Steady progress on all fronts

February 22, 2010

In preparation for a Wednesday night meeting of the Ribble Fisheries Consultative Association (RFCA), Stephen and I started preparing our report.  It was only then that I realised how much work we had on.  Perhaps I go on about it to much here, if so I apologise, but at least you know how hard we are working for the Ribble catchment and all of it’s tributaries.  Making progress on projects, can sometimes be quick and completion achieved incredibly quickly, however we are faced with projects the type and size of which are new to us, and when quantity is thrown in it slows things down – at least though I can say we are getting there.

Monday was the usual morning meeting followed by three hours at Hodder place gauging weir carrying out a topographical survey in preparation to submitting our proposals to the EA.  The most interesting bit was finding a spent salmon kelt on the river bank that was fin clipped – the first I have found!

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Notice anything missing?

Tuesday I met Andy Rowett of Lancashire Environment Fund (LEF) on the site of a project proposal to go through our grant application form.  It was a lovely day to be out on the beck side, and I was able to get across to Andy what we were proposing and show him some examples of what was in place!  In the afternoon I then organised for one of our invertebrate sampling volunteers to sample down stream of the habitat scheme so that we could report to LEF the out come of any project.

Wednesday we had confirmation that we had funding for 3 new projects!  This was a surprise as we had held out little hope for these bids.  It was also a surprise as we are working at near maximum capacity, we are lucky though that through one of the trustees has volunteered to look after this project.  In the afternoon I met with Planning officers from Pendle borough council at Barrowford 3 to go through our proposals and get their input before submitting our final plans for planning permission.  It was very useful and we have now decided exactly which option we are taking in which to get a fish pass installed there.

Thursday morning I worked on our Angling passport scheme, which is nearly completed and will soon go live for people to see, however the angling season for our beats is not until the 1st of May – keep and eye on the website!

Friday I spent much of the day consulting with stakeholders to sort out for our work on Barrowford 3 and liaison with Lancashire County Council, and in the afternoon we headed to Sabden brook to look at a couple of weirs.  One we were aware of the other we were not, the “new” weir doesn’t pose any significant obstacle to fish migration, but as always with artificial structures does change other characteristics of a beck.  Upon getting back to the office I had the final amendments through from Russel Edwards to the plans/designs for our work to Hodder gauging weir.  Russel had previously offered his volunteer services to draw up any topographical surveys onto CAD for us, to go with our Land drainage applications.  I can’ t thank him enough for his work it has saved us valuable time, and he’s done a great deal better job than if I had done it!

Posted by Charles Edward Poate | Filed Under General News, Grants and project management, Pictures, Recreation, Restoration and Conservation Projects, Surveys, Volunteers, Working Partners 

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