Ribble Rivers Trust Supported with Monitoring Equipment

Flood and pollution prevention specialists, Detectronic (UK), are supporting the Ribble Rivers Trust by providing monitoring equipment for its ‘Ribble Life Together’ Heritage Lottery Funded project.

The project aims to achieve a healthier water environment for the benefit of everyone within the Ribble Catchment by improving its natural heritage and is being delivered in partnership with other organisations operating within the catchment.

Explains Gareth Jones, Sciences Co-ordinator for the Ribble Rivers Trust, “Healthy watercourses and the land surrounding them provide many important benefits such as reduced flood risk, cleaner bathing waters and valuable tourist attractions. But according to recent assessments, two thirds of the catchment’s watercourses are failing to meet good ecological status for a variety of reasons. 

“In order to raise this status and better manage the catchment, we are to create 15 new wetlands and best recognise the benefits that they will bring by developing an understanding of the hydrology at particular sites. This is where Detectronic come in.”

Continues Gareth, “Detectronic have kindly installed two level and velocity flow sensors above and below the site in question, together with a rain gauge. This on-site monitoring equipment provides vital information that enables us to see what is happening every day.

“Such regular monitoring enables us to compare flow and level data for given rain events and help to illustrate what we want to do with the site and why. 

“Thanks to this data, at the end of the development phase we will have a comprehensive evaluation report and be able to inform of the benefits wetlands can bring.  The monitored wetland will also be developed as a site for visiting school groups to use as a teaching resource where they can observe a variety of creatures.”

Commenting on the project, Steve Woods, Managing Director at Detectronic said, “Detectronic is significantly increasing its pro-active involvement in monitoring programmes such as this.  Without meaningful data, it’s almost impossible to prove that wetland projects and other sustainable drainage system (SuDS) interventions are achieving their desired attenuation outcomes with respect to flood prevention and flood-risk reduction.”

Concludes Gareth: “The partnership with Detectronic has already proven extremely useful by pushing our monitoring capabilities forwards. The creation of desirable new habitats for wildlife will further attract, promote and boost our local economy too.”