History of the Foundation

A timber blockage discovered on a Wye tributaryAn over grazed and stock damaged spawning streamFencing on the Duhonw, work carried out in WHIP.Ideal habitat on the Clywedog, a Wye tributary that was restored under WHIP.Putcher ranks in the esturay - the buyout benefited migrating fish species on both rivers.Liming on the upper Wye to rectify acidity problemsTeaching children about the life cycle of the salmon - an important part of the Lugg & Arrow Leader+ Project.Signal crayfish

Declining fish stocks were the initial catalyst for the formation of the Wye Foundation. Building on the efforts of volunteers, the Foundation formally began in 1995 with the generous backing and support from fishermen, owners and others interested in the well being of the river. Initially, a full time fisheries graduate, Richard White, was engaged and work began with a full survey of the tributary system of the upper Wye.

Results of the survey showed that there were considerable problems within the catchment. Blockages, pollution ,damage from excessive grazing and over shading were prevalent throughout the tributaries. In 1996 work began: timber blockages, some as high as twelve feet, weirs and other barriers to fish migration were removed (over 500 in total) to restore the passage of both brown trout and salmon to their native spawning streams Several cases of pollution, including sheep dip, have also been resolved as a result of the initial survey.

The next phase, and perhaps the most interesting aspect of the Foundation's work, involves restoring habitats that once supported a much wider range of fish, birds, animals and plants. This includes the Atlantic salmon, so important since much of the local economy depends on this species. In partnership with The Environment Agency, Countryside Council for Wales, Game Conservancy Trust and Brecknock, Radnorshire and Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trusts, the Foundation was successful in obtaining substantial European funding. The project was titled the Wye Habitat Improvement Project . This has resulted in an encouraging upturn in the natural brown trout populations as well as improving the nursery habitat of salmon. We also found that a whole range of other important species including Otters, Rannunculus and the native White Clawed Crayfish also benefited.

Since 1995 the number of returning Wye salmon has been below the level necessary to guarantee the survival of future generations. As a result, we also turned our attention to conserving every fish for spawning. Two 'Catch and Release Schemes' and a set of byelaws raised the percentage of salmon put back from 7% to 73%.

Realising that this alone would still not allow sufficient escapement, we also embarked on a plan to reduce the effects of commercial fishery in the estuary. This took us into partnership with the Owners and Fishermen of the Usk. In 2002 we became the Wye & Usk Foundation. Since then we have been running large catchment restoration projects on both rivers.

On the upper Wye our pHish Project is remedying the problems of Acidification, alongside habitat restoration and the setting up of the successful Passport scheme, while the two UP! Projects are improving fish access and habitat restoration.

In 2005 we successfully bid for Leader + funds to repeat the successful restoration formula on the Lugg and Arrow. This project is teaching primary school children about the life cycle of salmon. They will also be rearing fish to stock out in the river Arrow.

In 2006 the Herefordshire Wye improvement Project allows development of the English part of the catchment. The upper Wye Crayfish Project was followed by the Lugg and Arrow (Radnorshire) Project to restore the upper part of the catchment of these two rivers.

For full details, please see the Projects section.

MILESTONES