Medieval Weir Removal Success in England
Dovecliff Weir after removal ©Environmental Agency
After nearly 900 years, the Dovecliff Weir on the River Dove in England has been removed!
We have been following this case study since 2019, when Christopher Grzesiok and Paul Herick presented it at the DRE International Seminar in France. We are excited to share the results of this two year programme, which experienced an added challenge due to the historical status of the barrier. Thanks to the hard work of the project team, more than 550 km of water courses are open for the first time since the 13th century!
Along with improving passage for fish, removing the weir benefits water quality, public safety and welfare, wider floodplain biodiversity and boosts the local economy by attracting more visits by anglers to the area.
We encourage you to read more details about this project and interviews with dam removal practitioners, which you can find here.
To see the 2019 presentation from Christopher Grzesiok and Paul Herick, click here.
