Juvenile and small resident fishes of Florida Bay, a critical habitat in the Everglades National Park, Florida

This compendium presents information on the life history, diet, and abundance and distribution of 46 of the more abundant juvenile and small resident fish species, and data on three species of seagrasses in Florida Bay, Everglades National Park. Abundance and distribution of fish data were derived from three sampling schemes: (1) an otter trawl in basins (1984–1985, 1994–2001), (2) a surface trawl in basins (1984–1985), and (3) a surface trawl in channels (1984–1985). Results from surface trawling only included pelagic species. Collections made with an otter trawl in basins on a bi-monthly basis were emphasized. Nonparametric statistics were used to test spatial and temporal differences in the abundance of species and seagrasses. Fish species accounts were presented in four sections – Life history, Diet, Abundance and distribution, and Length-frequency distributions. Although Florida Bay is a subtropical estuary, the majority of fish species (76%) had warm-temperate affinities; i.e., only 24% were solely tropical species. The five most abundant species collected, in descending order, by (1) otter trawl in basins were: Eucinostomus gula, Lucania parva, Anchoa mitchilli, Lagodon rhomboides, and Syngnathus scovelli; (2) surface trawl in basins were: Hyporhamphus unifasciatus, Strongylura notata, Chriodorus atherinoides, Anchoa hepsetus, and Atherinomorus stipes; (3) surface trawl in channels were: Hypoatherina harringtonensis, A. stipes, A. mitchelli, H. unifasciatus, and C. atherinoides. (PDF file contains 219 pages.)

Morphological variation with interspecific implications in a population of Sigara dorsalis (Leach) (Hemiptera Heteroptera: Corixidae), and a request for British specimens

Sigara dorsalis belongs to a very closely related group of six species forming the sub-genus Sigara sensu strictu. Each of the six species has a distinct allopatric geographical distribution in Europe. Studies were started on a series of populations in the north west Midlands of England. All the populations examined, except one, contained only males with the typical diagnostic features of S. dorsalis, albeit with considerable variation. One pond near Congleton, Cheshire situated in a permanent-ley pasture and apparently free from pollution contained typical S. dorsalis males but, in addition, many atypical individuals. From one sample of forty-six males, all possessed left parameres with the slight point on the dorsal surface characteristic of S. dorsalis. However, almost half possessed additional morphological features intermediate between S. dorsalis and S. striata.

1995 annual report on fisheries in the North west incorporating the annual summary of fishery statistics.

This fisheries report summarises national and regional developments focussing on the North West region of the Environment Agency. The North West region covers around 14,000 square km, from Cheshire in the south to its northern border with Scotland. The report provides statistics on fisheries finance, including income and expenditure, salmon and sea trout catches, including rod and line and net catches, and special projects, including fish stock assessments, and surveys. The appendix includes a summary of fish statistics for 1995.

1998 annual report on fisheries in the North west incorporating the annual summary of fishery statistics.

This fisheries report summarises national and regional developments focussing on the North West region of the Environment Agency. The North West region covers around 14,000 square km, from Cheshire in the south to its northern border with Scotland. This report provides national and regional developments,and special projects, including fish stocking assessments, radiotracking, and Cumbria surveys. Salmon and sea trout catches, including rod and line and net catches appear in the appendix.

1999 annual report on fisheries in the North west incorporating the annual summary of fishery statistics

This fisheries report summarises national and regional developments focussing on the North West region of the Environment Agency. The North West region covers around 14,000 square km, from Cheshire in the south to its northern border with Scotland. The report provides statistics on fisheries finance, including salmon and sea trout catches, including rod and line and net catches, and special projects, including fish stock assessments, radiotracking, and various surveys. The appendix includes a summary of fish statistics for 1999.

2000 annual report on fisheries in the North West

This fisheries report summarises developments of the year 2000 in the North West Region of the Environment Agency. The North West region covers around 14,000 square km, from Cheshire in the south to its northern border with Scotland. The report provides statistics on fisheries finance, including salmon and sea trout catches, including rod and line and net catches, and special projects, including fish stock assessments, radiotracking, and various surveys. The appendix includes a summary of fish statistics for 2000.

North West fisheries report 2002

This fisheries report summarises developments of the year 2002 in the North West Region of the Environment Agency. The North West region covers around 14,000 square km, from Cheshire in the south to its northern border with Scotland. Reports include migratory fish movements, rod catches, anti poaching, radiotracking,habitat surveys, and restocking. Statistics include rod catches, mortalities, fishery prosecutions, licencing, fish counters, and redd counts.

Mersey and Weaver Fisheries Advisory Committee 25th October, 1978

This is the report from the Mersey and Weaver Fisheries Advisory Committee meeting, which was held on the 25th October, 1978. It covers information on fisheries income and expenditure, work on the future programme of fisheries work and keep nets. Also covered is information on the effects of mine water from Bickershaw Colliery draining into the Leeds/Liverpool Canal. The section on the report by the area fisheries officer on fishing activities includes river conditions and fishing on the Cheshire Meres and an update on Tintwistle and Sankey Hatchery. Stocking numbers of coarse fish and non-migratory trout are also added, as well as pollution incidents and fish mortalities. The Fisheries Advisory Committee was part of the Regional Water Authorities, in this case the North West Water Authority. This preceded the Environment Agency which came into existence in 1996.

South Area still waters 1995 November surveys

This is the South Area still waters 1995 November surveys from the National Rivers Authority, 1996. The report focuses on the surveys of ten Cheshire Meres (Betley, Budworth, Combermere, Hatchmere, Oak mere, Pick mere, Redes, Rostherne, Tabley, and Tatton) previously surveyed in November 1994 and May 1995. Eight others (Chapel Mere, Little Mere, Marbury Mere, Mere Mere, Oss Mere, Petty Pool, Quoisley Big Mere and Tabley Moat) were surveyed for the first time. Two other lakes, Carr Mill Dam and Pennington Flash, were surveyed. Neither of these are considered to be part of the Cheshire meres group of lakes but are of a Regional interest. This report discusses the results of the November 1995 survey before making a comparison between these and the November 1994 survey results. The section on results contains information about water column profile; nutrients (chlorophyll a; Phaeophytin; Nitrate and Nitrite; Ammonia; ortho-Phosphate; Silicate; and total Phosphorus.

Stillwaters monitoring programme. Summary results 2004 and 2005

This is the Stillwaters monitoring programme. Summary results 2004 and 2005 from the Environment Agency North West. This report focuses on the 5th year of winter monitoring analysis in 14 stillwaters in Cheshire. The 14 stillwaters analysed are: Comber Mere, Oss Mere, Marbury Big Mere, Chapel Mere, Bar Mere, Oak Mere, Hatch Mere, Black Lake, Betley Mere, Tabley Mere, Melchett Mere, Tatton Mere, Rostherne Mere and Mere mere. Nutrient availability in the stillwaters analysed is used to look into the productivity of the waterbody. Bank-side water samples were taken for nutrients (Nitrogen and Phosphorous) and chlorophyll. A YSI multi-parameter sonde measures temperature, pH, specific conductivity and dissolved oxygen (% saturation).

A comparative survey of the fish populations of 10 West-Midlands meres of SSSI status

This is a comparative survey of the Fish Populations of 10 West-Midlands Mere of Site of Special Scientific Interest Status. The meres of the Shropshire-Cheshire plain (West Midlands) comprise over 60 water bodies. Water quality in the meres ranges from naturally eutrophic to nutrient limited and some of them have received Site of Special Scientific Interest status (SSSIs). This survey was commissioned in order to obtain quantitative information on the fish fauna of selected SSSIs and evaluate the likely impact of fish on other species within the community. The current survey was concerned with 10 of the West Midlands’ meres, a cross section of sites was selected. Sites were widely distributed from Marton Pool in the south-western part of Shropshire to Tabley moat in Chesire. Meres varied in size, depth and nutrient status. All were to be sampled using the methods outlined. The report is divided into different sections for clarity and ease of reference. The materials and methods section provides an outline of the location and status of each mere and information on known fish species present. The results were considered individually and comparatively, relative abundance of fish, species present, their diet, sex, age, parasite burdens and growth. Inter-site comparisons were made using information derived from echo-soundings, growth rate, diet, and species abundance for each site. The final section will be in the form of a general discussion, comparative information from longer term studies, conclusions and recommendations.

A hydrogeological assessment of Wybunbury Moss

This is a technical report of a hydrogeological assessment by the Environment Agency, an assessment to inform the Stage 3 review of Consents under the Habitats Directive for Wybunbury Moss, a National Nature Reserve and Special Area of Conservation in Cheshire. In the Stage 2 Review of Consents, one groundwater licence could not be clearly assessed as having no significant impact and so was taken forward to Stage 3. Further work has been carried out to refine the understanding of groundwater flow and the extent of the actual groundwater catchment of Wybunbury Moss, including three drilled boreholes, the monitoring of groundwater levels in the boreholes by data-loggers for more than 18 months and the sampling and analysis of the groundwater from the boreholes. Results of this further work are shown in Appendixes. From this work, a geological cross-section and Conceptual Model has been produced, and a map showing the revised understanding of the groundwater catchment of Wybunbury Moss. It also includes in Appendix I, the Stage 2 Review of Consents previously made.

Mersey Estuary saltmarsh vegetation survey 2002

This is the Mersey Estuary Saltmarsh vegetation survey 2002 report produced by the English Nature Cheshire in 2003. This report looks at the mapping of vegetation communities on the saltmarsh of the Mersey Estuary. The total area of saltmarsh and associated communities within the Mersey Estuary was found to be 724.1 ha. Most of the saltmarsh in the Mersey Estuary is presently ungrazed or only very lightly grazed, creating a very rank sward in excess of 20 cm in height which is not generally suitable for grazing or roosting birds. On the northern side of the Mersey Estuary, the saltmarsh around the Hale Decoy was lightly grazed by horses, but the remainder was ungrazed. On the south side, the saltmarsh was fairly heavily sheep-grazed along the Frodsham Score, very lightly grazed at Ince Banks by sheep straying from Frodsham and ungrazed at Stanlow Banks. Despite much of it presently being ungrazed, the saltmarsh of the Mersey Estuary is relatively poor in plant species. It appears that this is because the ungrazed areas have been so for less than 20 years and have thus not had time to develop the diversity of a long-established ungrazed marsh. However, withdrawal or depletion of grazing has produced a rank sward which is less valuable to grazing and roosting birds.

River Gowy rapid corridor survey July 1995. Ecology South Mersey

This is the River Gowy rapid corridor survey July 1995: Ecology South Mersey report produced by the National Rivers Authority North West Region in 1995. This report looks at the survey carried out by the South Mersey Ecology Team prior to routine deweeding operations on the main River Gowy at the end of July, 1995. The survey covered Flood Defence Stretch References RGOW03 to RGOW16. These stretches were further divided into a series of 43 stretches, each one being approximately 500m in length for ease o f mapping by Ecology. Recommendations for each length have been cross-referenced with the Bill of Quantities where possible, e.g. retention o f margins. In Flood Defence stretch RGOW03, the South West Winter Wetland forms an important habitat for birds. In stretches RGOW04 to RGOW05, the Gowy Meadows and Ditches have been designated a Grade A, Site of Biological Importance, by Cheshire County Council due to the nature of the acidic grassland and diverse ditches. In stretches RGOWIO to RGOW11 the left bank forms Hockenhull Platts, Grade A Site of Biological Importance and County Trust Reserve. In stretches RGOW15 to RGOW16, the area from Mill Farm to the Shropshire Union Canal is a Grade A Site of Biological Importance. These sites are very sensitive and detailed recommendations for working practices can be found in the relevant sections o f the survey.

River Gowy and Thornton Brook improvements. Environmental Action Plan March 2000

This is the River Gowy and Thornton Brook improvements: Environmental Action Plan report produced by the Environment Agency in 2000. This Environmental Action Plan relates to the proposals by the Environment Agency to improve the flood defences of land adjacent to the River Gowy, about 3 km east of Ellesmere Port, Cheshire. The purpose of the Environmental Action Plan (EAP) is to provide details of how the issues addressed in the Environmental Statement (ES) will be carried through to the completion of the project. The EAP represents a commitment to the environmental recommendations formulated during the environmental assessment process and should be closely adhered to during the design, construction and post project monitoring o f the works. For any matters that cannot be finalised until during construction the constraints will be detailed in the plan so they are implemented in the contracts.