Pont Ends River Restoration: Detailed Design

The Pont and Blyth Rivers flow eastwards through south Northumberland, entering the North Sea at the town of Blyth. Both rivers have a long history of management by the Environment Agency (EA), National Rivers Authority, Northumbrian Water and the Catchment Boards resulting in significant degradation of the rivers and associated water dependent habitats across the catchments. The impact of this historical management is evident through the current Water Framework Directive (WFD) status of the waterbodies across the catchment with 14 waterbodies at moderate WFD status (of which 7 are heavily modified) and 1 at poor WFD status The Pont Ends Project aims to support an improvement in the WFD status of the Blyth from Pont to Tidal Limit waterbody (GB103022077052). This waterbody is designated as a heavily modified waterbody, currently at moderate WFD status. Historical management across the waterbody has included extensive dredging, the installation of extensive flood embankments and disconnection of the river from its floodplain through channel straightening as well as extensive land drainage. This management was primarily delivered to protect agricultural land and aid in the intensification of agriculture.