Author of Briefing Notes on the Shear Strength for Bank Repair Materials and The Properties of Native Willows (December 2022 to January 2023)
The Technical Note on the Management of Riparian tree particularly in their relationship to river bank and embankment stability showed that it would be useful for practitioners in FCRM and FBG to have a briefing note on the appropriateness of different bank protection materials, particularly for options using native plants. The Briefing Note on Shear Strengths tabulated details of common geotextiles and common riparian forbs, shrubs and trees, to allow comparison between them all. The Briefing Note on the Properties of Native Willows compiles the details of 25 species of willow and their growing requirements and habitats, to supplement the details in the previous Briefing Note to allow for more appropriate selection of the right species in the right place.
Author of a Technical Note on a Case Study on the Management of Riparian Trees for Improved Conveyance, Bank Stability and Carbon Sequestration (May 2021 to November 2022)
Asset inspection identified self-sown trees on the Barlings Eau, a Heavily Modified natural channel in the Witham catchment that were considered to be a risk to the raised embankment and conveyance within the reach. The Technical Note looked at different options. It found that the proposed heavy engineering solution was inappropriate, that tree-hinging was the best solution as it was lower (whole life) cost, more sustainable and provided carbon sequestration rather than carbon release.
Author of River Restoration Vision and Strategy for Change for the Upper Witham (June 2021 to February 2022)
The Vision was developed to provide guidance for owners, regulators bodies, and interested groups to adapt the Upper Witham to Climate Change. Its intention is to maximise beneficial changes and funding opportunities without blocking aspirations. The Strategy document covered implementation of the Vision. To achieve this, sixteen criteria were selected covering six major themes ranging across climate change, statutory obligations, and funding avenues. These were used to assess twenty-four different options for each of the six reaches selected for early restoration.
Author of a Technical Note and Short Specification on the Use of Native Stone for River Gravels in the Upper Witham Catchment (December 2021 to May 2022)
Analysis of recent river restoration works in the Upper Witham Catchment showed that the use of ordinary gravels from outside of the catchment and that had been specified to reduce risk had not provided appropriate natural river features and processes that were appropriate to the river. The analysis showed that the sizes needed were much smaller and needed to match the local geology if appropriate water chemistry was to be restored. The Technical Note and Specifications looked at materials from different sources and makes recommendation about their selection.
WFD Topic Lead for ACI Joint Venture in HS2 Development Area 2 (August 2016 to January 2020)
Leading a survey and assessment team assessing for impact on WFD scoring of all river crossings and watercourses within the construction boundary. Reviewing the assessment for inclusion in the Environmental Statement.
Water Topic Lead, Carlisle Southern Link Road – Cumbria County Council (November 2018 to present)
Lead the team producing the Water Chapter in the Environmental Statement, carrying out the Water Framework Directive Assessment and the Geomophological Assessment. Work concentrated on the river crossings of the Caldew and Petteril, the former being part of the Eden SAC. Robin was directly involved in the field survey work and so was able to sense test the reports at review stage. He was also the primary water Technical Lead talking to the regulators and liaising with the project ecology team about the potential impact of climate change, the embankment and bridge, on the hydromorphology and its relationship with the Caldew Alluvial Forest, the primary designated habitat.
Technical Lead & Principal Practitioner, Werrington Brook Improvement Project – Environment Agency (Anglian Region) (December 2014 to present)
River restoration design and construction supervision for a multi objective river restoration design through an urban area. Design enhances existing fluvial geomorphology and maintains flood risk standard but has improved water quality and rationalised the maintenance regime including better access. The project won a ‘Highly Commended’ at the British Construction Industry Awards 2018 in the Maintenance Award section.
Technical Lead, River Beult Restoration Plan – Environment Agency (Kent & South Downs) (June 2016 to March 2018)
Development of a River restoration plan for the 25km of Main River and SSSI. The plan is based on the use of Eco-System Services (ESS) to identify the present uses of the river and used the results to rank the improvement features that are to be used to improve the river to satisfy ecological improvement, existing uses, and flood risk management. The river was divided into 7 segments based on their geomorphological similarities/differences to allow localisation of the analysis and proposed changes. This was supported by 3 workshops with local stakeholders to refine proposals and gain agreement for changes. Robin developed the methodology for the outline design plan for the river using the output from the ESS, stakeholder feedback, and likely period of improvement delivery of each feature or improvement measure by using Multi-Criteria Assessment. The location of the chosen features within each segment was based on enhancing the existing geomorphology and was based on a methodology developed by Robin on previous river restoration projects.
Technical Lead & Principal Practitioner, Gadebridge River Restoration Project – Affinity Water (April 2017 to November 2018)
River restoration design and construction supervision for a chalk river restoration project through an urban open space. Design enhances existing fluvial geomorphology to control excessive macrophyte growth and to maintain flood risk standard. This is a project within the Affinity Water Morphological Framework for which Robin was the Technical Lead for the successful framework and project bids.
Technical Lead & Principal Practitioner, River Glen Improvement at Waterside – Environment Agency (Anglian Region) (June 2015 to July 2018)
Robin was the Technical Lead for this project which was for the improvement of a 300m of the River Glen allied to the creation of a 0.75ha wetland. The latter was created by the construction of low-level berms linking existing ponds to take flood flows to the benefit of flood risk downstream and the wetland itself. The project was carried out for the EA in partnership with the South Lincs Fen Partnership as a demonstration project to show what can be done in-channel, without affecting drainage or flood risk, and on the floodplain for environmental and flood risk benefit.
Technical Lead & Principal Practitioner, Heavily Modified Water Body Assessment – Environment Agency Bridgwater (September 2016 to September 2017)
Robin was the lead and primary practitioner for this EA project assessing WFD defined Heavily Modified Water Bodies (HMWBs) in the EAs Wessex Area. The project looks initially at 5 water bodies to determine what information is needed and to select the best methodology. This has been achieved through workshops with the local EA Area Teams to incorporate local knowledge into the results. Robin guided the workshop and helped lead discussions on river management as well as hydro-morphology and any changes to improve WFD standings.
Principal Practitioner Secondee, Great Ouse Structure Decommissioning – Environment Agency (Anglian Region) (August 2016 to October 2018)
This secondment for Robin into the EA is looking at 53 structures that are potentially redundant within the Bedford Area of the Great Ouse Catchment. These vary from unused pedestrian access bridges through to the St Ives Sluice controlling water levels on the Great Ouse for 2.8km passed the town of St Ives. For St Ives, the method Robin has adopted is to determine the amount of Flood Risk Benefit first, so that the ceiling for annual costs can be determined. The intention being to reduce costs by operating the structure as a fixed crest with a high level by pass on the floodplain, which can be trialled before permanent removal of operable equipment. The trial allows navigation and wider environmental effects to be monitored and mitigations determined.
Principal Practitioner, Catchment Management Options; Wallington Flood Alleviation Appraisal – Environment Agency (July 2015 to December 2015)
Investigation of catchment, identification of opportunities and constraints, and determination of options available for Natural Flood Management to moderate the flood hydrograph. Flood plain geometry and land use was assessed for possible temporary storage. By using synthetic hydrographs for each tributary, the size of storage and detention time was calculated, so the impact on flood levels at the downstream end could be assessed.
Other Key Experiences
Technical Lead & Principal Practitioner, Upper River Wensum Project Appraisal for river restoration – Norfolk Rivers Internal Drainage Board (October 2013 to July 2014)
Robin was the author of the Project Appraisal Report for submission to EA Project Appraisal Board. The report included options identification, preferred option selection and environmental scoping.
Technical Lead & Principal Practitioner, River Lambourn fish passage enhancement & river restoration Environment Agency (SE Region) (2011 to November 2013)
Options appraisal, outline and detailed design for 3 length of river restoration totalling 1.5km; part of the project team designing 1 weir removal & 2 by-pass structures to allow fish passage to meet WFD compliance.
Technical Lead & Principal Practitioner, River Waveney Homersfield sluice removal – Environment Agency (Anglian Region) (October 2011 to August 2013)
Technical Lead for removal of sluice and its replacement with a constructed riffle to maintain upstream water levels whilst allowing both fish and canoe passage to comply with WFD requirements; development of options appraisal method; identification of options and success criteria; design of selected option based on utilising natural geomorphological forms; setting out and supervision of construction work.
Technical Lead & Principal Practitioner, River Bewl WFD Compliance – Southern Water (September 2013 to February 2014)
Technical Lead for river restoration of 2km of the river downstream of Bewl Water Reservoir. Tasks include: site assessment; technical note on restoration options; liaison with major land owner (National Trust at Scotney Castle); specifying and costing the proposals.
Agricultural Engineer, HS2: Agricultural Impact Assessment – HS2 Ltd (October 2012 to February 2014)
Farm interviews & desk study to assess impact of the High Speed Railway line on farm holdings including impacts on: farm infrastructure; farming operations; and farm viability.
Principal Practitioner, Lyth Valley and Waver & Wampool Land Drainage Pumping Stations High Level Technical Appraisal Reports – Environment Agency (NW Region) (December 2012)
Technical Specialist contributing to appraisal of the options available to the EA in reducing maintenance or divesting themselves of land drainage pumping stations and associated channel maintenance.