Introduction
The Adur & Ouse Catchment contains over 400 man-made structures creating multiple problems for our rivers ecology, preventing the movement of fish, blocking access for eels, and disrupting the natural movement of sediment, preventing flow and increasing the impact of drought. Whilst some of these structures serve a function in flood risk management and flow monitoring, many are a now redundant legacy of historic navigations, agricultural practices, or land drainage.
The Ouse & Adur Rivers Trust has removed over 15 structures and fitted fish passes or simple easements to over 20 more. There is a long way to go to create riverine corridors which enable healthy, native, wildlife populations to flourish.
Our Aim
Through Breaking Barriers, we are focusing on unlocking the river system, encouraging the removal of redundant barriers or installing technical fish pass solutions where structures serve a function. Our aim is to open a further 100km of river network to all species in all flow conditions by 2028
Our Priorities
We have assessed where the density of barriers is greatest, enabling us to focus efforts where they will be most effective and highlighting priority areas;
The River Uck.
The northeast of the River Ouse (Cockhaise Brook, Shortbridge Stream, Middle Ouse, and Sheffield Park Stream).
Eastern Adur (Chess Stream, Herring Stream, Adur East)
Removal or mitigation of barriers will always be complimented by upstream habitat creation and alterations to the morphology of the channel.
We will accurately map all structures observed to add to existing data sets, which are known to be incomplete, enabling longer term strategic approaches to be developed beyond 2030.