A paper has been published on the hydro-geomorphic effects of wooden leaky barriers (LBs) in a steep headwater stream. The open access paper is published in Earth Surface Processes and Landforms and authored by a team of scientists in the James Hutton Institute. It focuses on a series of leaky barriers installed in a steep headwater channel of the Tweed. Detailed field monitoring and two-dimensional hydraulic modelling (HEC-RAS 2D) were used to assess the hydraulic impact of the structures and associated geomorphic changes. A net deposition response of 3.49±0.36 m³ was observed. Geomorphic response to the LBs was spatially variable, with a threshold lower gap height of ≤0.4 m needed to initiate deposition. The LBs had no effect on peak flow travel time and rate of stage rise or fall based on 22 events with an Annual Exceedance Probability (AEP) of ≥ 3.7%. Hydrological effects were limited due to the steep channel, small direct storage from LBs, and lack of expandable out-of-bank water storage. This highlights the need to identify optimal locations within the catchment that provide greater peak flood attenuation capacity.

Addy, S., Wilkinson, M. and Quinn, P., 2025. The hydro‐geomorphic effects of wooden leaky barriers in a steep headwater stream. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 50(6), p.e70079.