Session D2: Reconnecting the Rivers

• Main Author: Marsh-Smith, Dr. Stephen
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst 2015
• Subjects: Aquaculture and Fisheries; Hydraulic Engineering; Charity; Lugg; Usk; Weir; Atlantic salmon
• Online Access: https://scholarworks.umass.edu/fishpassage_conference/2015/June22/88

Abstract: The Wye and Usk Foundation (WUF) is a registered charity set up to restore the fisheries and ecology of the Wye and Usk which flow from mid Wales to the Severn estuary. Both rivers and the Severn estuary are EU designated Special Areas of Conservation and the designation includes Atlantic salmon, Twaite shad, sea and river lamprey. Both have substantial runs of European eel. The two rivers have suffered significant declines of migratory fish, especially Atlantic salmon (Wye) shad (Usk) and eel (both). The presentation describes the 18 year effort to re-establish fish access and the problems involved: apathy, historical poor understanding of fish biology, conflicting interests (historic weirs and ancient bridges) and differing overall strategy. By 1995, <50% of the Wye’s salmonid habitat was inaccessible, including the Wye’s biggest tributaries, Lugg and Monnow. Nonetheless the WUF and partners, the Environment Agency have completed over 81 fish passes or easements, 24 weir and 120 other barrier removals, re-establishing access to over 834km of previously inaccessible stream. Funders include EU fisheries fund, ERDF, Defra and private funding. Monitoring has been by electrofishing, redd counting, counters and egg surveys (shad) and an in-depth study of the recolonization by salmon has been made on the river Arrow a stream of some 35km. This tributary flows from Wales to England and has had over 14 pass or easements fitted. Electrofishing fishing and redd counting has plotted the extent of recolonisation by salmon. As a subsidiary benefit, monitoring has shown a substantial rise in the number of adult trout found upstream of the former barriers. The proposed presentation will demonstrate the historic loss of habitat (mapping) the methods deployed to correct, monitoring results in a highly photographic PowerPoint. It was previous shown to a wide audience on World fish Migration Day, May 2014.