Central area redd project [Ribble, Hodder and Lune catchments]

Redd counting is an integral part of most Fishery Officers duties. The number and distribution of salmonid redds throughout salmonid catchments provides invaluable information on the range and extent of spawning by both salmon and sea trout. A project was initiated by the Fisheries Science and Management Team of Central Area, North West Region in England in liaison with the Flood Defence function. The main objective of this project was to assess redd count data for Central Area and attempt to quantify these data in order to produce a grading system that would highlight key salmonid spawning areas. By showing which were the main areas for salmon and sea trout spawning, better informed decisions could be made on whether or not in-stream Flood Defence works should be given the go-ahead. The main salmonid catchments in Central Area were broken into individual reaches, approximately 1 km in length. The number of redds in these individual reaches were then calculated and a density per lkm value was obtained for each reach. A grading system was devised which involved looking at the range of density per km values and dividing this by five to produce 5 classes, A - E. A sixth class (F) was used where the density per Ion value was 0.00. This grading system was calculated at two levels of detail. Grades for salmon and sea trout were produced for each individual catchment and also on an Area-wide level. Maps were produced using a range of colours to represent the grade for each reach. These maps provide a highly useful overview of the status of salmonid spawning for each catchment over individual years and highlight the key salmon and sea trout spawning areas in each catchment. These maps and the associated summary data should now provide Flood Defence and Fisheries staff with a fairly detailed overview of the status of spawning in any location within the. main salmonid catchments in Central Area. Although these maps are very useful they should only be used as a guide. The current practice of consulting with the local Fishery Officer should be continued to ensure that expert local knowledge is taken into account.

Visual survey of exposed riverine sediments (Ers) in the Dane, Weaver and Bollin catchments

This is the Visual survey ERS Dane, Weaver & Bollin Catchments produced by the Environment Agency in 2005. Visual surveys of the River Dane downstream of the confluence with the Swettenham Brook, the River Weaver, and the River Bollin catchment in the EA Northwest South area of England were undertaken between 3rd and 9th February 2005 with the aim of identifying the spatial distribution and relative quality of exposed Riverine sediments (ERS). The potential value of these ERS in terms of likely habitat quality for ERS invertebrate communities was determined by recording a suite of appropriate environmental variables. Following an initial cartographical analysis of reaches likely to contain ERS, tens of kilometres of riverbank were inspected and 67 areas of ERS were selected for detailed visual survey. Site characteristics ranged widely both between and within catchments, with habitat quality ranging from poor to very high.

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.

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.

The importance of organic detritus in lotic ecosystems: Aspects of trophic interactions

Very little research has been carried out on detrital energetics and pathways in lotic ecosystems. Most investigations have concentrated on the degradation of allochthonous plant litter by fungi, with a glance at heterotrophic bacteria associated with decaying litter. In this short review, the author describes what is known of the detrition of plant litter in lotic waters, which results from the degradative activities of colonising saprophytic fungi and bacteria, and goes on to relate this process to those invertebrates that consume coarse and/or fine particulate detritus, or dissolved organic matter that aggregates into colloidal exopolymer particles. It is clear that many of the key processes involved in the relationships between the physical, chemical, biotic and biochemical elements present in running waters are very complex and poorly understood. Those few aspects for which there are reliable models with predictive power have resulted from data collections made over periods of 20 years or more. Comprehensive research of single catchments would provide a fine opportunity to collect data over a long period.

The ionic composition of surface waters in the English Lake District, related to bedrock geology, with some singular facts and speculation on the existence of mineral-rich groundwaters

This article is based on a survey of tarns conducted mainly in the summers of 1983 to 1985, plus a survey made in the winter of 1985, in which streams were sampled on the wide variety of rock-types occurring on the fringes of the Lake District. Differences in composition of major ions and their concentrations in the surface waters of Cumbria reflect the complex geological structure of the region. At altitudes above 300 m, on Borrowdale Volcanics and Skiddaw Slates, surface waters are derived from atmospheric precipitation, with additional inputs of some ions - especially calcium and bicarbonate - from catchment rocks and soils. In some of the low-lying large lakes on the fringes of the central fells, water composition is also dominated by inputs from upper catchments; examples are Wastwater, Ullswater and Haweswater. However in other lakes there is evidence (Derwentwater and Bassenthwaite Lake) of inputs from saline groundwater.

Comparative studies on the structure of an upland African stream ecosystem

Upland stream systems have been extensively investigated in Europe, North America and Australasia and many of the central ideas concerning their function are based on these systems. One central paradigm, the river continuum concept is ultimately derived from those North American streams whose catchments remain forested with native vegetation. Streams of the tropics may or may not fit the model. They have been little studied. The Amani Nature Reserve in the East Usambara Mountains of north-eastern Tanzania offers an opportunity to bring these naturally forested systems to the attention of the ecological community. This article describes a comparison made between two lengths of the River Dodwe in this area. The work was carried out by a group of postgraduate students from eighteen European and African countries with advice from five staff members, as part of a course organised by the Tropical Biology Association. Rigorous efforts were made to standardise techniques, in a situation where equipment and laboratory facilities were very basic, through a management structure and deliberate allocation of work to specialists in each area.The article offers a summary of invertebrate communities found in the stream and its biomass. Crabs seem to be the key organism in both sections of the streams.

Upland hill farming for water, wildlife and food

The economic, environmental and social benefits of more sensitive land use practices that protect or restore the natural functions of river catchments have been widely discussed. Changing land use has implications for a wide range of other biological communities. Some studies have already been undertaken on the benefits of sensitive farming at the catchment scale in England and Wales. However, there is a gap in these studies at the local scale, and particularly for upland farms from which headwaters arise. This article documents a case study relating to a successful partnership in Cumbria, UK, set within the wider context of catchment management. Whilst the case study is not highly detailed, and some costs have been described in outline only to protect confidentiality and commercial sensitivity, it provides some generic lessons and may therefore be useful in informing more sustainable policy-making. High Hullockhowe Farm near Haweswater, which was used a the case study highlighting changes in farm practise, costs and benefits, water resources and biodiversity. The authors relate the case study to wider policy implications.

Turbidity and the suspended sediment load of the regulated River Tees

The physical effects of river regulation in the U.K. by impoundments have attracted most attention from hydrologists and engineers concerned with predicting and maintaining discharge regimes for water supply. Grimshaw & Lewin (1980) suggested two basic methods to investigate the effects of regulation on suspended sediment discharge: (i) Compare the river load before and after reservoir construction, and (ii) adopt a paired catchment approach. The former method assumes stationarity of process in the natural system. The latter method, involving selecting two adjacent catchments of similar physical attributes, one regulated and one unregulated, assumes constancy of process spatially. In this report both approaches are adopted to examine the turbidity and suspended sediment concentration regime of the regulated River Tees. Neither approach was entirely satisfactory in the present case. This report examines the discharge and turbidity record consisting of approximately 4000 paired data points, representative of an 11-year post-impoundment period, that has been examined for the River Tees at Broken Scar, Darlington. A small amount of suspended sediment concentration data was also processed: these data are representative of both the pre-impoundment and post-impoundment sediment regime.

The ecology of the Gussage, a lined winterbourne

The Gussage, a Dorset winterhourne (intermittent chalk stream), has been used to convey water from a compensation borehole to the River Allen to supplement its flow to meet demand for water. Sections of the Gussage have been lined with chalk, butyl sheeting or polythene sheeting to prevent water loss through the porous bed. The effects of this major environmental modification associated with these abstraction practices in the winterbourne catchments have been studied in the Gussage system since 1973. To compensate for the lack of adequate pre-lining data, comparative studies have been made on 3 small unlined chalk streams of varying flow regimes, ie. the Crichel (a winterbourne), the North Winterbourne and the Tarrant (permanent discharge in the reaches studies). The distribution of macrophytes and invertebrates in winterbournes are compared with that in natural and artificial permanent streams. Statistical analysis showed samples from the winterbourne sites and the unmodified permanent stream sites are quite distinct, despite the fact that no samples were taken from winterbourne sites during the dry phase. This emphasizes the differences between the fauna of an intermittent and a permanent stream and suggests that alteration of the flow regime could be a significant factor. Where flow regime has been altered, as in the Gussage downstream of the borehole, the samples occupy an intermediate position. Within this group of modified sites there is no apparent gross difference between the invertebrates of lined or unlined reaches.

Long-term natural acidification of upland sites in Cumbria: Evidence from post-glacial lake sediments

Studies by the Freshwater Biological Association over the last 25 years have supplied data relevant to the levels of acidity in local soils and water before the onset of industrial pollution and current interest in acid rain. This article reviews published analysis from cores of lake sediments, in or near the catchment of the River Duddon. Electron spin resonance spectra of humic acids and iodine values confirm evidence from pollen analysis for a history of progressive acidification of the source material of lake sediments since before 5000 radiocarbon years, in upland catchments of the Lake District. Processes involved included: removal of basic ions from soils by rainfall, the effects of which were intensified by removal by man of deciduous forest; acidification of soils and waters by decomposition products of Calluna and further acidification of waters by Sphagnum species which colonized habitats where drainage became impeded by paludification processes.

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.

Salmon and freshwater fisheries in the Solway Firth. Report of the Working Party of North West Water Authority and the Annan District Salmon Fishery Board.

The Workinq Party of North West Water Authority and the Annan District Salmon Fishery Board's aims were to identify the current problems relating to the salmon and freshwater fisheries in the Solway Firth and its tributaries (embracing the catchments of the Annan, Kirtle Water, Sark, Esk, Eden, Wampool and Waver - and possibly also the Lochar Water and the Nith) to produce agreed outline solutions, and to consider the financial aspects of the future administration of these fisheries.

Sustainable utilization of inland water resources: an integrated program for research and management

In both developed and developing countries, there is increased competition for water resources, resulting in deficiencies in supply and in various forms of pollution. In developing countries, the nutritional potential of aquatic resources is very important. To realize this potential, integrated research and management for sustainable water resource use are needed. This requires a sound understanding of the structure and function of aquatic ecosystems. A programme is presented which stresses the interrelationships of the physical, chemical and biological components of aquatic systems and their catchments. The programme consists of 16 stages in 5 phases, which are as follows: System description; System functioning and modelling; Resource assessment/dynamics; Resource potential; and, Resource utilization for sustainability. This programme enables workers within different disciplines to identify how their expertise contributes to the overall research requirements to support resource development.

South & West Cumberland Fisheries Advisory Committee 17th October, 1977

This is the report from the South & West Cumberland Fisheries Advisory Committee meeting, which was held on the 17th October, 1977. It covers fisheries income and expenditure, licence duties, and information on the River Marron at Lostrigg Beck in connection with opencast coal workings in the area. It also looks at the proposal for the development of the Eskett Quarries and the likely effect on the River Ehen, and the possible development of Rivers Waver and Wampool as a sea trout fishery. The report for that covers the physical descriptions of the catchments, abstractions, discharges, biological aspects, chemical aspects and the present situation regarding fisheries. Also included is the report by the area fisheries officer on fisheries activities which includes information on river improvement works on the River Calder, Branthwaite Weir Fish Pass, a fish kill on the tributary of the River Calder, stock numbers, and an update on Holmwrangle hatchery. 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.