River restoration benefits catchment and the environment

Work to restore a river in the upper Conwy catchment is helping reduce flood risk downstream and boosting nature.

As part of Prosiect Uwch Conwy, Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has carried out flood plain restoration work on the Afon Machno - a major tributary of the Afon Conwy - at National Trust Cymru’s Carrog farm.

Part of the work involved removing man-made embankments and lowering the riverbank, which allows water to once again access the floodplain. This slows the river’s flow during high water levels and helps to reduce flood risk lower down in the catchment.

Scrapes and channels have also been dug on the floodplain to restore historic flow patterns, enabling further water storage.

Work was funded through the Welsh Government’s Water Capital Programme, which supports environmental priorities including river restoration, metal mine remediation, fisheries and water quality and is delivered in partnership by NRW and the National Trust Cymru.

Sarah Aubrey, senior officer in NRW’s Conwy Environment Team, said:

“We are pleased to have worked in partnership with National Trust Cymru on this project.

“Reducing the riverbank allows water to more easily access the floodplain in periods of heavy rainfall or storms. This lowers the amount and velocity of water flowing into the Afon Conwy, helping reduce flood risk downstream.

“This is part of our wider work to improve the resilience of communities in Wales to climate change and help protect nature. Working closely with locally-based contractors who understand the environment of Uwch Conwy, ensures that we achieve the best outcomes both for nature and the local economy.”

Dewi Davies, Prosiect Uwch Conwy manager with National Trust Cymru, said:

“It’s great to see how partnership working within Prosiect Uwch Conwy is continuing to help deliver great results for the benefit of people and nature.

“At Carrog, boulders have also been placed in the river channel to create in-river habitat for fish and invertebrates, bringing this part of the river to life once again.

“Over time, parts of the floodplain will be transformed into wetland habitats benefiting birds including sandpiper, dipper, kingfisher as well as frogs, newts, bats, otters, and water voles.”

Prosiect Uwch Conwy, aims to provide benefits to the communities and wildlife of the Upper Conwy catchment by creating a cleaner and healthier environment, bringing people and nature closer together.