Designed & Built By
News and Events
Welcome to the RRC's news and events page. Check
this page regularly for the forthcoming events and notices about new publications.
| New Book - Exploring the Thames Wilderness |
| This guidebook, compiled by the two major Thames charities, contains a wealth of information on over 150 of the best places to explore the real Thames wilderness, along with enjoyable walks and activities along its course. |
| Item added on - 3rd May 2013 |
| Environment minister views pioneering river restoration project in the Cairngorms National Park |
| In Scotland, the Minister for the Environment and Climate Change, Paul Wheelhouse visited Carr-Bridge in the Cairngorms National Park on Monday 29th April to view ‘shovel ready’ projects including a pioneering river restoration project, instigated by the Spey Catchment Initiative, which will help to restore valuable riparian habitat and contribute to flood alleviation downstream. For more information, click on the headline link to open the SEPA press release. |
| Item added on - 29th April 2013 |
| Environment Agency - Senior Ecologist vacancy |
| Senior Ecologist – Fisheries & Biodiversity Technical Specialist. Closing date for applications is the 28th April. |
| Item added on - 16th April 2013 |
| Environment Agency working with Natural Resources Wales |
| From 1 April 2013, Natural Resources Wales - a new body formed by the Welsh Government - has taken over the functions previously carried out by the Environment Agency in Wales, alongside those of the Forestry Commission Wales and the Countryside Council for Wales. |
| Item added on - 12th April 2013 |
| Catchment Based Approach conference outputs |
| Speaker presentations from the CIWEM & DefraGovUK conference on the Catchment Based Approach are now available to download. |
| Item added on - 22nd February 2013 |
| River restoration partners announce formation of new South East Rivers Trust |
| The Wandle Trust, The Rivers Trust and the Environment Agency are delighted to announce the formation of the new South East Rivers Trust to help engage communities with conservation and restoration of their local rivers across Kent and south east England. For more information click on the headline link to read the press release. |
| Item added on - 18th February 2013 |
| KTP Research Associate vacancy at the University of Liverpool |
| KTP Research Associate - Embedding Natural Approaches to Flood Risk Management £22,000 - £30,000 pa (depending on experience) University of Liverpool, School of Environmental Sciences Location: Ruthin, North Wales and Liverpool Closing date for receipt of applications: 11 March 2013 |
| Item added on - 15th February 2013 |
| New river restoration visualisation project |
| Sarah Taigel (PhD researcher at the University of East Anglia) is working with the Norfolk Rivers Trust in North Norfolk to trial different visualisation tools showing river restoration with catchment stakeholders. Data collection will take place between February and early May seeking to gain feedback on not just the tools used but also how stakeholders have responded to the proposed ideas about the future of the river and surroundings. Stakeholder responses to the project will feed into a catchment management plan. Contact Sarah on Twitter (@_HappyMapper) or see the Norfolk Rivers Trust Twitter feed (@N_Rivers_Trust) and @9ChalkRivers. |
| Item added on - 8th February 2013 |
| Environment Agency to start work on 93 new flood defence schemes in 2013/14 |
| With a total of £294m to be spent, the agency published a full list of the 681 flood defence schemes it will be working on in the coming financial year on 7 February. Part of the funding is earmarked for projects that have a specific focus on boosting economic growth. The list also includes projects receiving partnership funding contributions from local councils and businesses. |
| Item added on - 7th February 2013 |
| Cardiff University PhD - deadline 15th Feb |
| Landscape controls on downstream energetics for river ecosystem function and services |
| Item added on - 31st January 2013 |
| Research Assistant/Associate at Nottingham University |
| Applications are invited for the above post based in the School of Geography on the University Park campus.
The successful candidate will be a pivotal member of a multi-disciplinary team undertaking research to develop new strategies for managing urban flood risk as part of wider, integrated urban planning intended to achieve environmental enhancement and urban renewal in which multiple benefits of creating blue-green cities are rigorously evaluated and understood.
Closing Date for Applications is Tuesday 1st January 2013
|
| Item added on - 20th December 2012 |
| SEPA seeks views on next river basin management plan |
| This consultation looks at how the second cycle river basin plan should be developed and is the first step in the process of writing the second plan. It is an opportunity for you to shape the plan itself, the way that river basin planning is delivered and for you to be involved in how improvements to the water environment are prioritised. The consultation closes on 28 February 2013. |
| Item added on - 18th December 2012 |
| PhD studentship - Indirect impacts of ecosystem engineering by invasive crayfish |
| This 3.5 year NERC-funded studentship is available from October 2013. The award will cover student fees and a tax-free stipend (from 15,590 GBP per annum). Applications are due by 10.00 on 31st January 2013. Supervised by Dr J Grey & Prof M Trimmer (School of Biological & Chemical Sciences) and Dr G Harvey (School of Geography) at Queen Mary, University of London & Dr J England (Environment Agency. |
| Item added on - 17th December 2012 |
| Publication of Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Report for England |
| The Minister for Natural Environment, Water and Rural Affairs, Richard Benyon MP, has approved for publication the Environment Agency’s first flood and coastal erosion risk management (FCERM) report for England. |
| Item added on - 6th December 2012 |
| RRC 2013 Annual Network Conference - Early Bird Bookings Now Open |
| “Scaling up our Aspirations for River Restoration and Management” Presentations on topics ranging from urban rivers to Natura 2000 designated rivers; from woody debris to eel passage; from ecosystem services to delivering WFD and from the site specific to the catchment scale. Interactive workshops and site visits on day two. Early Bird Booking closes 28th January 2013 - Book your place today! |
| Item added on - 6th December 2012 |
| Willamette River, USA - winner of the International Riverprize 2012 |
| The winner of the International Riverprize is the Willamette River in Oregon, United States of America, a river that has had years of hard work from volunteers, industry and government alike, to bring it back to a much healthier, functioning system. |
| Item added on - 11th October 2012 |
| SEPA Flood Risk Management update |
| SEPA Flood Risk Management update including updates from Scottish Water |
| Item added on - 3rd September 2012 |
| TRAP project - Integrated management of river catchments |
| Territories of Rivers Action Plans (TRAP) is a three year project funded under the INTERREG IVC programme. It aims to develop policies and tools to ensure sustainable economic growth whilst ensuring good water quality, supporting the aims of the WFD. |
| Item added on - 31st July 2012 |
| Daylighting website launched |
| Sheffield Catchment Science Centre have collected deculverting case studies from around the world, provided links to available sources/materials, and detailed environmental, social and economic objectives and results. People can add new sites and provide details to amend existing entries. This will improve the evidence, and also help RRC to update the national inventory of projects. |
| Item added on - 23rd July 2012 |
| Pollution incident narrowly averted on the River Wandle at Wandle Park |
| An environmental disaster was narrowly averted by quick thinking contractors who prevented hundreds of litres of red diesel from polluting a river. The oil spill in the River Wandle was reported by engineering contractors who are restoring the River Wandle in Wandle Park, on Monday. Floating booms were able to contain the spill to about 20 metres, stopping the oil spreading downstream and saving wildlife such as ducks, swans and fish from ingesting the toxic fuel. |
| Item added on - 6th July 2012 |
| Catchment Restoration Fund awarded to Phase 1 Applicants |
| Funding has now been awarded to a number of projects as part of the Catchment Restoration Fund (CRF). These include projects led by the Westcountry Rivers Trust http://wrt.org.uk/wordpress/?p=199 and Thames21 http://www.fishactive.com/news/3240-salmons-brook-healthy-river-challenge.html. RRC helped to assess the applications, and are currently involved in reviewing CRF phase 2 applications. |
| Item added on - 22nd June 2012 |
| European Innovation Partnership for Water |
| The Innovation Partnership for Water aimed at businesses and entrepreneurs includes a 35m euro fund to encourage the development of innovative and novel ideas for water supply and treatment. |
| Item added on - 24th May 2012 |
| Catchment Based Approach conference outputs |
| Richard Benyon reaffirmed the commitment the Government is showing to the Catchment Based Approach at the The Catchment Based Approach conference in London on April 25th. A full range of outputs are now available on the CMS website. |
| Item added on - 15th May 2012 |
| Central Rivers Initiative newsletter |
| April 2012 issue |
| Item added on - 4th May 2012 |
| RRC Rivers of the Future Video available for free |
| If you are interested in acquiring a copy of the RRC Rivers of the Future video, then let us know. Contact Ian Brown at the Centre (ian@therrc.co.uk) |
| Item added on - 27th April 2012 |
| The Future of Rivers in Europe |
| A speech by Wetlands International CEO Jane Madgwick focused on some of the threats to river ecosystems and the growing importance of restoring rivers for a cleaner, safer and richer environment. |
| Item added on - 19th April 2012 |
| European Riverprize for 2013 Announced |
| The International RiverFoundation (IRF) has announced a European Riverprize for 2013 to reward best practice river basin management from the Urals to the Atlantic to mark the UNESCO International Year for Cooperation in Water. In partnership with the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR), the IRF will establish a European Riverprize, open to all organisations engaged in the sustainable management of waterways in Europe. |
| Item added on - 26th March 2012 |
| MSc Integrated Management of Freshwater Environments |
| This programme at Queen Mary, University of London features contributions from industry practitioners and it aims to provide in-depth fundamental and applied training in the science and management of freshwater environments from uplands and hillslopes through floodplain and river networks to estuaries, and to produce scientists able to use the knowledge and skills acquired to enter direct employment or research for a higher degree in the broad field of freshwater environments and their management. |
| Item added on - 19th March 2012 |
| The Better Thames Network website is now live |
| The Better Thames Network is a NERC funded project, administered by the University of Westminster, devised to support the Environment Agency and local stakeholders implement the Water Framework Directive targets for water quality in the Thames River Basin District. Its primary objective is to develop and support an interconnected community of scientists and stakeholders who can make a scientific contribution to, or have a role in, implementation of the Thames River Basin Management Plan. Please encourage your colleagues to join the network; the group will be publishing details of exciting networking opportunities over the coming months. |
| Item added on - 12th March 2012 |
| Restoration project on the River Wye features on BBC Countryfile |
| Presenter Ellie Harrison visited a project on the River Wye where live willow has been planted to address bank erosion. Salix Technical Director David Holland talked on camera about the techniques suitability and application on the Wye. |
| Item added on - 23rd January 2012 |
| Water White Paper – Water for Life |
| The Government has today published the Water White Paper - Water for life which describes a vision for future water management in which the water sector is resilient, in which water companies are more efficient and customer focused, and in which importantly water is valued. |
| Item added on - 8th December 2011 |
| New additions to the RRC website |
| Please have a look at four new pages which have been added to the RRC website featuring content on the LIFE+ RESTORE project, Designated Rivers (resource), the National River Restoration Inventory (of projects) which we manage and PRAGMO - our new monitoring guidance. |
| Item added on - 21st November 2011 |
| RESTORE - River Restoration Themes |
| To mark the official launch of the RESTORE LinkedIn Group Restoring Europes Rivers, we would encourage you to join the debate by contributing to the discussion thread about themes/ topics that you would like to see addressed through RESTORE. |
| Item added on - 15th November 2011 |
| RESTORE Project Website Launch |
| The LIFE+ RESTORE Website is now live! Feel free to explore the website and we would appreciate any feedback on the content, make-up or presentation of the website. For more details, see the RRC November Bulletin, a special issue on RESTORE. |
| Item added on - 1st November 2011 |
| RRC members prices frozen for 2012 - payment now possible online |
| RRC are pleased to announce that membership prices for 2012 will remain the same. A new facility also enables us to take payment for all RRC conferences, workshop, services and products over the phone. |
| Item added on - 31st October 2011 |
| Flood and coastal erosion risk management update |
| A progress report for 2008-2011 for England shows that the Environment Agency by working with regional flood defence committees, local authorities, internal drainage boards and other partners, achieved and exceeded all of the government targets with the exception of one covering intertidal habitats. To read the document click on the link. |
| Item added on - 27th September 2011 |
| Most-improved rivers revealed by Environment Agency |
| The Environment Agency has released a list of the 10 most improved rivers – the waterways that have shrugged off their industrial past to become havens for wildlife and people. The transformation of these rivers has been achieved thanks to thousands of habitat improvement projects, tighter regulation of polluting industries and work with farmers, businesses and water companies to reduce pollution and improve water quality. |
| Item added on - 30th August 2011 |
| River Wensum Restoration Strategy August Newsletter |
| Announcement on a new restoration project planned for Ryburgh End, short articles on the RRC members site visits to Bintree and Great Ryburgh on the Wensum, and information about two MSc studies that the RRC are assisting Cranfield University students with. |
| Item added on - 11th August 2011 |
| Catchment-based approach for rivers |
| Information on the catchment-based approach endorsed by Defra through the Environment Agency is now available online. This also gives details about the catchment pilots which will trial this approach, and a further briefing sets out what the Environment Agency will do to make a hosting role a practical possibility for other organisations. |
| Item added on - 8th August 2011 |
| Future funding of flood and coastal erosion risk management in England |
| A new partnership approach to funding flood and coastal resilience in England was announced on the 23 May 2011. This affects how much national capital funding can be allocated to individual flood and coastal management projects. The strategy and guidance were formally issued on the 19th July 2011. Further information is available from the Defra website. |
| Item added on - 3rd August 2011 |
| Fish populations are healthy in the Forth estuary and the River Clyde |
| Despite their long history of industrial use, the Forth Estuary and the River Clyde are much healthier than many people realise – as proved by the range of fish species caught recently by SEPA scientists. Surveys were carried out to establish the health of river fish populations. |
| Item added on - 29th July 2011 |
| River restoration identified as key in investigation into flood risk in London |
| The London Assembly Environment Committee has today published a report of its investigation into flood risk in London. The report, For a Rainy Day, outlines the scale and nature of the flood risk facing London in the event of severe rainfall, and it calls on the Mayor to lead further action on communicating flood risk and reducing risk through sustainable drainage, river restoration and other actions. |
| Item added on - 22nd July 2011 |
| Natural Environment White Paper published |
| The Natural Environment White Paper (NEWP) sets out the Government’s vision for the future of the natural environment throughout England, placing both the economic and intrinsic value of nature at its heart. The Government’s belief in the need to protect the environment for future generations, make the economy more environmentally sustainable, and improve quality of life and well-being was set out in the Coalition Agreement. |
| Item added on - 15th June 2011 |
| ECRR May 2011 Newsletter |
| The latest version of the European Centre for River Restoration (ECRR) is now available to download by clicking on the headline link. It includes an article by Jenny Mant (RRC) on the recent River Science network conference in Swansea. |
| Item added on - 1st June 2011 |
| Catchment Management - Defra – Caroline Spelman announcement |
| A press notice has been issued regarding new funding Defra have been granted for the spending review period (2011-2015) to help deliver Water Framework Directive objectives (£92 million). The press notice also confirms the continuation of Catchment Sensitive Farming and it mentions the new Catchment Management Approach. A new Catchment Restoration Fund may be established from 2012 that will enable a significant part of the funding to be available to a wider range of stakeholders with more details available in due course. |
| Item added on - 4th May 2011 |
| The River Thames wins the International Riverprize |
| The River Thames was selected as the winner of the prestigious International Theiss River Prize, which celebrates outstanding achievement in river management and restoration. Since April 2005, 393 habitat enhancement projects have been completed and nearly 70 km of river has been restored or enhanced. Congratulations to everyone involved. For the London Rivers Action Plan go to http://www.therrc.co.uk/lrap.php |
| Item added on - 25th October 2010 |
| Announcement: LRAP scoops prestigious RTPI planning award |
| The London Rivers Action Plan (LRAP) hosted by the RRC, has been awarded the Climate Change award winner at the recent Royal Town Planner Institute planning awards ceremony in London. The initiative was commended building on the success of existing Thames river basin management plans and green infrastructural initiatives. Special thanks go to the Project partners, Rob & Rhoda Burns of Drawing Attention and Roger Dawkins of Decent Group for their involvement. |
| Item added on - 17th February 2010 |
| River Basin Management 2013 - 22nd May to 24th May 2013 |
| Location: New Forest, UK |
| 7th International Conference on River Basin Management including all aspects of Hydrology, Ecology, Environmental Management, Flood Plains and Wetlands. |
| For more information: imoreno@wessex.ac.uk |
| RESTORE field visits to Germany and Switzerland - 22nd May to 25th May 2013 |
| Location: |
| You are invited to two combined RESTORE field visits to Germany and Switzerland between the 22nd and 25th of May 2013 on: “Restoration of River Dynamics and Continuity in Heavily Modified Rivers” During the first part of the excursion (May 22-23) we will visit the River Isar in Munich, Germany, to see how the Isar Plan has enhanced ecological and fluvial processes and improved fish passage, whilst at the same time providing new recreation areas for residents and visitors. During the second field visit (May 24-25) to the River Rhine, Aare and Limmat in Switzerland we will see how river processes, habitat connectivity, fish access and fish spawning opportunities have been enhanced, especially at hydropower plants. The event is in English, and amongst our guides will be well-known river restoration experts Walter Binder and Rolf-Jürgen Gebler. |
| For more information: rrc@therrc.co.uk |
| Wild Trout Trust Get-Together 2013 - 8th June to 9th June 2013 |
| Location: Dartmoor Training Centre, Princetown |
| Details to follow in due course |
| For more information: office@wildtrout.org |
| Land and Water Open Day - 21st June 2013 - 10am - 4pm |
| Location: Vale End Fishery, Chilworth Road, Albury, Guildford, Surrey, GU5 9BE |
| Join Land and Water to learn about the company, experience and expertise. Learn how Land and Water can help you! Talk to the experts whilst enjoying a Hog Roast and Refreshments. |
| For more information: Jayne.hornsby@land-water.co.uk |
| RESTORE International conference, European river prize and ECRR international conference - 11th September to 13th September 2013 |
| Location: Vienna, Austria |
| The conference will assess implementation of RESTORE and hand over results of project to ECCR. A focus will be on how the gathering and transfer of knowledge has benefited the practical work of those involved in river restoration during the course of the project. The event will include a presentation of work, networking events, site visit and post conference report. The announcement of the first European river prize will be held in association with the conference. |
| For more information: restore@environment-agency.gov.uk |
| Hydromorphological restoration of rivers - first lessons of the LIFE project WALPHY - 15th October to 17th October 2013 |
| Location: Namur, Belgium |
| La restauration hydromorphologique des cours d’eau - premiers enseignements du projet LIFE WALPHY Ce colloque aura lieu les 15, 16 et 17 octobre 2013 à Namur en Belgique. |