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Ground Broken

March 8, 2010

An apology for those who checked for a blog entry last week to findI didn’t do one.  I was on a long weekend Holiday in Morocco.  For the First time in nearly 10 years I went on a Holiday where there was no fish, rivers, lakes or the ocean involved.  Well a confession I took the better half on a “Romantic” open top bus tour so that I could get a look at the nearest stream I could see on the map, it flows into the Oued Tensift, and although flowing was neither romantic or particularly interesting!  It was a nice Holiday and left me feeling relaxed but not re-energised as Marrakech is a fairly intense city.

So going way back into February….  Monday the 22nd was busy with a lot of the usual correspondence with the EA, Grant funders, and project stakeholders.  Nothing of particular note but all necessary stuff! 

Tuesday I dropped into Ken Varey’s and signed them up to selling our passport scheme vouchers.  This is great news for us, them and the users of the scheme who will be able to quiz their fishing department team for info and tac-tics.  I also spent some time on the online membership of the trust page which should be completed soon, and worked on my presentation for the open evening and Bowland Game Fishers Association.

Wednesday I took our contractors out to look at the A59 culverts job.  It was cold and wet, and the trout in the pool below didn’t really like our presence as a sizeable fish (I’m guessing) took a pot shot at my Wader boots!  We headed up to Langden and Dunsop in the afternoon to check on the Spawning Channels.  These were looking fantastic.  We found 6 salmon kelts including one of 32inches (A Cock fish) and 2 Sea trout kelts.

Thursday I put together the specification for the beams I needed on the A59 project, and sent this over to Cattermoles to get a quote.  In the evening I gave my presentation to Bowland Game.  It went relatively well but certainly wasn’t my best presentation, but one learns and then improves (I hope!).

Friday I worked on the Barrowford 3 fish pass project again, getting the documentation ready for putting tenders and planning applications together.  In the afternoon I dropped my dog off to the Kennels in preparation for the Holiday, and then on the way back spotted 2 huge “piles” of white foam the size of my 4×4 on a small stream.  I rang this into Fred Higham as I didn’t have time to ring the EA directly but Fred had it reported, and references numbers sent within an hour or so.  My guess is that the incident was a cross connected washing machine, and combined with rainfall equals frothy foamy becks.  How important is this?  Most detergents contain phosphates, which generally people think only come from farming, but have just as much damage.  Reducing water quality and there for invertebrates, fish andbirds that depend on the former.  Cross connections with toilets and Washing machines is one of the biggest issues coming from the general populace.  If you want to know more about Cross connections visit our Threat to the river pages.

I Had planned to be back in work on Wednesday the 3rd of March, but the weather and thus flight times had other ideas, I landed back in the UK at 1:30 and got to our Hotel in Manchester after 2:30 by the time I got home Wednesday was gone!  However I couldn’t resist switching on my phone that evening to go through messages and emails!

Thursday was catching up and getting back on top, but Stephen and I then went out to look at Padihamin the afternoon.  Ground has been broken and the project started!!!!  And to add to that we headed up to Montford straight after to look at our first project in 2010 – The removal of Montford Weir. 

 

Our Contractor was in and out in one day!  The water now flows beautifully through a pool and riffle sequence and has opened up a fantastic spawning riffle that is the rival of anything on Ribble or Hodder!

Friday Stephen and I spent the morning preparing the tree planting site at Ribchester, which he worked on with Prince Albert Association Volunteers on Sunday (getting in over 900 trees!).  In the afternoon I had a chat to Chris Heap to sort out a look at weirs on Chipping Brook, and then set about filling in our completion report for one of the Grant Funders on the Passport Scheme.

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!

website

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!

Forging new links

February 16, 2010

Last week was a positive one, with plenty of new connections made and hopefully new partnerships started.  The week was rounded of nicely when on Sunday I was out with my other half and the dog, taking photos of our new Angling Passport Beat on Stock beck.  The dog vanished and after a few minutes I found her chewing on the remains of a dead salmon kelt.  After the initial anger with the dog it soon turned to happiness to know that another salmon had been up the once heavily polluted beck to continue it’s species.

Monday I had lots of bits and pieces to do, speaking to stake holders groups in Barrowford, followed by an evening meeting to discuss our project over there and get some of their input (Thank you friends of Barrowford Park I felt it was a positive and productive session).  We also popped into Edisford and Whalley to drop in the Trout books that every primary school in the area should have!  And whilst there we discovered that a few and only a few of the eggs had hatched and some alevins were tucked into the gravel.

Tuesday we met with a prospective, now turned definite, work placement for the summer survey season.  Neil was very positive and being from the area and also having an interesting trout fishing will help him with keeping the enthusiasm even in the rain!  In the afternoon Stephen and I headed up to Bottoms Beck above Stocks reservoir to have a “look-see”.  Having never been up there it was an interesting beck and larger than I had expected.

Wednesday was a busy day, in the morning we were non-stop in the office, with projects, passport schemes and the usual and at lunch time I headed out to meet the Land agents for the Duchy of Lancaster.  Also there was Philip, Kyle from the EA, and Alistair Maltby from ARTs.  We discussed some of the issues facing their waters, and how they could be tackled, much of which is a balancing act between land management being commercially viable and what will benefit the river.  The most important thing was visiting the small becks, which most think are ditches, however once informed of the number of salmon and trout juveniles in these “ditches” a new attitude and plan was formulated.  We look forward to working with the Duchy to improve the water courses on the estate.

Thursday was a meeting with Seumus Eaves from FWAG.  This was really a touch base, exchange ideas and look for overlaps in projects where we could help.  Several were found and I also look forward to working with FWAG in the future.

Friday we met with a few members of the EA Ribble Pollution team to discuss how our monitoring and projects could be incorporated into their plans for improving becks.  We found several projects, all of which are quite exciting and a little different, but nothing imminent, these are big projects to address in coming years.

Finally it has been pointed out to me that we at the trust are not clear on our attitude towards barriers.  Following last weeks post an email came to me that suggested that suggesting combined hydro fish passes legitimized barriers to migration.  So to be clear, when we come across a barrier, it goes on our data base, we then look at the barrier and consider the following options, in this order:

  1. REMOVE
  2. REMOVE
  3. REMOVE
  4. If can’t remove, then Larinier Fish pass,
  5. IF can’t afford Larinier, the Denil Fish pass,
  6. If can’t afford Denil, pool and traverse, or pre barrage
  7. Do nothing

There are various reasons why we can’t remove, generally it will be down to the land owner or an authority, such as Highways not wanting a weir removed that is the foundation of a bridge.  So we then look to find the next solution.  But always we look to remove barriers, as they have more than just the impact of cutting off habitat, but ruining habitat down stream.  

When we get to the point of “do nothing” a combined Hydro/fish pass, may mean that we can actually avoid “doing nothing”.  For example opening up 1km of water on a tiny beck at the cost of many thousands of pounds will not be very viable as we won’t find grants/funding.  However if someone were to put a hydro scheme in we could combine a fish pass hopefully for a much lower cost.  Thus achieving something that would not otherwise be achievable.  But this to me is the second to last option

February Already…

February 8, 2010

Well Monday was the first of February, but I wasn’t working I was partaking in another country pursuit which had it’s final day of the season, and going out on that day is traditional!!

Tuesday we put our advert for a part time administrator into the paper and emailed it to our contacts, we’ve had a lot of interest already but if you are interested then please give us a call for details (01200 444 452). I also had to get on with the passport scheme which is now nearly ready to launch, but the season on our beat doesn’t open until may.

Wednesday we went to a meeting at the Forest of Bowland AONB offices at Dunsop. The meeting was to discuss and propose locations for Hydro electric power developments. It is an AONB project where they will do first phase preliminary surveys at 50 sites, then a second stage more details survey and feasibility study at 5 of those sites. The information is then provided to a land owner to take forward. There were many proposals put forward, and what was great was the the Project Officer was very keen to get our input and take things on board. We were able to actually state that many of the sites no longer existed, and explain the potential problems that hydro schemes present fish and bio diversity. Which meant that many of the sites were unfeasible. However we were able to say where a scheme would be viable or where a scheme could incorporate a fish pass. A useful morning. It was interesting to speak to an advisor on the subject of green energy and she confirmed much of what I had been learning, that there is no grant pot as such for these Hydro electricity schemes, Perhaps if they are done in combination with something there maybe but her experience to date was that they were all being paid for by commercial loans, or community purchasing.

I spent the afternoon working on the project issues from Barrowford 3 and Swanside fish easement, hopefully getting towards some resolution.

Thursday was a long day of working on the passport scheme, and making a visit to one of the beats to check on parking places. We also had the first of the enquiries about the Job Vacancy.

Friday we met on site with various representatives from the EA to discuss the various proposals for Barrowford 3. It was a very useful meeting and we have now worked through the EA side of things (although we still need a land drainage consent), so next it’s onto consulting with stake holders and land owners.

We also spoke to the EA regarding Padiham weir and the works there, things seem to progressing and it seems that it will finally happen!

Complexities of running projects

February 3, 2010

In my previous job, project and contract management was my day to day work, mixed in with some survey work, in the evenings and weekends.  The projects varied in type and quantity, and complexity.  However very few were as complicated as some of what we have on the cards now.  Although people think much of what we do is just getting on and doing there is much more to it – unfortunately!!  In the US and Scotland there isn’t nearly as much red tape (if what I read is to be believed!).  To give you an idea of some things we need to address – land owners, tenants, fishing clubs, EA – fisheries, bio diversity, flood defence, funders, designers and contractors.  All of which have an input and require an output from us.  A quick glimpse at just one of our files will show the level of work that goes into just the simplest of schemes.

Monday I wrote a letter to the North West Heritage Trust at Barrowford to put forward our proposals and plans for Barrowford 3 fish pass.  This is after several site meetings with planners, construction advisers, EA – to name a few.  Unfortunately we are having to consider a full change of plans at that site as the industrial archaeology is adding a complexity that may delay the project beyond funding date and take us over our budget – but we will see.

I was really happy to receive an email from the Wild Trout Trust towards a project on Swanside to remove a weir to improve trout spawning.  This took us up to our required funding and guaranteed our progress with this scheme – a great result and many thanks to the WTT.

Tuesday we had a meeting with Grant Talbot (EA) to talk about problems in the Ribchester to Stock Beck area with plans for the future.  We also worked on our Angling Passport Scheme, which is coming close to fruition with contributions from the Forest of Bowland AONB sustainable development fund and the Lancashire and Blackpool Tourist Board.

Wednesday Philip was in for the weekly meeting and much was discussed and plans drawn up.  The big news he brought was he had secured funding for us to carryout works to improve fish passage at the Lower Hodder flow gauging weir.  This project now waits on approval from the Hydrologists, and then a Land Drainage consent application before hopefully going ahead this year.

In the evening was the Calder group meeting, this was well attended as usual with a representation of most of the Angling clubs with Water on the Calder.  Much was discussed from pollution to improvement projects, and other issues threatening the river Calder.

Thursday was more time spent on the passport scheme and getting all the i’s dotted and t’s crossed!  But more importantly preparing our Newsletter for the printers!

Friday I spent several hours with Kyle Young (EA) looking at projects that are in the offing, and discussing best approaches and other things I need to get addressed before submitting my Land drainage consent form.

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To contact us or find out more information about the Ribble Catchment Conservation Trust and our staff & trustees click here or call 01200 444452.