Member Article

Eric Wright Civil Engineering protect wildlife in Lake District £540k project

Eric Wright Civil Engineering (EWCE), part of the Eric Wright Group, has helped to safeguard one of England’s rarest animals thanks to a complex design and build project in the Lake District at Ennerdale Water.

The £540k scheme involved re-routing Ben Gill, a tributary of the River Ehen, to its original course in order to restore the delicate habitat in which protected species like freshwater mussels and salmon can thrive.

The lower part of Ben Gill was originally diverted in the 1970s to enable a greater flow of water to be stored for abstraction at Ennerdale Water.

However, the piped water also stopped sediment supply to the upper reaches of the Ehen – a designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and Special Site of Scientific Interest (SSSI).

Now, due to a recent review of abstraction licences by the Environment Agency, the decision was taken to revoke abstraction consent, obliging United Utilities to recreate the original Ben Gill channel to enable sediment and water to enter the River Ehen as it would have done naturally.

Restoring the natural supply of stones and gravel will improve habitats for young mussels and spawning Atlantic salmon in the River Ehen and the Environment Agency have already seen some natural habitats start to return.

Gavin Hulme from Preston-based Eric Wright Civil Engineering said: “The diversion of Ben Gill had reduced the volume of sediment entering the river and altered its hydrological regime, which affected flow and geomorphic conditions to cause degradation of the mussels’ habitat. “As a result, the population was ageing and declining so urgent action was needed to protect it.

“Our task, working closely with United Utilities and the Environment Agency, was to ensure that the restoration works were designed and constructed in a manner that was both sympathetic to the local environment and would provide a robust solution for restoring the local ecosystem.”

Michelle Donoghue from the Environment Agency said: “It’s exciting news that we have worked together to undertake restoration in such a wild, beautiful part of the Lake District. “This project is a fantastic example of how we can balance the needs of people and nature and secure the future of one of Cumbria’s great wild spaces.

“Ben Gill has been given back to nature and once again helps provide vital habitats for spawning Atlantic salmon, freshwater mussels and other local species.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sophia Taha .