Case Study - Thames Canal Junction

Project: Thames Canal Junction
Project Location: Abingdon
River System: River Thames (Wilts & Berks Canal)

Client: Wilts & Berks Canal Trust

Date of Installation: August 2006

Project Brief

install protection for the toe of the newly created canal bank from wind and boat wash generated wave erosion
installation must be resistant to burrowing signal crayfish
provide essential environmental gain and asthetics to the newly created channel

Solution

Cain Bio-Engineering Ltd designed and installed a robust marginal vegetated mattress along the banks of the new 150m section of the Wilts and Berks canal.

Constructed of hardwood posts with our trademark Coirnet geotextiles, the marginal mattress is designed to withstand and dissipate the wave action caused by boat traffic.

This cost effective, soft engineered approach uses the marginal wetland vegetation as a way of dissipating boat bow wave energy, whilst at the same time providing habitats for aquatic animals and taking into consideration the prevention of Signal crayfish burrowing using our Coirnet techniques.

'Coirnet' mattress planted with local provenance species supplied by 'British Flora'

'..Cain Bio-Engineering was engaged to provide a solution and specified their marginal mattress system that has been used successfully on the Kennet & Avon Canal. This soft-engineered scheme cost less than one eighth of the steel piling option, offering excellent value for money as well as being environmentally compatible. I have no hesitation in recommending both the system and Cain Bio-Engineering for work of this nature.'

JL (Chairman) - Wilts & Berks Canal Trust

Established Marginal Mattress 3 Years Later