Last updated: June 2024
The Braid Burn is a highly urbanised watercourse that has been significantly modified to improve drainage. Prior to re-meandering of the Braid burn, it was constrained in a narrow, brick-lined channel with little character, offering a poor habitat and possessing low species diversity. The restoration work reintroduced diversity to allow natural morphological and ecological processes to take place (ref. 2). A new wetland habitat was created, along with a flood storage area. It was a small component of a wider flood alleviation scheme by the City of Edinburgh (ref. 1).
The Braid Burn
Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Braid_Burn. Accessed on 23rd August, 2020.
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Blue infrastructure
- Rivers/streams/canals/estuaries
- In-land wetlands, peatlands, swamps, and moors
Key challenges
- Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
- Climate change adaptation
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Habitat and biodiversity restoration
- Water management (SDG 6)
- Flood protection
- Stormwater and rainfall management and storage
Focus
Management and improved protection of rivers and other blue areas, Improved governance of green or blue areas
Project objectives
1. The overall aim was to reduce flooding risk. : to utilise the flood storage capacity within Inch Park.
2. To reintroduce diversity in the width, depth, flow rates and appearance of the burn, to allow natural morphological and ecological processes to take place following initial construction : by replacing the brick and concrete channels with sinuous meanders, runs, riffles, shoals and sloping banks.
3. To provide an opportunity to promote biodiversity and create habitat along the river corridor. A new wetland habitat was created. (ref 1)
Implementation activities
1. A new wetland habitat was created. Approximately 80% of the stream area was newly dug and 20% was made of the retained channel the banks of which were reprofiled. 2. The new channel incorporated parts of the existing channel in its design. The alignment was created in a way to support habitation. 3. Coir matting installed along immediate margins first flood bund. 4. A flood storage area, surrounded by clay embankments and sheet pile and concrete walls clad in stone recovered from the park’s boundary wall. 5. A downstream outlet structure was installed to restrict the flow. (ref 1)
Climate-focused activities
Climate change adaptation:
- Restore wetlands and/or coastal ecosystems to dissipate the effects of flooding and/or storms
- Renaturalization of rivers and other water bodies
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity restoration:
- Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified)
- Restore native species
Main beneficiaries
- National-level government
- Local government/Municipality
Governance
Management set-up
- Government-led
Type of initiating organisation
- Regional government
- Local government/municipality
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Unknown
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
Project carried out by AECOM and Carillion on behalf of City of Edinburgh Council (ref 2) The project is funded by the Scottish Government and City of Edinburgh Council (ref 5)
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Yes
(Water Framework Directive (WFD) (ref 1))
... a national policy or strategy?
Yes
(Scottish Environment Protection Agency South East (SEPA) set the overall environmental objectives for the water body under the River Basin Management Planning (RBMP). (ref 1))
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
(The site is an Urban Wildlife Site (UWS) within the Edinburgh Urban Nature Conservation Strategy and delivers parts of Edinburgh’s Local Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP). Flood Prevention Scheme in Edinburgh is the overall project of which this is a smaller part. (ref 1))
Financing
Total cost
€100,000 - €500,000
Source(s) of funding
- Public local authority budget
- Public regional budget
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Climate change
- Strengthened capacity to address climate hazards/natural disasters
- Water management and blue areas
- Increased protection against flooding
- Enhanced protection and restoration of freshwater ecosystems
- Green space and habitat
- Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
- Increased ecological connectivity across regeneration sites and scales
- Reduced biodiversity loss
- Increased number of species present
Economic impacts
- Reduce financial cost for urban management
Socio-cultural impacts
- Health and wellbeing
- Improved physical health
- Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
Type of reported impacts
Achieved impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Yes
Presence of indicators used in reporting
Yes
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
Yes
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
References
1. The River Restoration Centre. (no date) New meanders replacing a lined urban channel. Available at: Source link. Accessed on 23rd August, 2020.
2. Scottish geodiversity forum. (nd) Case Study. Available at: Source link. Accessed on 23rd August, 2020.
3. JBA group. (2012) Braid Burn Hydromorphic Character and Restoration Opportunities. Available at: Source link. Accessed on 23rd August, 2020.
4. The River Restoration Centre. Available at: Source link. Accessed on 23rd August, 2020.
5. Water briefing. (2008) Braid burn flood prevention scheme. Available at: Source link. Accessed on 23rd August, 2020.
2. Scottish geodiversity forum. (nd) Case Study. Available at: Source link. Accessed on 23rd August, 2020.
3. JBA group. (2012) Braid Burn Hydromorphic Character and Restoration Opportunities. Available at: Source link. Accessed on 23rd August, 2020.
4. The River Restoration Centre. Available at: Source link. Accessed on 23rd August, 2020.
5. Water briefing. (2008) Braid burn flood prevention scheme. Available at: Source link. Accessed on 23rd August, 2020.