Upper Barle River Restoration Feasibility Study

The vision is to carry out river restoration in the upper Barle at Simonsbath, re-connecting the river with its historic floodplain and wider landscape, to help mitigate the impact of climate change, reduce flood risk, improve water quality and to make more space for nature. In doing so, we aim to improve the condition of the River Barle SSSI The aims of the project are:

• a)To identify opportunities for reconnecting the river Barle with its floodplain just below Simonsbath, to enable a more naturally functioning river system to develop, with an improvement in river function, SSSI condition and creating opportunities for nature recovery.
• b)To investigate and model the hydrological and geomorphological impacts of different options, particularly in relation to implications for upstream channel morphology and potential consequences for flood risk management.
• c)To assess the impact of river restoration on existing habitats and species, including an ecological impact assessment and biodiversity net gain calculations.
• d)To assess the impact of river restoration on heritage interest on site.
• e)To assess the impact of river restoration on the wider landscape.
• f)To assess the impact of river restoration on access routes.

The commission is separated into four specialisms: Hydro-geomorphology; ecology; archaeology; and landscape & access