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Restoring chalk stream processes through river restoration along the River Misbourne
The Water Industry National Environment Programme (WINEP) is a cornerstone of environmental regulation in England, setting out the actions water companies must deliver to meet statutory obligations and contribute to wider environmental goals. AMP7, which covered 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2025, represented one of the most ambitious WINEP cycles to date, with over 11,900 actions aimed at improving water quality, protecting biodiversity, and supporting sustainable water resources. The case study below provides an example of one of the completed AMP7 projects.
Historically the River Misbourne was straightened, widened and diverted from its original course to provide power for Quarrendon Mill. The channel was also in a perched state with the riverbed sitting above the valley bottom and the chalk groundwater table.
To support the chalk stream to be more resilient to climatic conditions such as flood and drought and enhance local habitats for wildlife, river restoration was carried out. This involved moving a large section of the river channel in line with the river's original course. To do this 500m of meandering stream was created to replace the over-straightened channel. A wetland area was also established to create an area for local wildlife and for additional flood storage capacity in the winter months.
The aim of the river restoration project was also to support the river to achieve ‘Good ecological status’ under the Water Framework Directive. The project was delivered in partnership with the Environment Agency, Landowners the CaBA Catchment Partnership and other local stakeholder groups.
To assess the benefits of the restoration, work the Environment Agency monitored the hydrology and ecology in and around the site before and after construction. It will take time for aquatic animals and plants to become established on the site. However, the Bucks Bird Club have already observed several bird species using the wetland areas including white and yellow wagtail and ringed plover. Eventually it is anticipated that species like brown trout and kingfishers will migrate to the area.
Image on the lefthand side shows the field prior to the river restoration project in 2019 and the image on the right shows the realigned river following the restoration project in 2022.
Restoring chalk stream processes through river restoration along the River Misbourne
The Water Industry National Environment Programme (WINEP) is a cornerstone of environmental regulation in England, setting out the actions water companies must deliver to meet statutory obligations and contribute to wider environmental goals. AMP7, which covered 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2025, represented one of the most ambitious WINEP cycles to date, with over 11,900 actions aimed at improving water quality, protecting biodiversity, and supporting sustainable water resources. The case study below provides an example of one of the completed AMP7 projects.
Historically the River Misbourne was straightened, widened and diverted from its original course to provide power for Quarrendon Mill. The channel was also in a perched state with the riverbed sitting above the valley bottom and the chalk groundwater table.
To support the chalk stream to be more resilient to climatic conditions such as flood and drought and enhance local habitats for wildlife, river restoration was carried out. This involved moving a large section of the river channel in line with the river's original course. To do this 500m of meandering stream was created to replace the over-straightened channel. A wetland area was also established to create an area for local wildlife and for additional flood storage capacity in the winter months.
The aim of the river restoration project was also to support the river to achieve ‘Good ecological status’ under the Water Framework Directive. The project was delivered in partnership with the Environment Agency, Landowners the CaBA Catchment Partnership and other local stakeholder groups.
To assess the benefits of the restoration, work the Environment Agency monitored the hydrology and ecology in and around the site before and after construction. It will take time for aquatic animals and plants to become established on the site. However, the Bucks Bird Club have already observed several bird species using the wetland areas including white and yellow wagtail and ringed plover. Eventually it is anticipated that species like brown trout and kingfishers will migrate to the area.
Image on the lefthand side shows the field prior to the river restoration project in 2019 and the image on the right shows the realigned river following the restoration project in 2022.
