Next / WUF's wish list 2011/12

Kentchurch weir on the MonnowA weir on the Gavenny, 200 metres up from the confluence with the Usk.The next target for our 'Wild Fishing Wales' project is a real challenge - the removal of this weir at Ty-Michael on the Afon Llwyd.An impassable weir on the Trothy, a lower Wye tributary.

The Foundation's future aspirations continue with our overriding goal to restore the rivers, their tributaries, salmon and other species to their former, favourable status: but what gives the best value return on future spending and how can you help?

Fish Passage

For salmonids, restoring access to nursery and spawning areas is undoubtedly the best option and remains our first priority. We are getting close to solving this issue. Streams that still have significant barriers include:

On the Wye:

On the Usk:

Successful bids to DEFRA and the EU Fisheries Fund will enable work to continue on all the above during 2011. EAW will manage Kentchurch while a bid to "Wild Fishing Wales" has secured funding for dam removal on Afon Llwyd, the Usk's lowest tributary.

Correcting Acid Waters

Upper Wye acidification has been resolved to the extent that salmon are now present in all the affected streams, including the Tarenig, Bidno and Troed yr Esgair, pH problems on the Irfon remain a limiting factor, despite some improvement. The EU Life + funded "ISAC" project will resolve the acidification problem there and continue habitat restoration across the whole Irfon catchment.

Habitat Restoration

This is still required on the many of our streams and the most pressing amongst these on the Wye are the Ithon and its tributaries. This will be funded through EU Fisheries Fund. On the Monnow, we will be working on the Honddu.
We are pleased to report a successful bid for funds on the Usk: Biffa landfill tax and the Beacons Trust will provide resources to continue work in the Brecon Beacons Park and adjacent areas. We will start with the Menasgin, Rhiangoll and Senni.

Poor fish habitat caused by excessive erosion on the Camdwr, a spawning stream that flows into the upper Wye tributary, the River Ithon.The same stretch after the Foundation had fenced out the livestock - the banks are stabilising and the natural depth of the stream beginning to be re-establised

Farm Pollution Management

The Lodon, a River Lugg trbutary, choked by silt and algae, caused by nutrient and top soil run-off from farm land.Across much of the catchment, excessive levels of nutrient, sediment and pesticides resulting from unsustainable agricultural practices are having a devastating effecting on ecology of the rivers. The requirements of the Water Framework Directive have increased the amount of funding available. This has allowed WUF to employ qualified staff and commence the first projects to correct this (see LARA and WFD). The new DSEPP project will identify areas for work, barriers to change within the farming community and develop new funding to implement schemes to reduce farm diffuse pollution.

What Else?

Other Species: the ISAC project has provided funding to record and then enhance through captive breeding the native white clawed crayfish and freshwater pearl mussel populations within the Irfon.

Research and Investigation: in addition to the ongoing monitoring of the effects of our work, we are also planning an investigation into the effect, historically, of river flow on salmon movement.

The Wye & Usk Passport: we are continuing to make more of the rivers available for fishing, which benefits visiting anglers, fishery owners and the local economy. Increasing the economic value of rivers better ensures their long-term health.

Finally, the never ending war continues against:

There are other issues where the best chance of success is for the Foundation to press government for action. Excessive abstraction is one example where we are doing just that and at the risk of severe understatement, we think authorities could be acting with more haste. We are also keen on the permanent cessation of commercial fishing in the estuary: although we bought them off in 2010, there is still one significant putcher rank. Then there's the day job: keeping the fences up, clearing the fish passes and managing the Passport. At least the Severn Barrage has gone away for the time being.

2011 -2012 Plans for each river: How will the work be paid for?

Usk

Wye
(including Monnow, Lugg & Arrow)

Non specific Funding-All Rivers

Biffa

£50,000

Art/Defra 1

£203,000*

Giving up the Weed

£145,000*

Beacons Trust

£45,000

Art/Defra 2

£75,000

RASP

£17,500*

EU Fisheries Fund

£202,000*

ISAC

£1,232,000*

Passport (estimated annual turnover)

£140,000

Wild Fishing Wales (Llwyd)

£135,000*

EU Fisheries Fund

£288,000*

 

 

 

 

LARA

£215,000*

 

 

 

 

DSEPP

£32,000

 

 

*Project underway

 

Monnow

£10,000

 

 

Total

£432,000

Total

£2,045,000

Total

£302,500

Notes:

Finally, Fund raising - carrying out these plans and securing funds for the future needs matching support: every year we need to raise about £80,000 from anglers and owners. Your support is needed and you can help. Please click here to see how.