Impacts of River‐Engineering Practices on the Conservation Interest and Water Quality in the Land Yeo, England

In: Water and environment journal, Band 16, Heft 2, S. 135-140

Abstract

AbstractThe environmental quality of many rivers on the Somerset Levels and Moors has been reduced because of past river‐engineering practices and changes in land use. A new holistic and restorative approach to river management is now helping to improve the quality of aquatic ecosystems. This paper presents the results of a study which assessed the impact of past river and floodplain management on the Land Yeo, Somerset, with the objective of recommending measures for future management. The main findings are that (a) the ecological interest of the river has been reduced due to channel re‐sectioning and flow diversion, and (b) the flow diversion is also causing water‐quality problems such as dissolved‐oxygen reduction. Most of this degradation could be reversed by the adoption of a number of channel and riparian‐enhancement measures and by revising the annual maintenance programme.