Environment Agency Challenge Fund Project
Section of River Elwy upstream of Pont-y-ddol had been severely affected by erosion as a consequence of adverse rivers flows and a general lack of maintenance over many years. Haphazard livestock invasion also contributed to the problem by damaging, not only the bankside habitats, but also spawning gravels and potential fishing stations in an important section of river for salmonid development. There was little riparian vegetation in many key areas and fencing controls needed to be installed. 
River channel works were required in some locations, to guide flows to create correctly operating fishing pools and spawning sections. Some areas of dense tree cover were opened up to allow ground marginal vegetation to develop closer to the water edge. Certain sections of river banks were strengthened to reduce the extent of erosion and also to allow vegetation to establish, in order to aid the longer term consolidation process. In addition, some channel improvements were undertaken to achieve better gravel conditions for eventual spawning habitat.