Design considerations for BNG river and stream enhancement

Description

There are lots of factors to consider when designing river enhancements and this will be unfamiliar to many who are new to forecasting future post-intervention outcomes. Discovering new requirements for progressing from concept to outline and detailed design stages can feel overwhelming! This course aims to provide foundation learning and helpful tips on how to navigate river enhancement design processes with clear guidance on the key things to consider, giving participants the confidence to understand, communicate and contribute towards the design and implementation of river enhancements and post-project appraisals.

Over 2 x 3hr virtual sessions, this course will cover the following:

- What additional specialist skills you may need to consider… and who will be liable for the success of proposed designs?... Rivers and streams are dynamic habitats which are formed and maintained by natural processes over time. This course will cover what additional information and/or professional support you may need to consider and draw upon to support different stages of the design process. This will help you understand and work towards a sustainable design solution.
- How long do river enhancements take to design and deliver… The design and delivery process of river enhancements may vary depending on the location, river type and nature of the proposed enhancements and their feasibility. The timescales to get from baseline assessment and forecasting to delivery can also vary considerably. This course will highlight the different stages and requirements for developing a river enhancement project programme from outline to detailed design and delivery.
- Which stakeholders you may need to consult and what permissions / assessments you might need…. Rivers and stream enhancements can deliver many biodiversity benefits, and also provide a number of ecosystem services (e.g. water supply, fisheries, recreation) but rivers and changing climatic conditions can also present hazards in terms of drought (exacerbating poor water quality) and flood risk. There can many different stakeholders involved who may have their own design, assessment and permitting requirements. This course will help you identify and build collaborative approaches with relevant stakeholders; and introduce the likely considerations, assessments, permissions and permits required to deliver river enhancements and sustainable ecological outcomes.
- How do you ensure the delivery of river enhancements in dynamic systems, over a 30 year period… Over the design life or conservation covenant time scale, river enhancements may be impacted by a range of factors that could influence their performance e.g. invasive species, climate change, flooding, drought, land use.

This course will introduce you to techniques and guidance to support you in developing a bespoke monitoring and adaptive management plan (above statutory HMMP requirements) to help you maximise the performance and long term sustainability of your design.

Who Should Attend?

Completion of the Introduction to the Watercourses Module and River Condition Assessment training would be beneficial but not essential.

Knowledge Level

Beginner - Intermediate

Learning Outcomes

• Identify information required to inform the design of watercourse enhancements and specialist skills that may be required to support the design process in the context of opportunities and limitations for sustainable outcomes.
• Understand the importance of a clear project programme and the range of timescales involved in the design and implementation of watercourse enhancements
• Identify the relevant assessments, permissions and permits that may be required to deliver watercourse enhancements
• Understand the need for continuous adaptive management and informed by ongoing monitoring in relation to project life-cycle and working with natural process principles.
• Recognise the importance of CDM regulations when designing watercourse enhancements

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