RP3: Watercourse crossings

How much you’llwill be paid paid

£506.44 per crossing. crossing.

HowWhere thisto itemuse benefitsthis the environmentitem

ProvidingAvailable a watercourse crossing for livestockCountryside andStewardship machineryMid reducesTier, theHigher disturbanceTier toand theCapital watercourse. This helps reduce sedimentation.Grants.

ThisOnly itemin canareas helptargeted youto protect,reduce recoverwater andpollution improvefrom biodiversity on your land.agriculture

Where youthis canitem usecannot thisbe item used

You can use this item either:

• inwhere combinationthere withare actionsenvironmental, archaeological or optionshistoric forfeatures toidentified create,on restorethe orFarm manageEnvironment habitatsRecord or(FER), features with the supportEnvironmental ofInformation aMap Naturalor Englandthe adviserHEFER
• inwithout areasrelevant targeted to reduce water pollution from agriculture

Catchment Sensitive Farming provides advice where there are water quality or flood risk issues linked to farming.

You’ll need to get relevant advice, permits or consents from the Environment Agency,Agency lead local flood authority or internalLocal drainagePlanning board before you start work.

Authority

You

How mustthis alsoitem contactwill yourbenefit localthe planning authority to check if planning permission is needed before you start any work.

environment

YouProviding cannota usewatercourse thiscrossing item:

• onfor historiclivestock orand archaeologicalmachinery featureswill identifiedreduce inthe yourdisturbance Historicto Environmentthe Farmwatercourse, Environmentwhich Recordwill (HEFER)
• onhelp areasreduce of wildlife interest identified on your Farm Environment Record (FER) or on MAGIC

sedimentation.

What you must do to use this itemRequirements

You must:

• construct a ford (crossing) at least 44m metres (m) wide
• include a semi-circular, straight or slantedoblique group of toe stones –keyed secure them into the riverbed on the downstream edge to form a gravel trap
• securekey the stones down to at least 600600mm millimetres (mm) below the existing level of the bed or below the known scour level (whichever is deeper)
• make sure the stones do not stand clear of the water during low summer flows –and that they mustdo not form a weir
• make sure the approach slope gradient is no steeper than 1 in 4
• use fencing to make sure that livestock cannot access the sides of the approaches to the ford approaches
• include rock revetment to protect the sidesford of the approaches to the ford on the river side

You must also protect the base of the entrance and the exit rampramp, to(to avoid bankside erosionerosion) with one of the following:

• rock armouring using cobble-sized rocks to create as flat a surface as possible and filling any gaps with coarse gravel or hardcore
• coarse gravel or hardcore hardcore:
  • with treated retaining boards (50mm by 230mm) along the ramp (parallel to the river flow),flow) and spaced 1m apart

  For the latter,

• hold the boards in position with treated posts (100mm by 100mm) that are 1m apart.apart
• drive Drive the posts into the bank and trim them at an angle of 1 in 4 (parallel to the slope).slope)
• drive Drivethe themposts at least 50mm below the line of the boards to avoid tripping.tripping
• compact Compact the bed of the ramp to provide a stable footing for livestock.

  Evidencelivestock

all youcapital works carried out must keep meet the relevant British Standards - examine copies of the most up-to-date standards for guidance

Keeping records

Agreement holders will need to keep the following records and supply them on request:

• any consents or permissions connected with the work
• receipted invoices, or bank statements where a receipted invoice is unavailable
• photographs of site before works start

Please see the record keeping and inspection requirements as set out in the relevant Mid Tier, Higher Tier or Capital Grants guidance for more detail. You mustcan find the latest guidance at Countryside Stewardship: get funding to protect and improve the land you manage.

Agreement holders will need to keep the following records and providesupply them with yourthe claim:

• photographs of the site during the different stages of construction or contracts, invoices or other documents confirming the technical specification for the completed works
• photographs of the completed work
• anyworks consentsin orplace permissionsand connected with the workinstalled

YouApplicants must alsoobtain keepFlood andDefence provideConsent on request:

• receipteda invoicesmain orriver bankand statementscontact wherethe local aplanning receiptedauthority invoiceabout is unavailable
• photographs of the siteplans before worksapplying start

Readfor thethis recorditem. keepingA andcopy siteof visitany requirementsadvice inor theconsent Agreementreceived holder’sfrom guide:the CapitalEA Grants,or Higherthe Tierlocal capitalplanning grantsauthority andshould Protectionprovided andwith Infrastructurethe grants for more information.claim.

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Advice toand helpsuggestions youfor usehow to carry out this item

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BritishHow Standards 

Check to makechoose sure the works meet relevant British Standards.

Choosing a location

It’sIt is generally best to build watercourse crossing points at existing stock crossing locations, as the banks are usually less steep.

YouAgreement holders should choose a site that needs the minimum amount of excavation work. This will produce less spoil, cause less disruption and reduce the amount of sediment entering the watercourse.

DoThe notcrossing constructshould thenot crossingbe constructed on a watercourse bend.bend, Ifas itthis is,can it may lead to silt deposition on the inside of the bend and erosion on the outside.

Biodiversity

This item has been identified as being beneficial for biodiversity. All Countryside Stewardship habitat creation, restoration and management options are of great significance for biodiversity recovery, as are the wide range of arable options in the scheme. Capital items and supplements can support this habitat work depending on the holding’s situation and potential.

The connectivity of habitats is also very important and habitat options should be linked wherever possible. Better connectivity will allow wildlife to move/colonise freely to access water, food, shelter and breeding habitat, and will allow natural communities of both animals and plants to adapt in response to environmental and climate change.

Further information

Further information about watercourse crossings is available from the Rivers Trust.

Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF) operates in parts of the country where there are water quality issues linked to farming. The scheme provides farmers with free advice and training. See guidance for further information on CSF support.

Read Countryside Stewardship: get funding to protect and improve the land you manage to find out more information about Mid Tier, Higher Tier and Capital Grants including how to apply.