Castleford Weir Fish Pass, West Yorkshire
- Client: Environment Agency
- Principal designer: Arup
- Principal contractor: Costain
- Contract value: £355,000
About the project
This new fish pass provides social and economic benefits through a more diverse and sustainable fishery.
The scheme involves the construction of a pass with a sloping channel with two flights and a central resting pool. The floor of the pass – which allows fish to negotiate the virtually impassable weir – incorporates baffles or vanes which generate counter currents to slow water velocities down for weaker-swimming fish, while still providing sufficient discharge to attract fish to the pass entrance. Arup, working with Fishway Engineering who provided specialist advice on biological design, had to ensure that any construction work did not affect the existing weir, and chose to locate the pass offshore in order to prevent public access and ensure safety.
Strong partnership between the Environment Agency, City of Wakefield Metropolitan District Council, British Waterways and community groups was crucial to the success of the project, which has reconnected people to a river that forms an intrinsic part their history.
Judges' comment
"An ecological necessity elegantly executed."