Rotherham Rivers 3 – River Restoration near Treeton

Following the successful delivery of two important river restoration projects in Rotherham, Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust and the Environment Agency are leading a third phase of works to restore and enhance the river Rother and adjacent washlands area downstream of Catcliffe in the vicinity of the M1 near Junction 33.

The works are being undertaken to enhance wetland habitats within the flood storage area, and to improve the geomorphological and habitat diversity within the River Rother to help achieve the objectives of the Water Framework Directive.

We anticipate the works being delivered over a 6-8 week period this autumn (between Oct and Dec 2023).

River Rother restoration work near Treeton

The main river works in this phase involve the installation of three features:

• An inset floodplain: this is the creation of a terrace within the channel at a slightly higher level than normal water level. It will positively change the flow of the river for aquatic wildlife and provide damp, marginal habitat that is currently missing. River banks will also be shaped to a more natural form.
• A berm/channel narrowing: further upstream this feature will be built out from the current bank to narrow the channel. Again this will positively change the flow and create marginal habitat.
• Riffles: just downstream of each of the above features riffles will be installed. These are made from cobble sized rocks (infilled with smaller material) to favourably alter the flow, oxygenate the water and provide good habitat for fish and aquatic insects.

The wider programme also includes the creation of wetland scrapes, hedge & tree planting and meadow enhancement.

The public footpath will remain open to the public.