Cumbria River Restoration Partnership Programme - European Riverprize winners 2022

An ambitious programme to restore and improve rivers in the Lake District beat competition from across Europe to win the prestigious European Riverprize 2022.

The award was in recognition of efforts across Cumbria to reinstate natural river processes that benefit both people and wildlife.

The Cumbrian River Restoration partnership programme has improved almost 100km of river length and restored over 150 hectares of floodplain across the catchments of the Rivers Eden, Derwent and Kent. It has also reduced flood risk, removed plastic from rivers and boosted biodiversity in the region.

Partners on the project include the Environment Agency, Natural England, West Cumbria Rivers Trust, Eden Rivers Trust, South Cumbria Rivers Trust, the RSPB, United Utilities, the National Trust, Ullswater CIC, Salford University, Dynamic Rivers and Ebsford Environmental.

The rivers of the Lake District have been impacted by changing patterns of farming and land management over many centuries. All the watercourses within Cumbria have at some point been modified or altered to create space for farming practices.

This has exacerbated the effects of several severe flood events in recent years, with the area also suffering degradation of designated protected areas and a severe decline in biodiversity.

The Cumbria River Restoration partnerships programme has carried out more than 100 separate projects including reintroducing meanders, removing weirs and planting trees.

Practical work was also accompanied by engagement, training and educational initiatives including community events, volunteer days, internal and external training, conference and workshop presentations. 

First awarded in 2013, the European Riverprize celebrates excellence in the management, conservation and development of Europe’s rivers, wetlands and surrounding communities. Historically, the prize is award in conjunction with the International River Symposium, which attracts an audience of Europe’s leading advocates for environment and river protection, including the European Commissioner for Environment.

In 2022, the European Riverprize was awarded during the Gala Dinner of the 25th International River Symposium in Vienna.

The other two finalists were a campaign to save one of Europe’s last wild rivers, the Vjosa in Albania, and a project covering the Mura, Drava and Danube Rivers in central Europe.