A much needed spring spate

May 11, 2009

The Ribble last week certainly got some much needed rain.  After such a long dry spell, it was nice to have some water to wash through some of the sediment that had settled, and make sure that the last of the Kelts that had been kicking around made their way back to sea.  News has also started to trickle in of some spring salmon being caught which is always nice to hear, and one of 14lbs – by a certain Fred Higham!  I know you’re all well aware but just in case, all salmon caught before June 16th MUST be returned.

The Weather made days out of the office slightly less pleasant but this goes with the territory.  That said I spent much of Tuesday inside.  I started with a talk to Burnley College Conservation and countryside management course students.  I enjoyed this and hope they got some use from it.  The title of the talk was where the RCCT fitted into the conservation of our river’s.  Many were surprised by how much we did, and also that the Calder had fish in it at all!

Tuesday afternoon was spent getting things straight for the Trustees meeting that evening.  This went very well and lots of things were added to the to do list.  These are Bi monthly meetings, and tend to run on as we are doing so much at the moment that there is a lot to fill in on!

Wednesday we went out with a local Mink trapper and set some traps on our Stock Beck Habitat Scheme as we are sure that we had seen evidence of Mink.  We are now waiting to hear the results, and fingers crossed we will have nailed ‘em!  In the evening Stephen went over to the Calder Fisheries Consultative AGM, which was very positive and the Calder is lucky to have such dedicated people working to improve the Fishing and River habitat.

Thursday’s break in the weather allowed Stephen and I a chance to put in some post and rail fences to stop sheep utilising our habitat works on Stock Beck to Jump from one side of the river to the other.  We also did some site checks on our Signal Crayfish scheme works, as well as visiting another potential off stream spawning channel site, and check on the spate’s effect on the new Ings Beck Spawning Channel.  This Channel looks fantastic and we can’t wait to see some fish spawning in there this winter.

Our first Mink trap being place and Stephen putting up some post and rail fence on our habitat scheme

Friday I completed our various consent forms for the Signal Crayfish eradication trial, and looked at a “new” barrier to migration we have been made aware of on Standen Brook.  It is a real surprise how much work is involved in such a small trial but this most definitely worth it if we can find a successful method of eradicating Signal Crayfish.  In the afternoon I met with Stephanie Peyar to discuss various aspects of this trial and a few other possible research areas that will add both our and the national information on signals.

I also had an email from Jason Pusley of the EA about some kick sampling he and I had done that had brought up a problem in Clitheroe.  At the time I wasn’t able to give any real detail due to the process of correcting this issue.  Jason has now confirmed it is being dealt with and is happy for me to give out some info.  In essence we found evidence of sewage getting into Shaw Brook, we followed the beck up till we found a surface water outflow, unfortunately there was sewage litter on this outflow indicating as a source.  Jason worked with United Utilities and found that several houses had misconnections, connecting their sewage to the surface water drain.  This is an all to common occurrence with devastating consequences.  United Utilities are now working positively with the house owners to remove these cross connections.  This is a fantastic result and shows how hard all of the organisations involved work, and in partnership, to rectify these issues.  They are never a quick fix, but once fixed there will be an immediate improvement in water quality helping Invertebrates, fish, birds and mammals.

Saturday I fished as part of the Association of Rivers Trusts team in the national water industry game fishing championship.  The weather was attrocious and all involved struggled, very few managed to “bag up”, and I only managed a very small perch and two bream – Bream on the fly!  Our team managed only 5 fish for 6 anglers, and these were caught by just two of the team!  Well that’s fishing and we vowed to do better next year….although I remember taking that same vow last year!!!!

Posted by Charles Edward Poate | Filed Under Education, Inhabitants of the River, Restoration and Conservation Projects, Threats to the River, Working Partners 

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