Crayfish survey of the Weaver, Dane, Goyt and Etherow catchments

This is the report on the Crayfish Survey of the Weaver, Dane, Goyt and Etherow catchments from 1998 by the Environment Agency. The aims of this report are: Firstly, to present the findings of the crayfish survey and details of the sites visited. Secondly to present the information on distribution maps with past records so that the current status can be seen and finally to use this information so that recommendations for the conservation of native crayfish can be made in accordance with the national action plan for this species and the Environment Agency’s Species Management Programme. The report contains sections on background, going through legislation, distribution and requirements of both native and non-native crayfish. Sections on methodology, results and discussion, conclusion and recommendations. The appendix I contains maps showing the sampling points locations. Details of sampling sites are summarized in appendix II. Appendix III contains previous crayfish records and Appendix IV shows the field data recording form. Finally, a collection of photographs are displayed in appendix V.

Additional crayfish survey of Checkley Brook, Hollywood End Brook and Black Brook (Goyt) 1999

This is the report on the Additonal Crayfish Survey of Checkley Brook, Hollywood End Brook and Black Brook from 1999 by the Environment agency. The aim of the 1999 survey was to obtain a more complete picture of the crayfish distribution in those areas. It contains sections on the sampling methodology which followed the sampling done in 1998, the results of the sampling indicating the species of crayfish occurring in the sampling areas and some discussion and conclusions for each area. The appendix I contains maps locating the sampling points and past records. The appendix II contains detailed information of the sampling points.

River Dart fisheries survey 1965

This is the first River Dart Fisheries Survey produced by the Devon River Authority; which was carried out from May to October 1965. The objective was to examine the distribution and relative abundance of salmonid fish in the River Dart, in order to assess the possibility or desirability, of increasing salmon smolt production of the river by artificial propagation or other means. Description, chemical, pollution and biological conditions of the River Dart along with fisheries catches, water extraction and spawning are briefly cited. The method includes the choice of sections and sampling techniques. The results go through the number/type/class of fishes counted while the survey took place, distribution patterns within the different transects/brooks, competition between salmon parr and trout and estimations of population. The section on the discussion and recommendations is introduced by a brief explanation of the bases for the Artificial Propagation Programme and the River Dart specific case-study. The annexes contains River Dart and tributaries maps, fish size distribution tables and figures, tables with totals of salmonid fish found and population density tables.

River Dart fisheries survey 1969

This is the second River Dart Fisheries Survey produced by the Devon River Authority; which was carried out from April to July, 1969. The objective was to examine the distribution and relative abundance of salmonid fish in the River Dart, in order to assess the possibility or desirability, of increasing salmon smolt production of the river by artificial propagation or other means. In addition to the tributaries examined in the 1965 survey, further sections were studied on the River Hems and Holy Brook and reference should be made to the River Survey Report, 1965 for introductory information. The method includes the choice of sections and sampling techniques. The results go through the number/type/class of fishes counted while the survey took place and distribution patterns within the different transects/brooks. The discussion tries to remark the importance of understanding the differences between 1965 and 1969 surveys. The Appendix contains tables with totals of salmonid fish found and distribution sizes for each section, population density tables and a map with new surveyed sections.

River Dart fisheries survey 1974

This is the River Dart Fisheries Survey 1974 report produced by the South West Water Authority. The survey was carried out between July and October 1974 to assess the extent of the 0+ and 1+ Salmo salar L. population in the Dart catchment and thereby assess directly the success of the 1973/74 and 1972/73 spawning season. The survey showed that there were large numbers of salmon parr distributed throughout the upper reaches of the Dart, reflecting the successful spawning of the 1973/74 and 1972/73 season. It contains tables with survey sections locations, presence/absence for each section and location maps with spawning grounds and sampling stations.

River Dart Weir and fish pass survey 1992

This is the River Dart, Weir and Fish Pass Survey 1992 report produced by the National Rivers Authority. It goes through the general condition of Weirs and fish passes to determine the extent of problems associated with the upstream and downstream migration of salmonids. It considers solutions where problems exist and investigates the exact use of the resource. It looks at the following Weirs: Totnes, Staverton, Hood, Kilbury, Buckfast, Holne, Mardle (River Mardle), Holybrook (Holybrook), Jordan (West Webburn), Swincombe Intake (River Swincombe), Blackbrook, West Dart, Cowsic (Devonport Leat), Kingfisher Press (Bidwell Brook) and Bagpark (East Webburn). It also contains location maps of the weirs and individual fact sheets along detailed pictures and diagrams.

River Dart Biological Survey 10th June - 15th July 1968

This is the River Dart Biological Survey from 10th June to 15th July 1968 by the Devon River Authority. This survey was undertaken to investigate the invertebrate bottom fauna of the river and to assess the condition of the river with regard to pollution. It describes the environmental conditions of the River Dart and the biological sampling method used, plus a brief conclusion of the survey. It also contains tables with the different species present and abundance on each sampling stations.

Fisheries Survey River Avon, 1962

This is the Fisheries Survey River Avon, 1962 by the Devon River Board. The object of the survey is to investigate the present distribution and relative abundance of salmonid fish in the river. It describes the methods of the investigation, the sampling and identification. It goes through the salmon, sea-trout and brown trout parrs, adult and coarse fish frequencies and distributions, all summarized in individual tables for each fish class. It also includes a variety of comments about the obtained results.

River Teign Fisheries Survey 1963

This is the River Teign Fisheries Survey from 1963 by the Devon River Authority. The principal object of the survey is to examine the distribution and relative abundance of salmonid fish in the river system in order to assess the possibility of increasing the salmon population by artificial propagation. A secondary object is to examine the condition of the river downstream of the Rookery Brook confluence, which was affected by the pollution and fish mortality in 1962 to assess the advisability of restocking the length with brown trout. The report contains a brief introduction of the general aspects of the catchment, chemistry, pollution, biology and fisheries in the river, methodology that looks at the selected transects and techniques for sampling and results. In the appendix, it is explained why the Board have decided to proceed with the artificial propagation and the required procedure. Maps with survey sections and fish indices along with tables with size distributions and totals of salmonids found are attached.

River Teign Fisheries Survey 1972

This is the Second River Teign Fisheries Survey from July and August 1972 by the Devon River Authority. The aim of the survey was to assess the distribution and relative abundance of salmonid fish in the River Teign, describing the methods and results. The section on methods contains information of the selected transects and methodology for the survey. The results goes through totals of all salmonid fish caught, adults, parrs and estimations of parr population individually for salmo salar and salmo trutta. Maps with survey sections and fish indices along with tables with size distributions and totals of salmonids found are attached.

River Teign Fisheries Survey 1979

This is the River Teign Fisheries Survey from August 1979 by the South West Water Authority. The River Teign was sampled by electrofishing at fifteen sites and population estimates, average lengths, weights and biomass were calculated for each species present, and where possible for individual age classes of those species. Results indicated that a stable community structure existed, and little had changed from 1963. Salmonids accounted for the majority of the biomass, and within this group trout were the most abundant in the headwater, and salmon in the lower reaches. All tributaries sampled had higher densities and biomass than the main river. The results were compared with other data collected from similar surveys of other rivers in Devon by the South West Water Authority. Both the average length of each age class, and the biomass in the main River Teign appeared to be lower than in most other rivers, although in the Rivers Wray and Lemon these values were particularly high.

River Teign Fish Survey 1990

This is the River Teign Fisheries Survey from 1990 by the Environment Agency Archives South West (unpublished). The aim of the survey was to assess the distribution and relative abundance of salmonid fish in the River Teign. Thirty six sites were examined; twenty one of them had been examined in previous quantitative fish surveys. At each site, all fish species encountered were caught and measured, however, only data for salmonid fishes has been examined. The results are compared with those of the 1963 and 1972 surveys carried out by the Devon River Authority and the 1975 and 1979 surveys carried out by South West Water Authority. A full list of sites together with their location, fish densities, lengths, weights and ages is attached.

River Erme Fisheries Survey 1965

This is the River Erme Fisheries Survey, 1965 by the Devon River Authority. The survey was carried out during April and May 1965, with the principal object being the determination of the abundance and distribution of salmonid fish in the River Erme in relation to the discharge from Stowford Paper Mills, Ivybridge. It contains a brief introduction of general aspects of the catchment, chemistry, pollution, biology and fisheries in the river, methodology that looks at the selected transects and techniques for sampling, results and recommendations. It contains tables with totals of all salmonid fish found at each section, size distribution of trout, surface area of section and population density.

River Exe Fisheries Survey 1966-1967

This is the River Exe Fisheries Survey 1966-1967 by the Devon River Authority. This is the fifth Fisheries Survey to be carried out in the initial series, other surveys having been carried out on the Rivers Teign, Torridge, Dart and Erme. The object of the survey was to examine the distribution and relative abundance of salmonid fish in the river system, in order to assess the possibility, or desirability, of increasing salmon smolt production of the river by artificial propagation or other means. The survey was carried out from middle May to end of July in 1966 when further survey work was prevented by high water levels, and from the end of June to the end of September in 1967. It contains a brief introduction of general aspects of the catchment, chemistry, pollution, biology and fisheries in the river, methodology that looks at the selected transects and techniques for sampling, results and recommendations. The results goes through totals of all salmonid fish caught, adults, parrs and estimations of parr population individually for salmo salar and salmo trutta. Maps with survey sections and fish indices along with tables with size distributions and totals of salmonids found are attached.

River Goyt and Etherow Crayfish Survey

This is the River Goyt & Etherow Crayfish Survey report from the Environment Agency held between August and November 2000. The report focuses on the need to verify the presence of the non-native American signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) in the main River Goyt, and determine its distribution. Signal crayfish have been reported in the River Goyt after spreading from a known population centre in Hollywood End Brook, to the east of Marple Bridge. The report contains sections on results, discussion and a summary. The section on results shows maps of presence or absence of different crayfish species in River Goyt, and the Mersey/ Weaver river systems such American signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) and European freshwater crayfish (Austopotamobius pallipes).