Summary:
Project name: Coniston Cold Weir Removal
Location and channel length improved: The River Aire at Coniston Cold, North Yorkshire. 20.4km of unrestricted access from the Aire and into Otterburn Beck.
Issue: A former mill weir which was in situ for ~180 years, yet redundant for at least 60. The 19m wide, 1.4m high (plus a 4m sloping stone apron on the downstream side) was a major barrier to fish and sediment movement and had impounded the river, thereby drowning out quality habitat, for ~100m.
Objective: Full removal to reinstate connectivity.
Method: Pools and riffles created with heavy machinery, including gravel introduction to create spawning riffles. Impoundment removed. Bankside tree work to increase light in the channel. Brushwood berms, flow deflectors, hinged trees, cover logs. Bank lowering and re-profiling.
Budget: £7,956 (full economic cost)
WTT role: Jonny Grey, lead partner — project design and delivery.
Partners: The Phillip Green Trust (owner) and tenant farmer, Environment Agency, and Aire Rivers Trust. Also supported by the Patagonia World Trout Fund.
Project date and duration: Summer 2018, 2 days + associated pre and post (ongoing) monitoring.