River restoration

River Restoration aims to return a watercourse to its pre-disturbed state. Quite often, full restoration is not possible due to permanent changes in local land use, such as urban development. However, almost all modified rivers can be rehabilitated in some way to improve their environmental value and aesthetics.

River enhancement aims to increase the environmental value of a river, for example, improving the habitat to increase fish numbers.

In the past, work on rivers for drainage and flood alleviation purposes caused damage to the river environment.  The emphasis is now towards working with the river system rather than against it and applying a more natural form of river management whilst taking account of local land use needs.  

Rivers Agency adopts an integrated river management approach which aims to achieve both nature conservation and flood risk management objectives. This approach includes the potential for enhancing modified rivers through maintenance and capital works schemes.

Examples of rehabilitation and enhancement measures are: