Hundreds of homes in Cardiff will now have extra protection from flooding due to a new £950,000 'tree catcher' installed in a nearby river.
The scheme, created by Natural Resources Wales, aims to protect 490 properties in the Ely and Fairwater areas of Cardiff.
Funded by the Welsh Government, the new £957,000 device is designed to reduce the chance of trees and larger objects becoming trapped under Ely Bridge.
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The 'tree catcher' has been installed near the bridge, where the River Ely passes under Cowbridge Road West (A48).
Natural Rescources Wales say Ely Bridge is a known pinch point and partial blockage of the structure could lead to flood water backing up and overtopping the riverbanks, which has previously led to the flooding of homes and businesses in the area.
The Taff and Ely rivers are the two main rivers in Cardiff which have the potential to cause flooding in many built up areas around the city.
Two years ago, River Ely burst it's banks twice in two weeks and at Ely Bridge, the river reached it's highest level in 12 years after Storm Jorge brought heavy rain.
In October 2021, a flood warning was issued by Natural Resources Wales after River Ely hit a peak level of 1.71 metres.
The new tree catcher consists of seven poles staggered across the river, spaced widely to target large debris that would otherwise be trapped at the bridge.
As water levels rise during heavy rain, debris trapped by the poles will float on the surface and allow water to pass beneath and continue downstream. The build-up of debris will be monitored using a CCTV camera.
By trapping debris at a safe location upstream of the bridge, the risk of flooding is reduced.
An access ramp and processing area has also been created on the riverbank next to the tree catcher to make it easier to remove the blockages and cut them up for disposal.
The build-up of debris will also be monitored using a CCTV camera.
Michael Evans, NRW’s Head of Operations South Wales Central, said: “The tree catcher is an innovative way to reduce the risk of flooding to the residents of Cardiff.
"We’ve all seen the recent devastation that flooding has caused to people’s lives across Wales. Two years on from the devastating February 2020 storms, the impacts of the floods were felt right across Wales and are still etched in our minds.
"Climate change will bring more frequent extreme weather and flood events. While we can never prevent all flooding, we will continue to invest the funding we receive from Welsh Government to manage Wales’ flood risk in the best possible way, working closely with local communities to identify the best combination of measures that tackle the specific threats.”
Climate Change Minister Julie James said: “I am pleased construction of the Ely Tree Catcher flood alleviation project has been completed and would like to thank Natural Resources Wales and their contractors for their hard work with delivering this work.
"This innovative project will assist in reducing the risk of flooding to hundreds of nearby homes at times when flows on the River Ely are at a heightened level.
"The Ely Tree Catcher is just one of hundreds of flood alleviation projects which will benefit from Welsh Government investment during the current government term, helping to protect more than 45,000 homes.
"Over the next three years and working in partnership with local authorities and Natural Resources Wales, the Welsh Government plans to invest a record £238 million to deliver our flood and coastal erosion commitments set out in the Programme for Government.”
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