This Fund is grant funding from Defra for projects that contribute towards meeting the objectives of the EU Water Framework Directive and achieving Good Ecological Status, the Habitats Directive and the EU Eel Regulation. The fund is administered by the Trust and funds disbursed to local Rivers Trusts for approved projects, related mainly to fish passage, SAC & SSSI habitat, Salmon Action Plans and Eel Management Plans. This fund is limited to projects in England.

Project criteria are: -

• Removal of obstructions to fish passage (preferred) or creation of fish passes
• Focus improvement to N2K (SAC) sites or SSSI's where it is a priority
• Deliver maximum number of water bodies achieving “Good” status
• Act where other pressures do not prevent "Good” being achieved.
• Ensure it is highly cost-beneficial for the biological improvement being achieved
• For eels, achievement of the EC Eel Regulation on passage for WFD. Focus on high priority structures where privately owned (Guidance on priorities available here)

All projects must be submitted to us for technical assessment and approval by the Environment Agency nationally. Therefore strong local EA support will be helpful in getting projects accepted.

Phase 2 was completed on 31 October 2011.

For Phase 3, the commencement date for eligible expenditure is 1 June 2011. Initial contracts have been awarded following technical assessment by the Environment Agency and all projects must be completed by 30 September 2012, with final claims submitted etc. by 31 October 2012.

Rivers trusts may submit additional projects to The Rivers Trust for technical assessment, either to be held in reserve for Phase 3 or for submission as a strategic bid under the newly announced Catchment Restoration Fund.

Please refer to the newly published Habitat Improvement Strategy for the European Eel for detailed information on potential projects in support of the Eel Management Plans and EC Eel Regulation. Maps are available for each River Basin District showing the location of priority eel passes and habitat improvement opportunities that provide the greatest potential benefit to eel.

A series of Fact Sheets containing templates and guidance are available for download below:

Defra River Improvement Fund Fact Sheets

The below templates and guides have been prepared for the Defra River Improvement Fund projects.

The documents are made available for download by rivers trusts by clicking on the relevant icon(s).
Editable original source documents are available from The Rivers Trust (Martin Harmer martin@theriverstrust.org or James Sowden james@theriverstrust.org)

Downloads File Name Date File Size Download PHASE 3 FACT SHEETS       Phase 3 Fact Sheets combined v8 May 2012 November 2011 949kb