RESOURCES

Frequently Asked Questions.

Questions About the Partnership

  • a) To improve at least 510km of river for fish migration.

    b) To attract at least £10.3m in match funding by the end of March 2030.

    c) To use the development, success and learning in the first 5 years of the GYR Partnership to prepare for further funding and success beyond 2030.

  • a) Deliver sustainable, appropriate and healthy fish populations and wider ecosystem benefits by addressing the environmental impacts of artificial barriers, whilst demonstrating community benefits via enhanced recreational water use, the conservation of heritage features and invasive non-native species control. 

    b) Build capacity and capability in partner and delivery organisations through Catchment Based Approach (CaBA) partnerships, coordinated training, and direct support to deliver value for money; drive collective action and improve public safety associated with barriers. 

    c) Promotion and advocacy of the successes, benefits, and learning from this partnership model to a wide audience. Facilitate adoption of this model and educate key stakeholders on the benefits of barrier removal. 

  • The Vision is for all barriers negatively impacting on fish populations to be addressed by 2043, however, the Partnership only has funding allocated until 2030. The Partnership is preparing now on how to secure future funding beyond 2030 to continue delivery and achieve the Vision.

  • You can find a complete list of all the GYR partners here. They all have differing areas where they operate within Yorkshire, some cover parts of the county and others that cover the whole of Yorkshire and beyond. We are currently developing an interactive map that will show you who covers which areas, in the meantime, you can find out which areas each partner covers by visiting their website or by contacting the GYR Team through the contact form stating the location you are interested in.

Questions About Projects in the Partnership

  • There will be strong links to communities the GYR Partnership as many of the barriers we’re seeking to address are in the urban environment. Part of that community engagement will involve education on the impacts of barriers on fish population, natural river processes, biodiversity and water quality. The funding we have will deliver engagement activities and this is expected to be primarily through a dedicated GYR funded resource, this resource is expected to be in place by Summer 2026.

  • Yes. Great Yorkshire Rivers (GYR) is an ambitious partnership who are seeking to bring benefits to fish, water quality and wider ecology through addressing in-channel structures across the rivers of Yorkshire. GYR seeks to address the fragile state of many fish populations that have resulted from fragmented river systems and compounded by habitat degradation and climate change impacts.

    GYR Partners shall consider impacts of their schemes on cultural heritage, on an asset-by-asset basis, early within the project process and seek the best possible outcomes for significant heritage. This will be balanced with the value and importance of environmental heritage and the need to deliver free-flowing rivers and re-instate natural river processes.

    GYR Partners will engage with and listen to any raised concerns where heritage significance, archaeological assets, setting and sense of place may be impacted by a project. We will work with appropriate heritage professionals, together with expertise within the partnership, who can advise on measures to mitigate those impacts.

    Projects will, wherever possible, seek positive outcomes for cultural and industrial heritage including the potential for historical recording and interpretation at project sites, that celebrates both the project and heritage outcomes as a joint success.

Questions about GYR funding and Governance

  • To ensure we get the best outcome for the funding we have available, GYR has set up an application process to help the Funding Working Group assess applications from Partners with all the relevant information about a project that they need to make a decision. The answers provided allow scores to be assigned ensuring each project meets the required standards for delivering projects that will achieve the GYR Vision. If there are projects that are a little more unusual then we have the option to escalate to the Partnership Board for determination, allowing appropriate scrutiny before deciding whether to fund or not.

  • GYR has been structured to ensure transparency and inclusiveness for all involved. We have a Partnership Board that has representation from the Environment Agency (both National and Yorkshire Area colleagues), Yorkshire Water and The Rivers Trust (from the National Rivers Trust and 2 representative from local Rivers Trusts). We also hold bi-monthly meetings where representatives from each of the GYR Partners come together as a Steering Group. Here the Partners have an opportunity to share opinions and shape GYR ensuring there is consensus in the direction and approach we are taking to achieve the GYR Vision. Additionally, we have several focussed working group (including the Funding Working Group, Strategy Working Group and Comms Working Group) with representation from GYR Partners that work on specific tasks to keep GYR moving forward. The graphic below helps explain the interaction between each of the groups.

    Explore the GYR Partnership Governance structure.

Technical Questions about barrier removal and fish passes

  • Taking out a barrier can improve the river and its ecology in many ways, here are a few:

    a) allows free movement of all fish species up and down the river

    b) reduces sediment dropping out upstream of the barriers due to slower flowing water

    c) reduces water temperature rise by allowing water to flow quickly rather than being backed up

    d) shallower water running over rock and gravels increase dissolved oxygen

    e) cooler and well-oxygenated faster flowing water supports more river species and increases quality fish spawning habitat

  • Barrier location data comes from a variety of sources. Principally, it has been extracted from the River Obstacles national dataset. This is being supplemented by records held by local partners, such as rivers trusts and eNGOs, that they have collected from walkover surveys. This will produce our best estimate of the barriers that exist in Yorkshire’s rivers, that number currently sits at over 6000, but there are still likely to be more unrecorded barriers out there. Not all barriers will be impacting fish populations; it is estimated that around 1800-2000 are having a more significant impact and these will be targeted over the next 18 years.

  • Whilst that does make sense when thinking about migratory fish like salmon and sea trout, often there are complexities that mean they can't be done in order. That shouldn't mean we stop addressing other barriers though! There are benefits to opening up rivers to fish that are resident in the river all year round that will be able to reach new habitat, bring benefits to water quality and help create higher quality habitat. We have the ambition to address all the barriers over the next 15-20 years so, if the opportunity comes along, then we should take it.

  • No, there are many ways we can help fish get past a barrier in the river such as fish passes, bypass channels or rock ramps. Some these techniques won't be suitable for all species or all locations. However, physical removal brings the most benefits for both fish and the river. It also means there is no longer an asset to look after so removes a liability off the owner for the long-term.