Project overview

STREAM is a £1 million four-year conservation project centred on the River Avon and the Avon Valley in Wiltshire and Hampshire. The River Avon and its main tributaries are designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC), and the Avon Valley is designated as a Special Protection Area (SPA) for birds. Within these sites STREAM will undertake strategic river restoration activities and link management of the river and valley to benefit the river habitat including water crowfoot and populations of Atlantic salmon, brook and sea lamprey, bullhead, Desmoulin's whorl snail, gadwall and Bewick's swan.

The STREAM project is supported financially by the European Commission's LIFE-Nature programme. Natural England is working with project participants the Environment Agency, Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust and Wessex Water.

Background

A Conservation Strategy for the River Avon Special Area on Conservation (2003) identified the main issues affecting the ecological health of the River Avon SAC, and agreed on a range of actions required to address them. It also highlighted the complex relationship between the river and the Avon valley.

In December 2002, work began on securing substantial new funding to do the following:

  • Restore, to favourable condition, the River Avon Special Area of Conservation/Special Site of Scientific Interest (SSSI) and the Avon Valley Special Protection Area/SSSI.
  • Tackle wider biodiversity issues outside the European protected sites including additional priority species and associated habitats, and
  • Improve public access, awareness and support for the natural heritage importance of the river and valley.

Two potential sources of major funding were identified: the European Commission LIFE-Nature programme and the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). Funding bids to both sources have been successful, resulting in the STREAM project and the HLF funded Living River Project. Over the next 4 years, STREAM will carry out the actions described below.

River restoration

Demonstrating restoration of seven kilometres of river on a total of six sites on the Avon, Nadder, Wylye and the Dockens Water. The works aim to address habitat degradation due to past engineering.

Linking river and valley

Contributing to linking management of water levels in the river and valley by identifying ways to stop fish species getting trapped in the valley ditch networks, developing a prioritised programme of ditch restoration and developing and testing operating regimes for key sluices.

Monitoring

Monitoring the physical and biological effect of the restoration work in order to determine if is has been successful, and to inform future restoration work.

Events

Organising open days and seminars for the public, land managers and river restoration specialists, raising awareness of the river system and sharing what we have learned during the project.