Who said we needed rain…..

May 26, 2009

Last week was a challenging week for me.  The poor forecast caused me to pull the plug on our Signal Crayfish work, Monday and Tuesday, however I rearranged for Wednesday and Thursday.  Fate had a sense of irony, as We could have done our work Monday and Tuesday, and although we made a start Wednesday through till 2 a.m. on Thursday rain between 2 am and 8a.m. put the beck up over two feet flooding the area and nearly washing away our equipment.  The equipment rescue was successful and so although our work was lost at least we didn’t lose any kit.   This was a big set back for both myself and Electro Fishing Services (who we are working with), as we are now entering a busy time that will limit time and effort we are able to spend on tackling these little blighters.  However we are determined and we will get there soon!  The big plus on the Wednesday was a demonstration of a voltage gradient metre that can be used to determine (when electro fish) that you are fishing with the correct settings.  These further reduce the chances of injuring fish, but also on those sites where you’ve caught none and you’re wondering if it’s the electro fishing equipment this device gives you the answer!

I will rewind a little now, and after finishing cancelling all the work on Monday, Stephen and attended a meeting at Stock Reservoir of the Ribble Valley Strategic Partnership – Environmental Theme Group.  This had a wide range of attendees from United Utilities (UU) to the Forestry Commission, as well as the various Council departments involved in the Environment.  We had an interesting presentation about the SCAMP project UU are conducting on there Hodder Catchment Estate, which despite some reservation by those involved, will have significant benefits for our fish.  There aim is to improve water colour and reduce silt content, whilst also keeping livestock from contaminating water.  Thus the livestock will not overgraze the banks, resulting in less erosion (especially combined with all the trees they’ve planted) and no trampling of redds.  The reduce silt and sediment will not choke our spawning gravels, and it will also reduce the pressure on fishes gills (sediment can cause a nasty mucus build up), and the reduced colour should increase the amount of light available to the aquatic eco system, resulting in better primary production and the follow on benefits of more invertebrates and thus food for fish, bats and birds!

Tuesday we put together a letter concerning the calls for a Public Consultation for Beaver re-introduction in the Forest of Bowland AONB.  Although these creatures may have some benefits, and maybe in time there may be a pace for them back in our countryside, there are serious concerns about the negative impacts they may also bring with them, and to introduce yet another pressure into an eco system still recovering seems to be an inappropriate move.  The Tweed Foundation (www.tweedfoundation.org.uk) have undertaken a significant amount of work to highlight some of the problems they may bring and also dispel some of the myths about Beavers and Fish.

Thursday after getting back from the Crayfish project, I worked on our proposed scheme on the River Don (Calder Catchment).  I have two potential funding sources, I have the quotes and most of the consents so this project is ticking away nicely!

I was pretty tired by 5pm on Thursday having got to bed at 2pm then the flood knocked the wind out of my sails a bit, so decided I needed to recharge the batteries.  So when Dave Wilmot offered to take me as a guest on Ribblesdale Anglers water (Many thanks!) I jumped at the chance!  Although we caught no fish I thoroughly enjoyed myself, and can see a day with a casting instructor looming ahead.  I was also fortunate enough to be asked to fish on the river Irwell yesterday, by a regular volunteer (Mathew Schofield) for the RCCT but now a Trustee for the New Irwell River Trust!  Many of you maybe thinking shopping trolleys and rubbish, but I prefer to call them Fish refuges and colour!  Mathew was disppointed as he felt the fishing wasn’t as good as on previous visits, however we both managed a wild trout and saw a couple of others, and I really enjoyed myself.  The Irwell is very similar to the Western Cleddau (in size and nature )which I grew up fishing so it brought back some pleasant memories.  Guaranteed I will be heading back for another cast before the end of the season …. if I can get myself invited again!

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Posted by Charles Edward Poate | Filed Under General News, Grants and project management, Pictures, Threats to the River 

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