Leaky Dams along the Porter Clough

Friends of the Porter Valley have been working with Sheffield City Council Woodlands Ranger, Matt Coster, to install leaky dams in Porter Clough.

Porter Clough is one of several steep sided valleys on the western side of the city, bordering the Peak District. During high rainfall events, surface water runs off these steep sided valleys causing a rapid increase in discharge in the rivers which flow down into more urban areas of Sheffield.

Leaky Dams are a technique used as part of Natural Flood Management. Natural woody material is laid across small streams to intercept and slow the flow of water during times of higher flow. These structures replicate blockages which occur naturally when trees and branches enter the channel. Pools form behind the blockages, slowing the flow of water and reducing the flood peak downstream.

The Riverlution River Stewardship Skills Scheme group worked together with Matt Coster back in October 2022 to learn how to create leaky dams in the Porter Clough.

Some of the group had chance to catch up with the Leaky Dams they helped to install and to see them in action on the Riverlution Blue Monday Wellbeing Walk!