River and coastal engineering timbers

EcoChoice supplies FSC®-certified, naturally durable hardwood for river, canal, flood and coastal engineering. From weir stop logs to fish passes, boardwalks, debris screens, bank revetment and natural flood management, we cut each component to your specification and deliver nationwide, sourcing to order rather than holding stock.

We work to the established industry guidance, principally the CIRIA and Environment Agency Manual on the use of timber in coastal and river engineering (Crossman and Simm, 2004). We match species to exposure: dense tropical hardwoods such as Ekki and Greenheart for submerged, tidal and high-abrasion duties, and European Oak, Sweet Chestnut and strength-graded Douglas Fir for freshwater and above-water structures.

Jump to: Stop logs | Fish pass timber | Gauging and access platforms | Raised boardwalks | Debris screens | Revetment and bank protection | Natural flood management

Stop logs, weir boards and flashboards

Timber stop logs are one of the simplest and most repairable ways to control water level at weirs, sluices and penstocks. We machine each log to your channel dimensions and can add full-width hardwood splines so the set seats tightly and keeps leakage low. A damaged log is swapped out individually rather than replacing the whole assembly.

Species: European Oak for freshwater level control, where it swells to form a tight seal; Ekki or Greenheart for high-head or continuously submerged duties.

Common uses: weir crest control, sluice and penstock closures, flood and land-drainage structures, fish pass and mill-leat regulation, and temporary works.

Fish pass timber and baffles

We supply durable hardwood for fish pass construction, including baffles, walls, and associated walkway and access components. Fish passes work in permanently wet, high-flow, abrasive conditions, so we specify dense Class 1 durable hardwoods, typically Ekki and Greenheart, and strength grade where the design calls for it.

Fish pass geometry is safety and ecology critical, so we supply to the designer’s or the Environment Agency’s specification rather than offering a standard product, and we recommend the design is checked against current guidance (IFM Fish Pass Manual).

Gauging and access platforms

We supply timber for gauging stations, monitoring points and maintenance access over and alongside watercourses: durable decks, walkways and small platforms on a timber or steel sub-frame, cut to your layout. Above the waterline and for framing, strength-graded Douglas Fir and European Oak give a robust, cost-effective structure; where the deck sits low over water or takes heavy wear, dense hardwoods such as Ekki, Greenheart or Opepe extend service life, and any in-water support piling is supplied in Class 1 durable hardwood.

Common uses: river and sewer flow gauging platforms, sampling and monitoring access, weir and outfall inspection walkways, and cantilevered or bank-mounted platforms.

Raised boardwalks

We supply raised timber boardwalks for wetlands, nature reserves, coastal paths and public access, where a light-touch structure carries visitors over soft, wet or sensitive ground. For freshwater and above-water settings, naturally durable European Oak and Sweet Chestnut give a long, low-maintenance life and weather to a natural silver that suits conservation sites. For heavy traffic or permanently damp structures, dense hardwoods such as Ekki, Balau or Opepe offer maximum wear resistance, with anti-slip decking profiles for all-weather and wheelchair access.

Common uses: wetland and reedbed walkways, reserve and country-park trails, viewing and pond-dipping platforms, dune and coastal access, and boggy or uneven footpaths.

Fixed debris screens and flow deflectors

We supply durable hardwood for fixed debris screens, trash screens and flow deflectors that protect intakes, culverts, weirs and pumping stations. These are pile-supported or bank-fixed timber structures, built in dense, naturally durable hardwoods such as Ekki, Greenheart and Opepe so they resist impact, abrasion and constant wetting without chemical treatment.

A note on floating booms: a floating boom needs buoyancy, which our dense hardwoods do not provide. Where a floating solution is required we can advise on naturally buoyant timber such as Douglas Fir or Larch for the floating elements, though many floating booms are better served by purpose-made buoyant units. Talk to us about the application.

Timber revetment and bank protection

We supply durable hardwood for timber revetment, breastwork and camp sheathing that protects riverbanks, canal edges and coastal frontages from erosion: piles, waling and boards cut to your section sizes. In the marine and tidal zone, dense Class 1 durable hardwoods such as Ekki and Greenheart give the longest service, since UK native species are more vulnerable in the marine environment; for freshwater banks and canals, European Oak is a durable, cost-effective and visually sympathetic option.

Common uses: bank revetment and breastwork, camp sheathing behind piling, canal and river edge protection, and erosion control on tidal frontages.

Natural flood management timbers

We supply timber for natural flood management, including leaky dams, engineered log jams and woody flow structures that slow the flow and cut downstream flood peaks. Where a scheme needs to last, the durable anchor posts, pins and retaining members that hold a structure in place are best supplied in naturally durable hardwood such as Oak or Ekki, so the fixings outlast the softwood or green timber often used for the bulk of the structure. We can advise on a mix that balances cost against design life.

Common uses: leaky dams and leaky barriers, engineered log jams, flow deflectors and woody debris structures, and river restoration works.

Choosing the right species

• Submerged, tidal or high-abrasion: Ekki, Greenheart (dense Class 1 durable, do not float).
• Freshwater and above-water: European Oak, Sweet Chestnut (naturally durable).
• Framing and platforms: strength-graded Douglas Fir and Oak.
• Floating elements only: naturally buoyant Douglas Fir or Larch, never Ekki or Greenheart.

All timber is FSC or PEFC certified. We offer custom sizing, strength grading on request, expert species advice and nationwide delivery.

Standards and further reading

• CIRIA and Environment Agency, Manual on the use of timber in coastal and river engineering (Crossman and Simm, 2004): technical report and summary.
• CIRIA C793, Groynes in coastal engineering (2020).
• CIRIA C742, Manual on scour at bridges and other hydraulic structures.
• Institute of Fisheries Management, Fish Pass Manual.
• Forest Research, decay and integrity of timber structures used for natural flood management.