Pow Burn Restoration Works Well Under Way

Pow Burn Restoration Works Well Under Way

The Pow Burn, a tributary of the River South Esk found in the lower catchment near Farnell has been subject to historic alterations in the form of straightening, dredging and the construction of raised flood embankments.

These alterations have reduced the quality of the river habitat, identified by SEPA as a priority area for restoration.

In 2016 phase 1 of the restoration project was successfully delivered. Phases two and three will begin in spring 2017. The restoration of the burn will provide positive benefits including improvements to the management of local flood risk and to local biodiversity.

These improvements will be achieved through the creation of 915m of second-stage channels, the removal of 350m of embankments in places, and the setting back of 350m of existing river bank to provide reconnection of relict meander features currently cut off from the channel.

The biodiversity of the local habitat will be enhanced by providing a greater range of depth and width to the burn, allowing the burn to flow onto the new excavated second-stage floodplains resulting creation of wet woodland areas.

A further measure, the placement of 41 in-channel deflectors (see image) to encourage small scale variations in water flow, will enhance natural variations in the bed of the burn improving the local habitat for a range of species. These were formed from timber arising from targeted tree felling in forming the channel modifications adding to the sustainability of the project.

If you would like to see some of the works in phase one watch this great SEPA video www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TGKyb496mw