The Environment Agency in cooperation with Yorkshire Water, Natural England and the Open University is planning to operate some further short term trials on the operation of the Barmby Barrage on the River Derwent in 2015.

The newtrials followan initial trial which took place in April 2013.

The trials will be designed to help understand the impact of the Barmby Barrage on the hydrology of the Lower Derwent and to help the protection and enhancement of the Grasses on the Flood Plain Meadow.

The trials will measure the effect the opening and closing of the Barrage will have on the Meadows which are currently under threat from prolnged water logging.

The intention is, when flows in the River Derwent are 24 cubic metres per second (cumecs), 20 cumecs and 16 cumecs as measured by the Agency’s gauging station on the Derwent at Buttercrambe Weir and when there is standing water on the Meadows the Agency will open the gates at Barmby Barrage so that the Derwent level is allowed to follow the Ouse level to its minimum at low tide. The gates will then be closed them on the rising tide to avoid Ouse water flowing back in. This will be over a half tidal cycle  - once a day over 1 day. The opening and closing regime will be repeated over different flow bands on different days.

The Agency will gather the associated data from recorders at Bubwith, Elvington, East Cottingwith, Loftsome Bridge and Barmby Barrage

Based on the response to the trial events, newmanagement guidelines could be drawn up to protect the Meadows against the prolonged water logging events that are currently threatening the future of the traditional plant and wildlife communities which are designated under the European Habitats Directive.

Licensed abstractors on the affected river reach have been notified separately.