River Deben flows freely after major restoration efforts

Efforts to restore natural water flow in the River Deben in Suffolk have yielded significant results, with officials reporting that the river is functioning better than it has in a quarter of a century. The improvement follows urgent cleanup operations after a major structural failure caused water levels to drop by over a metre.

The incident occurred in April when heavy rainfall contributed to the collapse of a weir structure at Ufford, near Woodbridge. Tree roots had grown into the barrier, causing it to disintegrate and allowing water to rush toward the Hawkeswade/Lower Ufford Bridge, which subsequently cracked. The breach created a large crater known as Ufford Hole, draining onto surrounding land and impacting a side channel near the East Suffolk railway line.

Councillor David Finley, who serves as the river warden for Ufford Parish Council, described the return of free-flowing water as an “exciting moment.” He noted that this section of the river is typically cleared every five to ten years, making the current state unprecedented in 25 years. “Now, you can see gravel bits and silt bits, and so it’s actually creating a really potentially dynamic river,” Finley said.

Following the collapse, the Essex & Suffolk Rivers Trust reported significant damage to habitats along a substantial stretch of the river. Trevor Gill, representing the Lower Deben Riparian Owners Group, highlighted the detrimental effect on biodiversity and local wildlife. “People were worried about fish dying, which did happen, and it was pretty barren,” he explained, adding that the event also affected residents who have fished and swum in the area for decades.

A collaborative action plan involving local councils, the Environment Agency, and a consortium of landowners and farmers was established to address the damage. The first phase focused on clearing the dried-out channel from Old Melton Mill to Ufford Hole, successfully allowing water to flow back toward the mill.

Despite the progress, two critical issues remain unresolved. A wooden walkway adjacent to the bridge was closed for safety and remains unrepaired, and the weir itself requires reconstruction before the winter flood season. Finley emphasized that sorting out the weir is the “really critical bit” to prevent water from accelerating through the channel and causing further downstream problems.