Weir removal

The Environment Agency has published guidance on weir removal. The report reviews the latest scientific evidence on the impact of weir removal, lowering and modification on rivers and their ecosystems. Removing or altering the height of a weir is a potential way of improving connectivity along the river, with benefits to habitat, ecology and the way that the river works to manage floods, drought and sediment. Although often perceived to be prohibitively expensive, analysis often reveals that weir removal is more cost-effective than maintenance, replacement or the introduction of a fish pass, for example.

Click here for the summary guidance

Click here for the full report 

For more information, see our Library webpage on weirs, barriers and culverts.