13. Eel Passage at Nazeing Marsh
Theme: Ecology and morphology
Objective:
- Enable fish passage throughout the catchment
Project description
A small concrete weir was notched to enable eel migration in the Lower Lea catchment.
The project was delivered in 2018 as part of the Slimy Wrigglers action plan, aiming to make the Lower Lea fully permeable to migrating eels.
A small brook running between Holyfield Lake and Nazeing Marsh, was identified as being suitable to support eel migration, linking to a previous project to install eel passes at Holyfield Weir enabling their migration into the lake.
Notching the weir on the small brook opened up 1.4km of channel, bypassing the Kiora Radial Gates at the top of Holyfield Lake – which was the next impasse to migration – and connecting into the next wetland complex at Nazeing.