Challengesindeliveringweirremovalprojects:Attemptingtogainstakeholderbuyinandovercomingresistancetochange…

DrChrisGardner,SouthEastRiversTrust.

Howweirsaffectfishcommunitieshttp://www.southeastriverstrust.org/how-weirs-affect-fish-communities/

1.Habitatfragmentation– barriertofishmigration/movement.

References:- Fuller,M.R.,Doyle,M.W.andStrayer,D.L.(2015)Causesandconsequencesofhabitatfragmentationinrivernetworks.AnnalsoftheNewYorkAcademyofSciences1355:31-51.- Junge,C.,Museth,J.,Hindar,K.,Kraabøl,M.andVøllestad,L.A.(2014)Assessingtheconsequencesofhabitatfragmentationfortwomigratorysalmonidfishes.AquaticConservation:MarineandFreshwaterEcosystems 24:297–311.- Kemp,P.S.&J.R.O’Hanley (2010)Proceduresforevaluatingandprioritisingtheremovaloffishpassagebarriers:asynthesis.FisheriesManagementandEcology17:297–322.

Howweirsaffectfishcommunitieshttp://www.southeastriverstrust.org/how-weirs-affect-fish-communities/

2.Riverhabitat isdegraded– impoundment.

Reference:- Mueller,M.Pander,J.Geist,J.(2011)Theeffectsofweirsonstructuralstreamhabitatandbiologicalcommunities.JournalofAppliedEcology48:1450-1461.- Poulet N.(2007)Impactofweirsonfishcommunitiesinapiedmontstream.RiverResearchandApplications 23:1038–1047.- Birnie-Gauvin,K.,Aarestrup,K.,Riis,T.M.O.,Jepsen,N.,Koed,A.(2017)Shiningalightonthelossofrheophilic fishhabitatinlowlandriversasaforgottenconsequenceofbarriers,anditsimplicationsformanagement. AquaticConservation:MarineandFreshwaterEcosystems 2017:1–5.

Howweirsaffectfishcommunitieshttp://www.southeastriverstrust.org/how-weirs-affect-fish-communities/

3.Sedimenttransport ishalted – inhibitsgeomorphologicalfunction.

Reference:- DownwardS.&SkinnerK.(2005)Workingrivers:thegeomorphologicallegacyofEnglishfreshwatermills.Area,37:138–147.

Stakeholderscanbehighlyresistanttochange.

Reference:- Lejon A.G.C.,Malm Renöfält B.&NilssonC.(2009)ConflictsassociatedwithdamremovalinSweden.EcologyandSociety 14(2):4.

RiverWandle - ButterHill– BeforePartialRemoval AfterPartialRemoval.

Casestudy1– RiverDarent,Kent.

Casestudy2– UpperMedway,Kent.

Ashurst weirChafford lanetiltingsluice

Casestudy2– UpperMedway,Kent.Issuesraised:ifthereweretobeachangetothecurrentarrangementofthesluicemaintainingupstreamwaterlevels(n=37).

Casestudy2– UpperMedway,Kent.DoyouthinkthecompleteorpartialremovalofChafford sluiceareoptionswhichshouldbeinvestigatedwhenconsideringthefutureofthesluice?(N=37).

Casestudy2– UpperMedway,Kent.Anypreferenceforasolutionvoicedthroughoutthefeedback/informationcaptureform?(N=27).

MedwayConsultationSummary.

Conclusionandtips.1.Continuededucationandengagementoveralongperiodoftime(yearsnotmonths).

2.Localcommunityneedtotakeownershipoftheissuescausedbystructures.

3.Useofpastweirremovalprojectsand‘turned-around’stakeholderstoinformothers.

4.Compromisewillbekeytomaintainingbuyinandvalidatetheconsultationprocess.

Conclusionandtips.5.“Patienceyoumusthave,myyoungPadawan”.Yoda.