After many years of decline in the river, a survey was commissioned by Natural England in 2002. The survey showed that the ecological condition of the river had declined. The principal reasons for this were water quality and siltation. Water quality has been addressed and was improving, but the physical character of the river needs to be restored. In 2008, the River Wensum Restoration Strategy (RWRS) partnership was formed between; Environment Agency; Water Management Alliance and Natural England[3] to restore the physical functioning of the Wensum. The 2002 report found that fourteen redundant water mills along the Wensum as having the most significant factor affecting morphology of the river channel, with 67% of the river backed up behind these structures. As a priority, the strategy recommended the lowering, removal or bypassing of these structures to allow more of the river to function naturally.[4] Since 2008, the RWRS has made improvements to the river. The holistic whole river approach with co-operation from land owners, fisheries managers and other organizations has seen ongoing projects ranging from restoring gravel glides to removing silt.[3]
The Norfolk Anglers Conservation Association carried out a successful river habitat restoration at their Sayers Meadow fishery at Lyng in the early 1980s.[5] After dredging and a major abstraction pipeline had a detrimental effect on the Costessey Point
fishery, the association has taken action to restore this well known water. The ongoing work will be used as a blueprint for future river conservation projects.[6]
