Tom Hopkins & John Cocks: Environmental impacts – waste
Aquatic management final
1. Sensitive Management of
Aquatic Environments
by
Nick Hartley, Managing Director/Principal Consultant
Ebsford Environmental Ltd
www.Ebsford.co.uk
2. Who are Ebsford Environmental ?
Ebsford are a full “end to end” Environmental and Ecological Company, capable
of offering a range of terrestrial and aquatic consultancy and contracting
services.
• Specialist Environmental contractor
• Established in 2011 to provide alternatives to established and outdated
methodologies
• Work for a range of clients including Local Authorities, Private
clients, contractors and consultants
• Hold EA Environmental Permits and individual WAMITAB qualifications
• In addition to Aquatic services are one of the founder members of INNSA
All our systems have an underlying environmental and sustainable theme
Ebsford.co.uk or follow us @ebsford
3. A little bit about me!
• Originally worked on Japanese knotweed projects and was the
MD of TCM.
• Set up Ebsford Environmental with Mark Prout to offer bespoke
solutions to both Invasive vegetation and Aquatic restoration
issues
• Have worked on a number of high profile projects and clients
including Hampton Court, The Royal Parks, Eden Project, 2012
Olympics.
• Specialise in sediment management, aquatic restoration, native
flora and aquatic clearance.
• Like Michael Bolton and long walks barefoot on the sand
4. • Why do we need a more sensitive approach?
• What’s the alternative? Meet the Truxor
• Effective management – The Ebsford approach
• Case studies
– Lake restoration – EA Sports Chertsey
– Silt Pumping – Chesterfield/Cromford Canal
– Aquatic clearance – Forestry commission
• Other services
Issues coveredtoday:
5. Why do we need a more sensitive
approach?
• More sites are being given higher ecological and environmental
classifications meaning traditional techniques are becoming less
suitable.
• Larger machines cause a high level of disruption and have issues
with access
• Ecological issues on site limit bank work and machinery size
• Legislation over de-watering, dredged materials and waste
classification means storage or disposal is complex and costly
• Clients are looking for more sustainable solutions at all stages of
their supply chain
7. What’s the alternative? – Meet the Truxor
• Multi-purpose amphibious machine
• Interchangeable attachments capable of:
• Aquatic or semi-aquatic excavation
• Silt pumping
• Sediment removal using clamshell
• Aquatic weed clearance
• Heavy duty vegetation clearance
• Extremely mobile and manoeuvrable, can access 1:2
• Powered by bio-degradable oil and diesel
• Lightweight, weighing less than 1400 kg
• 4m x 2m x 2m, can access even the most difficult of sites
• Ebsford current operate 3 machines across the UK
• Utilised on over 90% of Ebsford’s aquatic projects
10. Effective Management – The Ebsford Approach
• Initial consultation conducted to assess full scope of works
• Preliminary site visit undertaken to provide scoping report
• Feasibility study takes place on larger projects to include:
• Depth tests and chemical analysis of sediment
• Liaison with LA, EA or CL:AIRE in advance of formal submission
• Analysis of cause and consequence
• Specialist reports including Hydrology, ecology and agricultural
• Full design of outline proposals
• 10 point aquatic management strategy
12. Case Study – EA Sports Chertsey
• Project was for restoration of a 10,000 sq m lake prior to
completion of new European headquarters
• Proximity to road and installation of high tech features meant
site was inaccessible to larger machinery
• Urban area meant disposal or relocation of silt was impractical
• Project included:
• Installation of 800m of aquatic fencing
• Removal and relocation of circa 7000m³ sediment
• Creation of new marginal zones with specific native flora to give low level
impact
• Protection from high numbers of wildfowl
• Installation of reed beds and phytoremediation to inflows and channels
• Aerating fountains to improve overall health of lake
• Clearance and protection of heavily overgrown and eroding islands
17. Case Study – Forestry Commission – Cross Lane
• Project was for the management of a 30,000 sq m wetland area
located in Wallasey
• Poor management has seen rapid establishment of Phragmites
australis throughout the site.
• Formal channels had become overgrown and terrestrial
• Site was prone to regular flooding, causing damage to
surrounding residential areas and marsh areas to form in
neighbouring amenity areas.
• Previous attempts to find a solution had been unsuccessful with
machinery not able to work in semi-aquatic environment
• Ebsford cleared 1000m channel and implemented a 5 year
maintenance program
20. Case Study – Chesterfield/Cromford Canal
• Project was for the dredging of in excess of 10,000m³ across almost 3km of
canal in Derbyshire.
• In addition to being a SSSI, the site is also home to one of the most
widespread populations of watervoles in the UK.
• The site was unable to be closed during the works meaning heavy interaction
with the public.
• Encroachment within 1m of the bank was forbidden in certain areas so larger
machinery was unfeasible.
• Complex permitted meant that silt needed to be dewatered on neighbouring
land using silt bags.
• Receptor site identified was over 2km from the furthest area meaning silt
required pumping in total 2.2km, thought to be the longest distance ever
pumped by amphibious machinery.
• Proximity of both receptor sites to the canal network meant filtration of
water and retaining of silt was crucial
26. Ebsford Environmental – Other Services
• Invasive terrestrial and aquatic vegetation
• Aquatic landscaping
• Bio-engineering, erosion control and bank
stabilisation
• Green roofing
• Native flora
• Wildflower meadows
Thanks for listening – Back to the knotweed !!!!!!!!!
