The clients, the Environment Agency and charity Red Rose Forest, reflect a diverse and growing environmental-improvement sector spanning regulators through to charities. The objective of the work is to encourage the diversity of species in the rivers and their surrounding areas that have been affected by pollution and historic modifications such as channel realignment.
The rivers selected for conservation work are Worsley Brook in Manchester, the River Derwent in Yorkshire and the River Yarrow in Lancashire. These rivers have been identified as key habitats of species recorded as under threat within the UK Biodiversity Action Plan Priority List including otter, sea lamprey and bullhead fish on the Derwent. All of the watercourses and their associated floodplains have been heavily impacted by historic and contemporary human activity ranging from coal mining to dye works on the Yarrow to realignment and flow regime modification on the Worsley Brook.
AECOM’s water scientists developed restoration plans for the sites based on geomorphological principles to check if feature creation matched the processes operating at each site. Flood risk was assessed alongside the restoration options, and benefits were identified to flood-prone areas associated with the sites. Scheme drawings and method statements have been developed, and works have been delivered at the Worsley site. The result of the works will be watercourses that are better connected to their floodplains, improved in-channel and floodplain habitat quality and diversity, as well as reduced flood risk, with lowered silt loads on restored reaches designed to be self-sustaining, saving on maintenance costs.
Omar Sholi, Senior Environmental Scientist at AECOM, commented: “These three projects form part of the Environment Agency’s long-term strategy to manage England’s river environment to a consistent standard in line with the Water Framework Directive. We are pleased to have the opportunity to support the Environment Agency and Red Rose Forest in their joint mission to protect and enhance our natural environment.”
About AECOM
AECOM is a premier, fully integrated professional and technical services firm positioned to design, build, finance and operate infrastructure assets around the world for public- and private-sector clients. With nearly 100,000 employees — including architects, engineers, designers, planners, scientists and management and construction services professionals — serving clients in over 150 countries around the world, AECOM is ranked as the #1 engineering design firm by revenue in Engineering News-Record magazine’s annual industry rankings, and has been recognized by Fortune magazine as a World’s Most Admired Company. The firm is a leader in all of the key markets that it serves, including transportation, facilities, environmental, energy, oil and gas, water, high-rise buildings and government. AECOM provides a blend of global reach, local knowledge, innovation and technical excellence in delivering customized and creative solutions that meet the needs of clients’ projects. A Fortune 500 firm, AECOM companies, including URS Corporation and Hunt Construction Group, had revenue of approximately $19 billion during the 12 months ended Dec. 31, 2014. More information on AECOM and its services can be found at aecom.com.
Media contact:
Catherine Llewellyn
020 7821 4243
Catherine.llewellyn@aecom.com