Running Water: Key objectives

• Raise awareness of importance of rivers and streams for biodiversity
• Collect and analyse records of populations and assemblages of wildlife species* in and alongside Barnsley’s rivers and streams; in particular:
• Otter, Water Vole, Soprano Pipistrelle, Daubenton Bat
• Eel, Brown Trout, Bullhead and Salmon
• White-clawed Crayfish
• Invertebrates that indicate water quality.
• Review the condition of Barnsley rivers and streams and promote:
• measures to increase the populations of key species currently absent or in low numbers.
• appropriate land management to prevent harm to rivers and streams, - preventing runoff of fertilisers; buffer zones; etc
• Monitor the extent of the spread of invasive species and promote the control or removal of invasive species.

Roles

Environment Agency: has regulatory powers and responsibilities to maintain and improve main rivers, as well as a general duty to promote biodiversity

Landowners with land adjoining a water course have responsibilities set out in Environment Agency guidance and have regard to conserving biodiversity.

Living on the Edge’ Environment Agency.

Funding may be available for habitat improvement along water courses.

Barnsley council as a planning authority:

• sets conditions to protect water courses and their surroundings in relevant planning applications
• ensures that the biodiversity value of water courses and their surroundings are maintained and enhanced.
• ensures that biodiversity net gain requirements are met/exceeded.

Voluntary groups and volunteers:

• help with conservation work on water courses and their surroundings.
• help provide  information about the condition of our water courses and collect records of the wildlife seen there.

 What is being done

• Extensive works on River Dearne at Broomhill to create deeper pools, gravel bars and bank side improvements. (EA)
• Flood plains reconnected to Dearne at Houghton washlands by lowering flood bank to allow flooding. (EA)
• Artificial otter holts built at Old Moor and elsewhere on the Dearne.
• Fish stocks increased periodically by Environment Agency, incl Barbel.
• Fish passes: Adwick; Bolton-on-Dearne, Old Moor. Weir removed at Darfield. DCRT
• Fish passes: Wharncliffe weir on Don and Langsett weir on Little Don. YW

continued

• Habitat creation/restoration at Sandybridge Dyke. YWT, YW, EA
• Surveys and control measures for invasive species along Dearne. BMBC/YWT
• Habitat restoration of Dakin Brook at Cannon Hall. 2018-20 BMBC

Proposed actions

• Weir removal or fish pass improvements:
• Dearne: Barugh Mill, Star Paper Mill, Houghton, Old Moor Sheet Pile
• Don: Bullhouse, Cheesebottom, Thurgo-land, Tin Mill, Deepcar, Oughtibridge
• Restoration of riparian vegetation on bare sections of river bank

Proposed actions (continued)

• Habitat enhancement including Lower Dearne Valley, near Wilthorpe Marsh and tributaries eg: Dove , Thurnscoe Dike
• Naturalisation of canalised river sections and links to washlands
• Dearne at Wilthorpe, Smithies Marsh, Storrs Mill, Houghton
• Grimethorpe Dike,
• Analysis of records of wildlife species* in rivers and streams. Every 3 -5 years.
• Continue invasive species control

Marking progress

• Extent of running water in ‘moderate or good ecological condition’.
• Extent of running water supporting key priority species.
• Habitat improvement and flood plain connectivity along Dearne
• Weir removal/fish passes on Dearne and on Don.
• Populations of priority species increasing or at least maintained.
• Extent of invasive species / extent removed and controlled.

 Running Water Actions