Next -- WUF's wish list

A weir on the Gavenny, 200 metres up from the confluence with the Usk.Stony Bridge Weir on the Garren where a fish pass is envisaged.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.

What's next on our wish list or forward work plan?

Restoring fish habitats is by far the best use of our funds. Each year, we add to the amount completed but there remain a number of important sites to complete. Habitat restoration includes restoring access to spawning grounds, fencing out stock and tree management, reducing the effects of acidity and diffuse pollution

Fish Passage

For salmonids, restoring access to nursery and spawning areas is undoubtedly the best and most cost effective option and remains our first priority. Here you will find details of progress to date. We are getting very close to solving this issue. However, some streams still have significant barriers, or series of weirs that impact collectively. These include:

On the Wye:

 

 

On the Usk:

 

 

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 in Radnorshire. This work will be funded through the EU Fisheries Fund. Elsewhere, we will be prioritising the fencing out stock and tree management where the need and advantage will be greatest.

 

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
Above: just fencing animals out of rivers allows a rapid recovery. The above photos were taken in the same year on the Cammddwr, an Ithon tributary.

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 lower catchments and flood plains, excessive levels of nutrient, sediment and pesticides resulting, in part, 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 deploy qualified staff and continue projects that mange the problem at a farm level. Several projects have already made a contribution to correcting this problem including LARA , WFD , WHIP2 in Herefordshire (financed by Defra's Catchment Restoration Fund) and MOAT in Monmouthshire (DCWW). However, more projects like these will be needed.

What Else?

There are continuously on-going projects, issues and schemes. These include

The Fishing Passport: we are continuing to make more sections of the rivers available for anglers, thus benefitting the local economy and returning funding to the rivers. Increasing the economic value of rivers ensures their long-term health. If you are a riparian owner anywhere in Wales or the Marches and want to know more, please contact the office.

There are certain issues and areas where the best chance of success is for the Foundation to press Government for action, the regulation and planning of agricultural development for example. There are as yet unfulfilled promises of placing the onus on fish passage on weir owners. Why should this apparent breach of common law continue?

Then there's the day job: liming the upper Irfon and Wye; keeping the fences up; clearing the fish passes and managing the Passport.

 

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.