06/01/2005 - Fish stocks
in Cumbrian rivers are set for a boost following
a joint initiative between the Environment
Agency and United Utilities.
Efforts to encourage the spawning of salmon
and trout into two major spawning tributaries,
St John’s Beck on the River Derwent and
the River Lowther – a tributary of the River
Eden – already appear to be reaping rewards.
By releasing additional water from reservoirs
on the rivers, small artificial floods called
freshets have been created. When timed to
coincide with periods of rainfall these
freshets provide a stimulus to encourage
fish to move into tributary streams.
Agency Fisheries Officer Denis McCartan
said: "Within 24 hours of the flow
increasing in St John’s Beck considerable
numbers of salmon and trout had moved up
into this important area in advance of spawning."
United Utilities’ Water Resources Manager
John Sanders said: "We have been working
with the Environment Agency over the last
10 years to help improve river flows for
salmon and trout in Cumbria. It’s all about
balancing vital water supplies with the
needs of fish and the environment, and we
are delighted that our joint action is generating
such encouraging results."
The release of a freshet in the River Lowther
appears to have been equally effective with
numerous salmon along with salmon and trout
redds having been seen by Agency fisheries
officers in the days following water release.
The numbers of adult salmon returning to
several Cumbrian rivers increased during
2004 as river flows remained reasonably
high throughout the year. However, mild
temperatures and lower flows in early November
discouraged salmon, brown trout and sea
trout from entering many spawning tributaries.
Both the rivers Derwent and Eden are being
monitored to assess the success of the scheme
but early indications are that both freshets
have been effective in encouraging these
species to move into, and hopefully spawn,
in these important tributaries.
Notes
Both the rivers Derwent and Eden are Special
Areas of Conservation and salmon are one
of the listed species in both areas.
Salmon and trout spawn in the autumn and
winter (October to January) in the clean
gravel of rivers throughout Cumbria.
