In this month's bulletin we have news from the UK River Restoration Centre workshop in the Netherlands about the importance of understanding river characteristics (sediment, hydrology and vegetation); SMART objective setting and how to monitor your project. Of course, updated information on the 5th European River Restoration Conference in Vienna 11 - 13 September 2013 & on the first European River Prize.

RESTORE July bulletin

Ulrika Åberg from the RRC writes about the field visit.

In May 2013 the UK River Restoration Centre and the Finish Environment Institute organised a joint RESTORE field visit to Germany and Switzerland. 28 participants from ten different European countries took part.

Particpants on field trip to River Isar

In 2010 Thames 21 visited the Cody Dock Reedbed, close to the mouth of the River Lea (UK), it was instantly clear what a wonderful place it was and how damaged it had become. In amongst the reeds it was beautiful and peaceful, but it was calf-deep in rubbish and Japanese Knotweed had grown across the reedbed, eating out its heart.

As part of the Love the Lea campaign,  Thames 21  commissioned a study into the use of  reedbeds along the Lee (or Lea) Navigation to improve water quality, boost the biodiversity value of the area and improve green space.

By Paul Brotherton

As part of a training course on river restoration sponsored by the RESTORE project, I recently visited the Waal River, a main branch of the Rhine River, flowing through the Netherlands. Here the Dutch are making ‘Room for the River’, restoring floodplains to reduce the risks of floods and creating benefits for people and nature. On the heels of recent catastrophic floods in Central Europe, this approach deserves a closer look if Europe is to meet many of its growing environmental and social policy challenges, including climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction.

The Evironment Agency has produced draft guidance to assist the economic assessment of works or measures that affect the water environment. This can be used for River Basin Management Planning and other disciplines where relevant.

Any comments on the guide would be greatfully received:

Environment Agency