ADAS Environmental Consultants provide a range of services to support British Waterways and their contractors. Work has resulted in a more navigable waterway and an enhanced environment at all sites involved.
Land and Water Services, dredging contractor working on behalf of British Waterways, requested a range of ADAS services to assist with various canal projects. These included the dredging of: the Leeds and Liverpool Canal; three sections of the Wyrley and Essington Canal and the dredging and recycling of sediment from a section of the River Soar. All work was carried out under British Waterways’ National Dredging Contract.
In each project a search for services was arranged in order to locate any utilities’ plant/equipment which may have been affected by the proposed dredging operation.
Prior to commencement of the dredging work at all sites, a photographic record of the river section to be dredged was undertaken. This was followed by further visits to each site during the project in order to maintain a record of progress throughout the works. Final completion photographs were taken after the contractor had left site.
At the River Soar site, sediment samples were collected from the river and submitted to a laboratory for chemical analysis in order to determine the best way to recycle the material to be dredged. Upon receipt of the analysis, a brief interpretative report was prepared which concluded that the application of sediment would result in a benefit to agricultural land when applied in accordance with the application rates specified. As an agricultural field near the river was not available, a remote field was located to accommodate the material to be recycled. An assessment of the field was carried out by ADAS and soil samples were collected for analysis.
A benefit statement report and all appropriate documentation was prepared for submission to the Environment Agency to register the operation as an activity exempt from requiring an Environmental Permit. The application was registered and arrangements to commence work on site were made.
The area of the field used for the recycling of dredged material from the River Soar was measured and plotted to scale on an Ordnance Survey map to calculate compensation payment due to the landowner/occupier.
The outcome at all sites is a more navigable waterway for the boaters and an enhanced environment for fish and other important wildlife/habitats along the River Soar.
If you would like more information on the range of services ADAS can offer please contact Paul Forster on 01462 893 608 or email him paul.forster@adas.co.uk.