WILLOW BRASH 
REVENTMENT ON ERODED
BANK OF LOWER
MILL RIVER

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NATURE BASED WOODY DEBRIS REVETMENT

SEPTEMBER 2022

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The lower Mill River catchment tidal area which meets Lough Swilly Buncrana has been heavily impacted by a number of negative factors in the past and recent years, the lower area of the catchment was completely devastated by a severe flooding event in 2017 which impacted highly upon an already pressurized river, that event of flooding, large spates and high tides since then is undermining the river bank causing  erosion of the path once known as the mill river walk.

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The project was inspired and supported by our locally sourced natural materials, the cost-effective structure will provide environmental and social benefits for the river and our local community.  The project was carried out in the summer of 2022 when our team got together and worked to build the woody debris revetment project for just over one week.

A woody debris project involves using all nature based materials for the structure and the filling, our team made bushels of branches that are applied inside the main structure along with planting willow trees and plants which will grow quickly and give strength to the revetment.  

The profile of the structure will trap sediment and fine materials that will help slowly regenerate and restore the impacted area as the woody materials break down over time it will promote better habitat conditions for the macro-invertebrates, Trout species and the endangered European Eels, the regrowth of vegetation will also help our local and visiting birds by providing nesting habitat and better food resource. By providing  our river, a nature based solution to erosion we are regenerating and not impacting the natural environment, over time eventually the lost section of the river bank will  be re-profiled and restored.  

The structure will be managed by our group going forward and we will update you on the changes.