40. River Restoration at Digswell Lake
Theme: Water Quality, Habitats and Wildlife
Objective:
- That whatever the flow level, the river and its associated habitats, including banks and floodplains, are managed to support chalk stream species
Project description
The River Mimram at Digswell is failing to meet Good Ecological Status under the Water Framework Directive (WFD).
More info on the WFD is available here. Adjacent to Digswell Lake, the river suffers from over widening, over shading and siltation.
This project restored the 300m stretch of chalk stream, with the use of berms, large woody habitat features and an island at the ponded section of the lake outfall. Selective tree thinning will encourage marginal and in-channel growth creating a more varied habitat.
Grid reference: TL24344148
Project lead: Environment Agency
Project partners: Digswell Lake Society
Funding source: EA Water Resources Fund
Project start: April 2017
Project end: March 2018
Contact for more information: Environment Programme Team (EA)
