NEWSLETTER ECRRINTRODUCTION
For the first time since almost a year a new newsletter has been brought out.
As for all the changes that is going on for now, also the newsletter has got a new style, structure andcontent. We are still of course in the development phase. Neither this structure nor style will bedefinite for now. Hopefully, we can adjust with your input and help and can we come to one definite
style at the end of this year. Also within the organisational structure there have been changes (seeLATEST NEWS). We hope you enjoy reading it; we look forward to your comments and firstimpressions!
Secretary, Wim Zeeman & Mafasha Maharoof on behalf of the secretariat of ECRR
AGENDA
ECRR:
ECRR will have its first board meeting in Boekarest, Romania since the switch of the secretariat. Theboard meeting inclusive the seminar with other participants will be from the 6th of July until the 9thof July.
RRC:
Module 1- ‘Understanding River restoration’: Processes, ecology, planning and assessing potential.
8th & 9th June 2010, Brittania Hotel , Portland Street, Manchester UK.
CIREF:The Second Technical Meeting in Zaragoza 1st and 2nd of June
http://cirefluvial.com/eventos_ver.php?id=35
CIRF and CIREF are organising together a visit of RR experts from Jordan to Spain.
The visit will be funded by the Spanish Agency for Interntional Cooperation
and Development. Between 4th and 12th of May, visitants will learn from experiences on RR,
environmental improvement of rivers and water efficient use (water treatment, saving and reuse) inMadrid, Corodoba, Doñana and Barcelona.
FORECASTER
Forecaster Project: End-user meeting Stream physical restoration; syntheses and methods for basin
management. Lyon , 2010 June 2 – 4Location : ISH Institut des sciences de l'homme, Marc Blosh room (4e floor),
14 avenue Berthelot, 69007 Lyon.
E-COURSE

9th of April the first E-learning course on river restoration took place. INBO and ECRR joined theirforces to propose to Basin Organisations management staff a course at a distance :The number ofsubscriptions were enormous; it had a three fold over-subscription.
This course was for an international wide audience who are River Basin Managers and Decision
Makers from basin organisations, involved in the definition and implementation of measures, andfrom consultancies willing to expand their competencies.
People already involved in RR would not take advantage of this course – ECRR and their national
components already propose in-depth courses for practitioners. The last session was held on 30th ofApril. In the next edition of the newsletter you will find experiences on this event.
LATEST NEWS
Bart Fokkens has retired and does not longer work at Rijkswaterstaat, he now only advisory work for
Wetlands International and of course he still fulfil his role as being the chairman of ECRR.
Since January this year, the secretariat of ECRR does have a new home; Wim Zeeman had thehonour to be the secretary of ECRR. Wim Zeeman works at the Government Service for Land andWater Management (Dienst Landelijk Gebied) at the central head office in Utrecht, TheNetherlands.
In December last year the transfer of the secretariat from CIRF to DLG was prepared in Venice.

Also we would like to give our compliments to our colleagues of River Restoration Centre in the UK,
where also our dear board member Martin Janes is active in, for the great work they done withorganising the 11th annual network conference in York. We experienced this network conference as avery joyful, educative as well as a very inspiring week for us. The conference was an event wherepeople come together to exchange experiences and to network. There was a total of 10
nationalities, of which 95% English.
Interesting to see was that every project was presented; regardless their size, from small projects tovery big ones (e.g. ‘the Houting Project’ from Denmark). However, the main message of theconference was the period of minor problems has ended, and that it was the time to re-organiseorganisational and project sytems. A good example for this new approach within a new system wasthe Houting Project. Where the initiative came to save the almost extinct fish specie ‘houting’ ended
up in a total restoration of approx. 30 km of riversystems in only 4 years time, this included also theremoval and/or the reorganisation of fish farms.
Remarkable was the fact that the English are way stronger in taking stakeholder participation into
consideration in their projects than the Dutch do. This gave us a few nice examples how this could betackled.

Furthermore there are a few fundamental researches done by the English. To name a few: theremoval of weirs and taking into consideration the catchment of sediment in designing (see‘Sediment matters for successful river restoration’). These were examples where every riverrestorator has to deal with and benefit from.
We found out there is still a lot more to learn when it comes to ecologically restoring rivers in theNetherlands. Our English ‘colleagues’ had well examples of these, which we could use and bring in topractise.

ABOUT ECRR
We have a list of all the members or members in pre who we do want to invite for the meeting inJuly, and to do an inventory of all the people who do want to be present in Boekarest. The program
will be soon distributed amongst the board, members and invitees.
This year will be a year full of developments and changes for ECRR, to start with; the new
secretariat, and the new position of Bart Fokkens, our chairman, in his private life. Although Bart
has retired and does not work for Rijkswaterstaat anymore, he still does work as an advisor forWetlands International.
The website will hopefully be launched in begin of June; it will have a total new structure, style andorganisation. We hope that these have improved in some ways the user-friendliness of the site. Thestructure of all the information has also been changed. Some new theme titles and sub-themes are
made to categorise more easily the information and to find these. Hopefully the layouts will also
suite everyone, for those who have seen the first draft in digital form were quite satisfied. Of course
there is still a lot to be done, and we hope that the final result will be as satisfying as the first draftversion. Please feel free to comment on any of the new product (s) that will be or is produced in thecoming set of period and send your reaction(s) to:W.P.C.Zeeman@minlnv.ln or M.Maharoof@minlnv.nl

Side channel near Gameren
along the river Waal in Holland

POLICY & REGULATIONSIn the UK…
The Water Framework Directive the Floods Directive and the Flood Management Plans haveresulted in a host of new demands upon practitioners within both the FCRM and land drainage
communities in the UK. Whilst there is a broad range of existing guidance on good engineering
design and the application of mitigation measures, the array of guidance can create problems whentrying to ascertain the most appropriate mitigation for new historic modification, and it is often
difficult to ensure that the selected mitigation has sound scientific grounding.
The WFD Mitigations Measures Manual for Flood Risk Management and Land Drainage has beendeveloped, jointly funded by the Environment Agency, SNIFFER and the Scottish Government,
following a review of the scientific evidence base, as a single source of advice for a wide ranging ofpractitioners and river and coastal managers.

The First Cycle of River Basin Planning has led the Environment Agency to identify how it canachieve improved status for waterbodies through its own Flood and Coastal Risk Managementactivities. Around 400 measures have been identified already for delivery through flood risk capitalschemes. Tools and processes are being designed to deliver mitigation measures to achieve GEP inheavily modified waterbodies , through asset management and operational activities.
Source: Conference book of: ‘River Restoration Centre (RRC) 11th annual network conference’

About River Restoration
Denmark- ‘The Houting Project- The largest nature restoration in Denmark ‘In Denmark more than 350 species of plants and animals have been disappeared over the last 150years. The fish called the Houting now definitely belongs amongst rare species.
To save fish species from complete extinction the Danish Forest and Nature Agency has initiated theHouting Project. Taken as a whole, the entire population ofHhouting in Denmark- and thereby in theworld! - has been estimated to about 7000 spawners. Therefore, the Houting has been designated asa special priority species in the EU Habitat Directive. As a consequence, Denmark does have animperative duty to protect the species and improve its survival.
Previous restocking attempts in Denmark have not been successful, as they were not followed up bya habitat restoration.
Today we know that a total restoration of the habitat is necessary for the Houting to survive andonce again become common. The project amongst other measures therefore includes removal ofobstacles, creating new spawning grounds and nursery areas.
The EU LIFE funding financially supports the Houting-project with €8 million of a total budget of €13.4 million . At the end of 2010 four Danish rivers will be restoredin this Houting project.. Theproject will have:o Removed 13 obstacleso Given access to additional 130 km new river habitatso Eliminated mortality of drifting fry past fish farmers
o Created new spawning grounds
o Restored approximately 30 km rivero Created 500 ha new nursery areas
For more info: www.houting.dk
Source: ‘Conference book of: ‘River Restoration Centre (RRC) 11th annual network conference’, - DanishForest and Nature Agency, Regional Office Wadden Sea Skovridervej 3, DK-6510 Gram, Denmark.

EuropeFORECASTER is an European project that has been selected for funding from the 1st call of
the IWRM-NET. It is funded by various national organisations across Europe. The project aims atlinking river restoration science with practice to support the implementation of robust, cost efficientrehabilitation strategies for improving rivers and floodplains. The main objective of the project isassessing research output and case studies concerning the ecological effects of hydromorphological degradation and positioning hydromorphology in river rehabilitation strategies. The
focus is on the effectiveness to enhance hydrology, morphology and aquatic ecology (fish, aquaticflora, benthic invertebrates). The two-year project started at the end of 2008 and will be finished thisautumn.
To give end-user access to the information FORECASTER has developed a web-based geowiki tool
(http://forecaster.deltares.nl). This tool is a knowledge and information system relatinghydromorphology and ecology of European rivers. The system presents a compilation of casestudies describing the output from river restoration projects as well as knowledge on the impact ofpressures and the effectiveness of restoration and mitigation measures. It is intended to help
practitioners by presenting experiences about success or failure of the application of different
measures. The tool is based on a combination of Google Maps and the WIKIPEDIA approach. Thus
users can consult the tool either geographically or by theme. Moreover they can become acontributor. As contributor, people can enter new case studies on river restoration or improveexisting information in the webtool. To be able to contribute a simple registration is required.

Facilitating the application of Output from REsearch and CAse STudies on Ecological Responses tohydro-morphological degradation and rehabilitation (FORECASTER)
Contactpersons:
Forecaster project: Prof. dr Ian Cowx (I.G.Cowx@hull.ac.uk) or any of the participating institutes
Forecaster webtool: dr Yenory Morales Chaves or dr Tom Buijse (forecaster@deltares.nl)
Source: Tom Buijse
UK
Britain’s upland rivers are characterised by moderately steep single thread wandering cannels thatexhibit frequent gravel transport and slowly shifting channel pattern. Efforts to engineer thesechannel systems has resulted in rapid and often negative channel response with erosion anddeposition common in both rural and urban areas. The failure to recognise the dynamic nature ofthese channels and to consider the character and impact of sediment transport are the primarycauses of these problems. Sediment accumulation through engineered sections is perceived to be
problematic due to the loss of flow capacity and efforts have been made to control this throughsediment trapping.
A protocol is presented that places sediment transport/management studies at the forefront during
the design stages of river engineering and enhancement works offering a range of assessment
methods often readily available to the hydraulic engineer. The potential benefits of adopting such aprotocol in terms of sustained stability and economics are discussed.
Source: ‘ Conference book of: ‘River Restoration Centre (RRC) 11th annual network conference’,- JBA
consulting, The Brew House, Wilderpool Park, Greenall’s Avenue, Warrington, WA4 6 HL, England.
University of Salford, School of Environment and Life Sciences, Peel Building, Manchester, M5 4WT,
England-: a new catchment wide strategy
Described as ‘the river that changed the world’1 the Mersey has been at the heart of the evolving
cultural landscape of the northwest, from the Pennine fringes to the Irish Sea coast.
An axis of manufacturing and trade during the Industrial Revolution the River Mersey continued tobe at the heart of the economic growth of the region into the 20th century. However, this came at a1‘Mersey- the river that changed the world’- 2007. Published by Bleucoat Press ISBN 1 872568 55 5

great cost to the river in terms of pollution, leaving the system as the most polluted and degraded inEurope.
However, the past 25 years has seen a turn round in water quality, with the river now supportingsalmon in some limited reaches. Despite the success of dealing with the water quality the river andits corridor still have a legacy of poor and fragmented habitats, extensive flood defences and an
adjacent population of 5 million who largely turn their backs on the river.
To address this, ‘The Mersey Life Project’ was developed. This project is seeking to realise the socioeconomic and ecological potential of the river and its main tributaries by making it a great place forpeople and wildlife.
The Portfolio of projects for Mersey Life contains over 160 schemes, which, for example, involve therestoration of 400 hectares of flood plain, 35 km of river channel and 870 hectares of riverine
woodland management. Integrated with this are 100 schemes to enhance access and recreation
including improved fishing access to 60km of river and schemes to introduce art and address safetyissues along urban reaches of the river. The Portfolio approach also insists in developing
collaborative processes and partnerships between key agencies and interest groups.
Source: ‘ Conference book of: ‘River Restoration Centre (RRC) 11th annual network conference’,Katherine Causer, Environment Agency, North West Region, South East Area Office, Appleton House,
430 Birchwood Boulevard, Warrington, WA3 7WD, England. Peter Worrall and Gene Hammond, Penny
Anderson Associates Ltd, Park Lea, 60 Park Road, Buxton, Derbyshire, SK17 6SN, England. Martin
Janes, Environment Agency, North West Region, Central Area Office, Lutra House, Dodd Way, Walton
Summit, Bamber Bridge, Preston, Lancashire, PR5 8BX, England.
Steve Maslen, Maslen Environmental, Salts Mill, Victoria Road, Saltaire, Shipley, BD18 3LF, England.
LITERATURE

Sediment matters for successful river restoration
Sediment is an important part of a healthy river system and is an essential component of manyaquatic ecosystems. Impacts can relate to a wide variety of concerns that include habitats, flood risk,

water quality and amenity. Our changing climate also means that these impacts could increase in
the future importantly.
The EU Water Framework Directive requires sediment pressures to be identified and any risks
managed in order for watercourses to meet good ecological status. Given the range of potential
impacts there is a need for a tool that can be used by a wide range of non-specialist users to help
understand catchment sediment issues.
In view of this, Atkins ltd is currently developing the ‘Sediment Matters Handbook’ for theEnvironment Agency. A draft of the handbook has been produced and it is currently being piloted
across 10 UK catchments, its due for publication in 2010. The approach that has been developed toenable users to:o Understand catchment sediment dynamics
o Identify sediment- related problems
o Devise sediment monitoring programmes and collect evidence of sediment related
problems
o Focus management and restoration for multiple benefits
Source: ‘ Conference book of: ‘River Restoration Centre (RRC) 11th annual network conference’,‘Sediment matters for successful river restoration’. Jo Shanahan, Atkins Ltd, the Octagon, Pynes HillCourt, Rydon Lane, Exeter, EX2 5AZ, England. Natalie Philips, Environment Agency, Olton Court, 10Warwick Road, Olton, Solihull, B92 7HX, England.
Publication magazine H2O
In the Netherlands more and more streams are being ‘restored’. The Dutch regional waterauthorities are currently busy removing the weirs in the Dutch river areas to give the streams theopportunity to restore themselves into their natural morphological structure.
About these morphological effects after natural restoration of streams is currently not much known
in the scientific world.
Therefore the Dutch Service for Land and Water Management (DLG, Dienst Landelijk Gebied) has
given Royal Haskoning and the University of Twente the assignment to do in-depth research about
the morphological effects of some of these straightened streams in the land division- project of
Saasveld-Gammelke in the area of Oldenzaal.
In this publication of DLG, you can find the outcomes of the research done by Royal Haskoning incoöperation with the University of Twente. Also you can find calculations made with a onedimensional hydraulic and morphological model and the outcomes of this.
This publication is in Dutch.
Source: Dutch Title: ‘Morfologische effecten van ontstuwing en hermeandering beken.’English Title:‘Morphological effects of the removal of weirs and re-meandering of streams.’ Translator: F.M.
Maharoof