishing natural habitat diversity.
- Reducing barriers to natural migration and movement of fish and other aquatic species.
- Re-establishing a self-sustaining river system, without the need for further maintenance.
- Re-establishing natural continuity in temperature, oxygen balance, pH and salinity.
Finally, special thanks to Trust volunteer David Warriner for this excellent video, filmed as the last of the concrete cill was broken up.
The work was funded by grant aid by the Colne Catchment Action Network