Soft engineering: the River Cole

Question 1

What is the River Cole?

Answer 1

a tributary to the River Thames located in southern England

Question 2

How has the River Cole been modified over the past 100 years?

Answer 2

channel had been straightened for milling and also widened & dredged to reduce the risk of flooding

Question 3

When did the restoration of the River Cole begin?

Answer 3

1995

Question 4

Aims of the project

Answer 4

reintroduce wildlife to the area, improve the water quality and reduce the risk of flooding by reintroducing wetland

Question 5

Who funded the project?

Answer 5

EU, the River Restoration Centre (RRC), the Environmental Agency & The National Trust.

Question 6

What was the method used to restore the River Cole?

Answer 6

a new channel was created that flowed 1.2m above the current channel as . In addition, the new channel was given meanders that were present in the past. the old channel was blocked off so that the river would flow through the newer channel

Question 7

Successes of the project

Answer 7

It has recreated wetlands which will help reduce the risk of flooding and has also allowed the river to flood naturally. New wildlife and plants have started to inhabit the area surrounding the river and the surrounding environment is much more pleasant.

Question 8

Failures of the project

Answer 8

The floodplain surrounding the river is used as agricultural land and many farmers were unhappy to have marshland developing nearby. They were unhappy with allowing the river to flood naturally as while it would deposit fertile alluvium, it would also inundate and damage anything they were growing at the time