Soft Engineering - River
Quaggy Restoration Scheme
Project
River runs through London since 1960's
Had been heavily managed with
artificial channels and culverts to
divert river beneath Greenwich
Increased flood risk from increased
urbanisation in Lewisham and Greenwich
mean more needed to be done in order to
protect these areas
Hard engineering methods where
considered but EA chose a more
sustainable approach
Solution was proposed by QWAG -
Quaggy Waterways Action Group
Planned to bring river above grounds again,
cutting a new channel thought Sutcliffe park
creating a multi-functional space, improving the
quality of the park
Park was lowered to increase the
flood capacity
river is redirected a more natural
course with flood storage
Impacts
Created a wetland environment with reed banks, wild
flower meadows and trees.
Creation of new habitats
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Scheme won Natural Environment
Category in the 2007 water ways
renaissance awards
smaller opportunity cost
Effectiveness
Long term sustainable scheme
Relatively low cost in comparison to other hard engineering schemes
little maintenance costs
Areas has not experienced any major flood
event since the project was completed