The proposal: 

Barriers to fish movement will be eased at Bramford and an existing back channel connected to the main river.  Working with key partners we will restore and enhance a back channel at Bramford Bridge by March 2016.  This will complete a project initiated by Suffolk Wildlife Trust and the IDB, put on hold due to lack of funds.  The EA flow gauging weir on the River Gipping will be partially bypassed by this back channel restoration that will also create new river margin habitats.

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The outcome:

In Bramford the dyke, which was the original channel, was desilted to create a refuge for invertebrates and other aquatic species. During the project it was not possible to reconnect the dyke to the main river but this is something that could be developed in the future to allow it to be used as a refuge for fish and improve fish passage along the channel.