The taps turn on for Arun Riverlife
The wetlands became wetter when staff at opened the inlet valves on Friday 7 June to refill the main lake at WWT Arundel Wetland Centre. Previously known as Swan Lake, it was drained to allow the silt to dry out and be removed. The lakebed was then re-landscaped into the Arun Riverlife Project, a managed river floodplain terrain that reflects the landscape of the Arun Valley. When it’s finished Arun Riverlife will attract British wildfowl, wading birds, dragonflies and water voles close to the large windows of the main gallery in the visitor centre at WWT Arundel Wetland Centre.
Project Background
Large fish were removed from the lake in February of 2012. In June 2012 the large willow trees around the lake were cut back and more hedgerow planted as habitat for dormice. WWT Arundel and the Environment Agency captured and moved over 200 eels from the lake in October 2012 in preparation to drain the lake. Earth movers began re-landscaping the lakebed in March 2013 after a very wet winter delayed the project slightly. Now the area will be sown and planted with wetland plants, with sections of reed and sedge. The planting stage of the project will finish June 21.
