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Great Yorkshire Rivers: Restoring Connectivity, Reviving Ecosystems |
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The Great Yorkshire Rivers (GYR) partnership is a pioneering regional initiative to restore river connectivity and ecological health across Yorkshire. Formed in 2022 by Yorkshire Water, The Rivers Trust, and the Environment Agency, GYR builds on over a decade of collaborative success, having already addressed more than 100 obstacles to fish migration.
With a bold vision to address nearly 2,000 artificial river barriers by 2043, GYR seeks to restore natural river processes, improving water and habitat quality to support thriving and resilient fish populations. The preference is removal of redundant structures, delivering the greatest ecological benefits but also reduces the owners’ maintenance liability.
For the 2025–2030 period, £11.4 million has been secured through Yorkshire Water’s environmental programme, with an additional £10 million in match funding targeted—that’s over £21 million to open up a target of 509 km of river habitat.
GYR operates as a collaborative network of 12 delivery partners, sharing resources and expertise to tackle high-impact barriers. The partnership is committed to solutions that respect heritage and community values, ensuring stakeholder engagement throughout.
By 2043, GYR aims to have transformed Yorkshire’s rivers into thriving ecosystems, reconnecting habitats and communities through nature-focussed solutions. |
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