West Cumbria Special Fisheries Advisory Group 9th March, 1983

This is the report from the West Cumbria Special Fisheries Advisory Group meeting, which was held on the 9th March, 1983. The report contains sections on Fish Passes at Yearl Weir River Derwent, Ennerdale, and Ehen; River Calder abstraction and augmentation from boreholes; and the augmentation of River Ehen by minewater to support increased abstraction by BNFL. 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.

West Cumbria Special Fisheries Advisory Group 16th May, 1986

This is the report from the West Cumbria Special Fisheries Advisory Group meeting, which was held on the 16th May, 1986. The report contains sections on a Fish Pass at Ennerdale, Authority proposals for discharge of compensation water from Ennerdale and a diagram of fish pass at Ennerdale. 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.

Water Resources in West Cumbria November 1976

This is the Water Resources in West Cumbria November 1976 report produced by the North West Water Authority. The report focuses on the provision of additional supplies of water in West Cumbria. In certain areas of West Cumbria difficulties arose in meeting peak demands. Moreover British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. (B.N.F.L) required additional water supplies. The area under consideration forms the western edge of the Lake District National Park and all the sources considered in this report, apart from the aquifer in the immediate vicinity of Calder Hall, lie wholly or partly within the National Park boundaries. The Rivers Ehen, Calder and Irt support migratory trout and salmon and are angling streams of a high quality. Amenity considerations therefore play an important part in determining the location and extent of any development.

A report on the strategic fisheries stock assessment survey of the minor catchments in South West Cumbria 1996 with particular reference to salmonids

This is the report on the strategic fisheries stock assessment survey of the minor catchments in South West Cumbria 1996 with particular reference to salmonids, produced by North West Water in 1994. The 1996 Minor Catchment survey indicates variations in salmonid production within these catchments. Survey results indicate that production may be reaching its limit in certain areas whilst others are underachieving and others are unsuitable for salmonid production. Trout production within the catchments is higher and more widespread than that of salmon. Water quality levels vary considerably between catchments and intra-annually within individual catchments. The need for selective habitat surveys, with a view to habitat improvement schemes (H.I.S) is discussed. This report formed a basis for subsequent reports, thus, allowing data comparisons and analysis of production level fluctuations. It was the most extensive assessment of these catchments to date, taking into account comparisons with the new National Database on salmonid production in England and Wales.

A numerical model for prediction of oil, trajectory due to extraction activity in the north coasts of the Persian Gulf

This thesis considers a three- dimensional numerical model based on 3-D Navier— Stokes and continuity equations involving various wind speeds (North west), water surface levels, horizontal shier stresses, eddy viscosity, densities of oil and gas condensate- water mixture flows. The model is used to simulate the prediction of the surface movement of oil and gas condensate slicks from spill accident in the north coasts of Persian Gulf.

Fisheries marketing systems and consumer preferences in Puttalam District Sri-Lanka

The aim of this study was to understand the current and historic market situation for inland fish and it’s substitutes in order to identify which of the various production opportunities presented by the seasonal tank resource might have greatest relevance for marginal communities in the Dry-zone. Regional and sub-regional market networks for fish and meat products were investigated, ranking and scoring exercises used to characterise consumer demand in rain-fed areas of North West Province and secondary data sources were used to assess historic patterns of demand and supply [PDF contains 57 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.

A GIS-based model of soil erosion and transport

Soil erosion is a natural process that occurs when the force of wind, raindrops or running water on the soil surface exceeds the cohesive forces that bind the soil together. In general, vegetation cover protects the soil from the effects of these erosive forces. However, land management activities such as ploughing, burning or heavy grazing may disturb this protective layer, exposing the underlying soil. The decision making process in rural catchment management is often supported by the predictive modelling of soil erosion and sediment transport processes within the catchment, using established techniques such as the Universal Soil Loss Equation [USLE] and the Agricultural Nonpoint Source pollution model [AGNPS]. In this article, the authors examine the range of erosion models currently available and describe the application of one of these to the Burrishoole catchment on the north-west coast of Ireland, which has suffered heavy erosion of blanket peat in recent years.

The communities of running water in Cumbria

For conservations of nature to be effective. there must be an understanding of what is present to be conserved. Thus in order to conserve the communites of the Cumbrian rivers, there must first be surveys to determine the spp present and their relative numbers. This has been carried out for many years, by a number of workers. It has been shown that the communities present are influenced by the substratum, the flow, the chemicals present, water temp and predation. Findings of the work on the River Lune were given at a seminar on the rivers of north-west Europe, held at Amiens in November, 1975. The proceedings of the seminar are to appear in special numbers of Bulletin francais de Pisciculure.

Bassenthwaite Lake: a general assessment of environmental and biological features and their susceptibility to change

Bassenthwaite (Lake) is one of the larger Cumbrian lakes, certainly one of the most distinctive, and of considerable conservation and amenity value. Although its shores lack sizeable settlements, its main inflow receives sewage effluent from a major tourist centre (Keswick) and is subject to episodic floods. These influences, the growing development of leisure activities at the lake (e.g. sailing, time-share units), and recent road-construction, have led to past appraisals of ecological impacts and lake management. The lake has not been the subject of intense and long-term ecological study, but much scattered information exists that is relevant to future management decisions. In the present Report, commissioned by North West Water, such information - published and unpublished - is surveyed. Especial attention is given to evidence bearing on susceptibility to change, affecting the lake environment and its biota or species of conservation interest. Extensive use has been made of the results of a recent (1986-7) seasonal survey by the FBA.

A general assessment of environmental and biological features of Windermere and their susceptibility to change

Bassenthwaite (Lake) is one of the larger Cumbrian lakes, certainly one of the most distinctive, and of considerable conservation and amenity value. Although its shores lack sizeable settlements, its main inflow receives sewage effluent from a major tourist centre (Keswick) and is subject to episodic floods. These influences, the growing development of leisure activities at the lake (e.g. sailing, time-share units), and recent road-construction, have led to past appraisals of ecological impacts and lake management. The lake has not been the subject of intense and long-term ecological study, but much scattered information exists that is relevant to future management decisions. In the present Report, commissioned by North West Water, such information - published and unpublished - is surveyed. Especial attention is given to evidence bearing on susceptibility to change, affecting the lake environment and its biota or species of conservation interest. Extensive use has been made of the results of a recent (1986-7) seasonal survey by the FBA.

Juvenile salmon investigations River Wenning catchment 1981-86

As part of the River Lune juvenile salmonid investigation, a number of sites on the River Wenning catchment were electrofished annually from 1981 - 1985. Particularly low Salmon parr populations were evident for much of the Wenning catchment which has caused some concern. All the Wenning catchment electrofishing results are reported in this paper and comparisons are made with designated groups of sites on the remainder of the Lune catchment. These groups of sites are: River Lune and tributaries, upstream Tebay, Upper Middle Lune, Lower Middle Lune, Lower Lune, Birk & Borrow Becks, Chapel & Crosdale Becks, Rawthey system, Barbon & Leek Becks and the Greta system. The general scarcity of Salmonids in large sections of the main river Wenning probably reflects the apparent limited natural spawning areas on the catchment. Details of Salmon fry and ova planting on the Wenning catchment since 1981 have been collated and whilst survival through the 0+ stage appears to be quite good, recruitment to the 1++ stage appears to be poor. Water quality does not appear to be responsible for the very low salmonid densities at some main river sites but is possibly a factor in apparently preventing any Salmon run in Keasden Beck. Recommendations for future Fisheries and Biological work are given.

The River Lune strategic stock assessment survey 1991 with particular reference to salmonids

In the past stock assessment surveys were generally reactive in response to a particular problem e.g. a pollution incident and as such were limited in the information they provided. A programme of strategic stock assessment would be more beneficial, providing up to date information on the status and composition of the stock. On a national level this could reveal trends in population dynamics and enable comparisons to be made between key rivers and between regions. The Stock Assessment Task Group (1991) has recommended annual strategic surveys for juvenile salmonids and triennial strategic surveys for coarse fish and non- migratory salmonids. The aim of this pilot study was to gain information on species distribution and their relative abundance within the River Lune catchment, and to compare the findings with the surveys carried out between 1981-1985. This would provide valuable information on the current status of the stock and provide an indication of the resources required to conduct such strategic surveys on other river catchments in the North West Region of the National Rivers Authority.

Lune - 1992 surveys. Summary of results

This report summarises the routine monitoring surveys carried out in the River Lune and River Duddon estuaries during 1992. Data includes salinity, chloride, pH, nutrients and heavy metals.

Preliminary report on the coarse fishery status in the River Lune with particular reference to the Lansil Fishery

This study takes a preliminary step towards investigating the reports of poor rod catches of coarse fish in the River Lune. These poor catches and concern over the possible loss of coarse fish from the Lower Lune is investigated, using creel census data from 1991. Historical data is used where available for comparative studies. The conclusion that this report comes to is that there is a problem with the recruitment of coarse fish within the population. Dace, roach and bream all show good growth rates but only poor if any recruitment. Historical investigations suggest that roach and bream may never have successfully recruited without artificial induced conditions. The situation with dace is of more concern as populations in other rivers in Northern England are also in decline, whilst historically they were naturally recruiting.