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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.

Trout into new head waters and into the classroom

January 25, 2010

Another non stop week that just flew by.  It feels like you get in on a Monday morning and the end of the week is so far away that you can’t see it.  You blink and it’s 17:30 on Friday!

The week started early on Monday with a visit to Barrowford 3 to meet a trust supporter on site who is able to advise us on construction, to discuss the initial plans we have received for the  fish pass.  We agreed the plans were definitely the right way to go and thus were able to contact the site owners to start the process of getting an agreement for allowing us to do what is needed.

On the way back to the office I called into Pendle Junior School to pick up the faulty chiller for the Trout in the class room tank, and bring it back to the office for picking up by the manufacturers.  The afternoon was spent designing the baffle arrangement to the A59 culvert/bridge to get trout above the A59 into the ideal spawning streams that are upstream.

Tuesday the chiller came back from the manufacturer and so I took it down to Pendle Juniors to install it again and get it going.  We then arranged to pick up their eggs on Thursday from Dunsop Trout farm.  This scheme would not be feasible without the support of the funders or Dunsop Trout Farm, who are brilliant with their contribution of eggs, time and advice.

Once that was done I was back to getting the A59 designs settled, liaising with the EA, Lancashire Highways and the suppliers of the Baffles.   With this done, I need to now get my Land drainage consent in to the EA, and the licence for works to Bridges from Highways.  So fingers crossed.  We also crashed along with getting our Passport Scheme up and running, I’m really excited by this, and hope that I will see some of you down fishing these lovely waters, I certainly plan on fishing them all!

Wednesday I had a chat with our Treasurer to confirm some income and expenditure in preperation for our trustees meeting on Thursday night.  It is often over looked by many the amount of work that is involved in simply running a trust, excluding the work we actually do on the rivers and streams.  I then finished off my 2009 Fisheries Scientist report (what a relief!) and put some time into more projects for 2011.  We have to plan so far in advance that my head hurts sometimes!

Thursday we got the eggs from Dunsop and into Pendle Junior School, where we were relieved to find the chiller working perfectly.  Then it was time to get our reports ready for the Trustees meeting and catch up on some correspondence.  The trustees meeting was intense as there is much going on (as you can gather), and ran on longer than expected – getting away at about 22:30!

Friday Philip and I met a trustee and site manager for the Heritage Northwest Trust on site at Barrowford 3.  The meeting was very positive and we have support for our scheme, but we have a few issues to take into consideration and build into the project.  The weir itself used to be 3.6 metres high, we were astounded by the photos, and in the 1960’s it’s height was reduced (if this hadn’t happened we would never get a fish pass on there!), the weir used to supply a goit or leet that fed a lodge pond for the old mill, that has since been demolished.  As such some of the workings of the weir, the abstraction point, are of historical importance.  These we need to retain in some way so that the history is visible to the public.  This is going to take some more work by us, but is part of any project!

In the afternoon I contacted the Wild Trout Trust to see if they would be able to contribute towards our eel beck weir removal project.  I sent them a photo, map and description of the history of the site (fish wise that is!).  I am over the moon to say that the WTT are contributing to the scheme!  I will be reporting on the scheme on the website and hope that once completed the WTT newsletter may contain a small article on it!

The Our Rivers Campaign is still running, which is a partnership of organisation looking at the WFD and what is being done to achieve the targets.  I was asked to send them details of the impact of intensive agriculture on rivers.  I was able to send them a specific example of intensive agriculture’s impact on our catchment.  Which is often harder than it may seem.

So with the end of another week I was glad to get to the weekend, but equally glad to be back in today cracking on with the next week!

What to write when all of the “busy as can be” sayings have been used!!

January 19, 2010

The title for this post should give you some idea of the start to the new year for us at the Trust.  Last week saw me put in my most hours to date, and I can’t see it getting less in the near future!  Just quickly I have put a poll on the main page for people to vote on weekly, or otherwise blog posts (including not at all), it is entirely anonymous and so far we have had 17 votes, 15 to remain weekly, so for the time being I will continue, all be it a day late this week!

Monday I rushed to Barrowford to take photos of the weir to provide to our design consultant for the fish pass we are installing there.  The weir was very icy, but I got what was needed and by the end of the week, we had out initial drawings provided.  We have now to re-adjust our plans for this project as it is not quite what we were expecting, but certainly the right way to go!  A lengthy meeting with Philip followed and then a normal afternoon of correspondence!

Tuesday I was in Long ridge school to get their Trout in the Classroom scheme set and ready for the egg delivery.  Followed by a stop in Hurst green to look at a section of river we suspected had some impassable barrier to migration, a depressing visit, I couldn’t get to the water due to ice, but talks with the Landowner meant I now had 7 more barriers to add to our expanding list.  I then spent the afternoon trying to get my 2009 report finished, but didn’t quite get there.

Wednesday more of the report, and still not done!  In the afternoon I went out with one of our trustees to survey a road culvert/bridge ready for a fish pass design.  This was planned to be done in December but weather beat us, and like many people, we are behind due to the snowy period. 

Thursday I got the survey details onto CAD (Computer Aided Design) using a free program (we’re not a rich enough trust to get a copy of the usual CAD program!), and then was met by a funder who brought good news of a contribution to our Fishing passport scheme.  I say good news, but suddenly I have more on my to do list than before!  I also prepared a costing for restoration stocking for Fish Legal, this was not on our patch, but helping organisations like theirs is an important part of river conservation unity.  In the evening I met Kyle Young to talk about monitoring of the Brennand and Whitendale abstraction alleviation scheme.  Which was good.  This meeting was followed by a Calder salmon workshop.  I had spent the previous week in the evenings, going through research papers (some provided by Kyle and some I had on my hard drive from Uni days).  Up until Wednesday night I was firmly in the “stock the Calder camp”, as a tool to get a Calder salmon run going.   By Wednesday night I no longer could decide, and by Thursday I was even more undecided how I felt.  The costing I did for fish legal, I then extrapolated to get an idea of how much would need to be spent to achieve a good Calder salmon run -  £20k.  I know some people do stocking for less than this total sum, but I am talking about sufficient numbers to start what I believe would be a sustainable salmon run.  Then I read a paper from Denmark on losses of smolt descending weirs – 53%.  So of the £20k I had come to over £10k would be lost straight away.  Plus a huge number of other factors, made me twitchy about the amount of money to be spent.  On the other side of the argument, was the need to get salmon into the Calder sooner than later to achieve Good ecological status by 2027, and also that the straying rates of wild salmon, might not be good enough to bring a sustainable salmon population to the Calder.  The money could be raised by clubs downstream who would benefit, and if not, I don’t see how a scheme could get going as the EA don’t seem to have any money for it.  Further more would £20k not be spent better on improving habitat on the Calder?  I am asking a question for you to answer, as I don’t know!

Anyway, following two great presentations from Chris Heap and Jamie Stevens (of Exeter University), on stocking techniques, and genetics (respectively) there was a similar mixture of opinion at the meeting.  And many other good arguments were presented, including clubs who were not at all keen of having salmon entering their waters.  And in my opinion they had some fairly good reasons, and arguments why not.  I think in the end everyone went away with more information on the subject, and had also been able to see what information people would base the decision on in the end.  This was the ultimate aim of the meeting, and hopefully when the decision is made people will support whatever that is.   I think a good meeting was run by the RFCA and Kyle Young from the EA.

Friday was a long awaited day for Stephen, who despite being on crutches came out for the day, we collected the trout eggs from dunsop, and then dropped them to the Schools.  Dunsop, Chipping, Long Ridge, Edisford, Padiham – St Lenords, and Whalley.  A hic-up with Pendle School has meant a delay until later this week.

In the evening, yes Friday sodding evening, I got a call from ARTs asking if I had any R&D projects I needed funding for, so after giving them 2, I was asked for a costing, I had not yet gone about costing them, but ARTs needed them for Monday a.m., so at 18:30 I sent and email with my costings. 

I have neglected to mention the various contractor and project issues that were also worked on, but I think you’ve heard enough from me! So apologies for the late posting and have a good week!

A new year Started

January 11, 2010

Well we’ve been back a week, and it doesn’t feel like we were ever away.  To be honest, everyone I have spoken to has said the same.  It’s scary how quickly time off disappears in our memory! 

Although my batteries were recharged over the xmas period, sods law meant I came back to work on Monday with a blinder of a head cold, I soldiered on as I’m yet to take a sick day since being at the trust.  Although I did treat myself to working from home on Friday, and together with the weekend I’m now on the right side of the cold.

Monday was almost the usual with Philip in to discuss progress and news, first thing, which tool up more time than I thought.  The only difference to the usual Monday morning was that Stephen came in a bit later, a result of being on crutches – a victim of the icey conditions!  In the afternoon there was the usual correspondence to catch up on.  Reporting on our ARTs (Association of Rivers Trust) projects and finalising some grant applications I’ve been working on for some time now.

Tuesday was much the same, catching up on paperwork and arranging the Trout in the Classroom scheme for this year, the eggs should go out this week!

Wednesday, a student from Sheffield Uni, but a Clitheroe resident came in for a chat about volunteering opportunities, so we now have another person that we can call on for help with schemes.  In the afternoon I worked on the fish pass scheme in Barrowford which is now with Design consultants, who are putting together the drawings for us.  And I finished the day going through the data from our many invert samplers in 2009.  We really have got a great picture being put together by these volunteers, and it is a great monitoring program.  If you are interested in getting involved please let me know ASAP so we can look to setting up another course in 2010.

Thursday I worked on my fisheries scientist report which I hope to finish this week and get on the website for people to view.  And Friday as part of this I put together a new kind of results map, which is far easier to interpret than the old grades next to a dot.  It is similar to what the EA do, and the same as the Eden do, but with my limited skills I had not tackled this yet.  But I’m glad to say I have now, and am really quite pleased with the result.  Our members who get the newsletter in the new year will also hopefully get a copy of this map and a summary of my report in the post.

We still have copies of the Ribble book by Malcolm Greenhalgh, which have proved to be very very popular.  They are available at our office, at Ken Varey’s in Clitheroe and many of the Trustees and RFCA officers.  So if you are interested they are still available.

So to finish the first Blog of 2010, I hope you had a great festive period and may I wish you a Happy New Year

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