River Nene and River Great Ouse
Site:
River Nene and River Great Ouse
Date:
Winter 2018 and 2019
Value:
The Rothen Group were asked by JN Bentley and the Environment Agency to assist with the de-shoaling works across numerous sites located on the River Nene & River Great Ouse.
The Project
Understanding access & logistical restrictions
Time & ecological constraints including fish breeding season
Managing the changing river conditions
Creating gravel breeding beds for fish spawning
Installing rock armour in scour holes
Providing safety & inspection boats for the EA throughout the project
The sites came with a number of logistical challenges that needed to be considered and overcome quickly.
Due to the rural settings there was no access for land-based plant or equipment and the works had to be undertaken during the winter when locks were closed for refurbishment, further reducing access. This meant that all works had to be undertaken from waterborne plant that could be easily mobilised. There were also strict time constraints that needed to be met for ecological and environmental reasons, due to fish breeding season and bird nesting.
Despite all of this, The Rothen Group and JN Bentley were able to complete the works in just under 3 months.
FEATURED CASE STUDY
Habitat Creation Coney Meadows, Droitwich
Coney Meadows is part of a nationwide project to restore the UK’s wetlands. Since the 17th century, large areas of reedbeds have been stripped and converted into agricultural land, massively reducing the number of habitats available for wetland animals.
FEATURED CASE STUDY
Changing the Shape of the River Derwent, Derby
Following the storm seasons of 2023 & 2024, the EA set out to review its impact on the UK’s waterways. The River Derwent in Derby was flagged after a sonar scan of its navigation identified a scour hole – a direct result of heavy rainfall pushing sediment downstream.
Our Accreditations
“It was obvious from the outset that this was a specialist project requiring a number of innovative solutions to work around the issues presented. Thankfully we have the equipment and experience to ensure that, even without land access, we could reach the hard to access areas, with minimal disruption."
Ian Rothen
The Rothen Group