Defra River Improvement Fund
This Fund is grant funding from Defra for projects that contribute towards meeting the objectives of the EU Water Framework Directive and achieving Good Ecological Status, the Habitats Directive and the EU Eel Regulation. The fund is administered by the Trust and funds disbursed to local Rivers Trusts for approved projects, related mainly to fish passage, SAC & SSSI habitat, Salmon Action Plans and Eel Management Plans. This fund is limited to projects in England.
Project criteria are: -
- Removal of obstructions to fish passage (preferred) or creation of fish passes
- Focus improvement to N2K (SAC) sites or SSSI's where it is a priority
- Deliver maximum number of water bodies achieving “Good” status
- Act where other pressures do not prevent "Good” being achieved.
- Ensure it is highly cost-beneficial for the biological improvement being achieved
- For eels, achievement of the EC Eel Regulation on passage for WFD. Focus on high priority structures where privately owned (Guidance on priorities available here)
All projects must be submitted to us for technical assessment and approval by the Environment Agency nationally. Therefore strong local EA support will be helpful in getting projects accepted.
Phase 2 is fully subscribed and projects awarded. Projects must be completed by 30 September 2011, with final claims submitted etc. by 31 October 2011.
For Phase 3, the commencement date for eligible expenditure is 1 June 2011. All costs must be committed by 31 March 2012, subject to Defra contract. All projects must be completed by 30 September 2012, with final claims submitted etc. by 31 October 2012.
If projects are too big to have feasibility, planning, design and works all completed by 30 September 2012 within Phase 3, they may be split into two components, with the final works element rolled into Phase 4. However, please bear in mind that whilst feasibility studies are clearly sensible, they do not actually deliver any improvements per se, and trusts would be well advised to array project proposals to ensure good delivery on the ground as well as planning more ambitious projects.
Please refer to the newly published Habitat Improvement Strategy for the European Eel for detailed information on potential projects in support of the Eel Management Plans and EC Eel Regulation. Maps are available for each River Basin District showing the location of priority eel passes and habitat improvement opportunities which provide the greatest potential benefit to eel.
A series of Fact Sheets containing templates and guidance are available for download below:
Defra River Improvement Fund Fact Sheets
The below templates and guides have been prepared for the Defra River Improvement Fund projects.
The documents are made available for download by Rivers Trusts by clicking on the relevant icon(s).
Where a document is password protected please contact info@theriverstrust.org to apply for permission.
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