Addressing barriers to fish migration in Yorkshire’s rivers to help restore natural river processes, improve water quality and promote biodiversity to create better blue spaces for both nature and people.
Map detailing the location of Yorkshire
One of the main environmental consequences of many artificial barriers (such as dams, weirs and culverts) constructed to exploit river resources in Yorkshire has been the interruption and fragmentation of the rivers’ longitudinal connectivity. This essential feature for the functioning of river habitats and the ecological wellbeing can be greatly impacted by artificial barriers. They:
- block the free migration of fish essential for sustainable populations
- hamper sediment transport
- can result in habitat loss, reducing biodiversity
- help invasive species thrive
- reduce water quality
- reduce resilience to fluctuations in flow
In turn, this negatively impacts river users and the communities that live along our watercourses.
Between 2009 and 2022, the Environment Agency, local River Trusts, Yorkshire Water, local authorities, and other stakeholders worked in partnership to successfully tackle over 100 weirs in Yorkshire. Entire river systems once deemed ‘dead’ have been ‘opened up’, helping to secure the future of our fish species and wildlife reliant on them, such as otters, kingfishers, and herons. In addition, the projects became a focal point for many local groups, helping communities come together and restoring a sense of pride in their local environment.
However, there are still many key barriers to address if healthy, sustainable fish populations are to be achieved, and with the impact of climate change, Yorkshire rivers are vital habitats for many threatened indigenous cold-water species.
What is the Great Yorkshire Rivers Partnership?
In 2022, A fledgling Partnership was formed between Yorkshire Water, Environment Agency and The Rivers Trust. Now known as Great Yorkshire Rivers (GYR).
The partnership developed a vision that illustrates the ambitious goal of GYR.
“By 2043 this leading and innovative partnership approach will have addressed all artificial barriers negatively impacting fish populations in Yorkshire, allowing recovery of our native fish species; helping rivers and their communities to thrive.”
What is the catchment challenge?
Best estimates put the challenge at almost 5000 barriers, with approximately 1800 of these categorised as significantly impacting fish migration and sustainable populations. The scale of the task is immense, and the delivery of solutions to tackle these 1800 barriers still result in a peak of around 180 barriers a year.
In recent years, ongoing funding to deliver these projects has become scarce and staff resources, particularly those with an appropriate skill set for delivering such work, are in short supply.
The approach of the partnership is to be supported, both financially and technically, to deliver an ambitious programme with delivery partners, implementing multiple solutions a year.
In December 2024, as part of their final PR24 determination, Ofwat gave approval for Yorkshire Water to allocate ~£8 million to the GYR initiative for the AMP8 period (2025-2030). A further £3.4m was allocated in March 2025, bringing total core funding to over £11 million. This will be used to leverage partnership match-funding of at least £10.3 million in the same period. The aim is to open up at least 510km of river through barrier removal and fish passage solutions.
To date, throughout the county, around 15 delivery partners operate under the GYR ‘umbrella’ delivering targeted weir removal and fish pass programmes.
What role/solution is barrier removal playing?
The first consideration of GYR Partners when seeking to addressing a barrier is removal. This has many benefits in terms of:
- Allowing fish to move freely
- Restore natural river processes
- Improve water quality
- Enhance habitats for fish and wildlife
- Promote biodiversity
But also…
- Reduce flood risk
- Remove maintenance liability
However, it is recognised that not all barriers can be removed, this can be for a number of reasons, such as:
- Water abstraction
- Heritage
- Navigation
- Associated infrastructure e.g. roads, bankside buildings, bridges
Therefore, delivery partners will be supported in selecting the right solution structures, which delivers the best outcome for fish, within the constraints dictated by a site and that is cost beneficial.
What outcome is expected?
GYR is seeking to address the 1800+ most significant barriers to fish migration in Yorkshire, removing them where possible. The partnership will achieve this by working with partners, delivering solutions when opportunities present themselves and targeting barriers that are critical within the catchment.
In terms of hard figures, we are aiming to:
- Improve at least 510km of river for fish migration.
- Attract at least £10.3m in match funding by the end of AMP8
Another key aim of the Partnership is to build capacity and capability in partner organisations: helping to strengthen relationships, reduce risk, deliver value for money, and drive collective action.
This initiative will seek to promote, advocate, and disseminate the successes, benefits, learnings, and best practices from this partnership model to a wider audience across England. Ultimately, we hope to influence the wider adoption of this model in other regions with Water Companies and to benefit delivery partners.
Progress of the GYR Partnership
Currently, there are around 20 live projects, led by various delivery partners, under the ‘umbrella’ of GYR. The Partnership opened its first window to access funding from the £11m core project funding in May 2025. In addition, the partnership has provided funding for early project development and staffing, as well as offering specialist training courses, to help partners get projects off the ground. It’s often the resources and early project stages that are the most difficult to fund. The purpose of this funding is to accelerate programme delivery and build capability within GYR partner organisations to support them in achieving the wider GYR Vision. This is the start of an exciting journey for rivers in Yorkshire, so watch this space!
Partnership case studies
Stocksbridge Weir
Completed in October 2023, The Don Catchment Rivers Trust undertook a partial removal at Stockbridge Weir on the River Donn in Deepcar, Sheffield.
A stone block weir, sat on bedrock outcrop, it was constructed during the 1890s, impacting the river for 130 years.
The project was funded by the Open Rivers Programme, Environment Agency and Yorkshire Water.
Following the completion of this partial weir removal, 1km of the watercourse has been opened up upstream and 3.75km downstream. Other benefits to the river include:
- Restored upstream and downstream fish passage
- Restored natural flows back to 200m upstream of weir
- Fish species benefited include brown trout, grayling and bullhead
- Improved habitat quality with reduced sediment and increased availability of gravels for spawning
Before and after Stockbridge Weir removal on the River Donn in Deepcar, Sheffield
Timelapse of the removal
Black Brook Weir
Completed in October 2023, The Calder & Colne Rivers Trust undertook the full removal a small weir on the Black Brook at Greetland, near Halifax.
A stone weir was believed to be constructed pre-1850, impacting the river for over 170 years.
The project was funded by the Calder & Colne Rivers Trust and Yorkshire Water with support from the Environment Agency.
Following the completion of this weir removal, 0.5km of the watercourse has been opened up upstream and 1.6km downstream. Other benefits to the river include:
-
- Restore fish passage for all species
- Improved habitat quality with reduced sediment and increased availability of gravels for spawning
- Additional work includes removal of bankside wall and floodplain improvements
GYR is working in partnership with The Rivers Trust, Environment Agency, Yorkshire Water, East Yorkshire Rivers Trust, Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust, Don Catchment Rivers Trust, Aire Rivers Trust, Calder Rivers Trust, River Holme Connections, Natural England, Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, North Yorkshire Moors National Park, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, Sheffield & Rotheram Wildlife Trust, Canal & Rivers Trust and Wild Trout Trust.
For more information about The Great Yorkshire Rivers Partnership, please visit greatyorkshirerivers.org
Prepared by: Andy Sadler, Senior Advisor for Great Yorkshire Rivers & Lorna Mann, Project Comms Officer at The Rivers Trust.