Bowston Weir is set in the North of Kendal, Cumbria and is one of the riverine barriers fragmenting the River Kent. The 37-metre-wide weir, made of concrete standing at 3 metre high, appears to have been constructed in 1874 to provide water for the Bowston Mill which was later redeveloped.
The River Kent was in an unfavourable condition. Human modifications on the river contributed to river habitats and species 'deteriorating' with many barriers like Bowston weir being built, prior to our understanding of the ecological harm they cause. Migrating species often fail to make it past this concrete structure to spawn and feed which negatively effects these populations.
On behalf of South Cumbria Rivers Trust (SCRT) Ebsford set out to remove Bowston Weir for the re-naturalisation of the River Kent Site of Special Scientific Interest and Special Area of Conservation (SSSI/SAC). The project was funded by The European Agricultural Fund for Regional Development.
The works formed part of a highly significant and pivotal element of the Cumbria River Restoration Strategy, an Environment Agency & Natural England led strategy to deliver improvements to SSSI/SAC rivers in the county for the benefit of people and wildlife.
The removal of this barrier, with the installation of a nature like rock rapid and the excavation of the proto channel, will help to restart natural river processes. These valuable works will improve river form and function, reduce flood risk to local residents, improve navigation for river users and provide a 44% biodiversity net gain.
Over a period of 6 weeks the structure was carefully dismantled and removed. Once works on the main structure were complete, an upstream proto channel was created, with excavated stones and cobbles regraded into the rock ramps voids. Sediment protection measures were also installed downstream to protect the watercourse from liberated silts and sediments. Turbidity in the water was monitored throughout to ensure existing wildlife was not negatively impacted by the project.
After 150 years blocking the Kent River, the weir was finally demolished by June 2022. This was the largest river barrier removal in the UK this year and was featured on Jeremy Wades ‘River Monsters’ documentary where he details the importance of weir removal.
The works carried out by Ebsford have significantly improved local river habitat and biodiversity, reduced local flood risk, improved navigation for recreation and have made a positive impact on the ‘unfavourable’ status of the SSSI river unit in which it sits.
