Tilford Gauging Station and Hell Ditch Improvements

This project builds on a strategic programme of works to get the River Wey and its tributaries to 'good ecological status' and to improve the population of migratory fish including eels, sea trout and, potentially, salmon. To date this programme of works, known as the Wey FWD, has secured mechanisms for the delivery of fish passes from the confluence with the Thames at Weybridge upstream to Westbrook Mill. This opens up fish passage for approximately 100km. However, to secure 'good ecological status', and to ensure that fish are able to reach good quality spawning grounds, the gravel dominated headwaters of the Wey catchment need to be accessible. In addition to this, the quality of the habitat on tributaries and distributaries lower down the catchment also need to be improved. The work proposed under this contract helps to secure both of these objectives through the implementation of two pieces of work, which have been packaged together to secure efficiencies: - Delivery item 1: Fish passage at Tilford Gauging Station. - Delivery item 2: Habitat improvements on the Hell Ditch.