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Post by clwydman on Feb 15, 2006 19:49:21 GMT -1
Have recently read the EA report on the River Clwyd, very worrying reading, although the Bontuchel fish pass has opened up new spawning areas, the traditional spawning streams have been ruined by either sheep dip or over grazing. I spent an enjoyable afternoon walking with my father along one of the main spawning tributaries identified by the EA as being severely affected by Sheep dip. We never saw a fish, not even a trout despite the water being low and clear. In years past my grandfather caught many salmon and sea trout in this stream (not on a rod though!) there are even areas that have been piped to make access for migratory fish very difficult if not impossible. Has anyone got any ideas about what we as anglers can do to pretect/repair these important spawning areas? Clubs on the river spend many hours looking after the banks etc. on their particular stretches but the important spawning areas have been forgotten I fear. I would be interested in starting an action group to work with the EA to work on these spawning areas etc. Is there anyone else interested or has ideas how we can go about this?
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Post by Mike Connor on Feb 15, 2006 21:22:04 GMT -1
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Post by Torgoch on Feb 16, 2006 2:14:02 GMT -1
Clwydman, the damage done by sheepdip to our rivers has been overseen by the EA who in truth don't know the true picture or impact of the damage that is being inflicted on our fish stocks The issue is.. why have they failed to deal with it They get a hell of a lot of money from the Assembly and its spent on very many ocassions on grand meeting for its managers in posh hotels and overnight accommodation when some only live a few miles away. Is this what angling licence and ratepayers taxes are meant to be used for. Various high profile hotels in St Asaph and Ruthin are regular haunts for the EA as most hotels will admit so isn't it time Auditors called time on this gross extravagances so that money can be properly redirected to providing more men on the ground. The Stream in the Clwyd that's afflicted worst of all is the Dwr Ial and for years attempts have been made to catch the perpetrators with no result. its also well know that the farmers marts at St Asaph and Ruthin cause problems to the Clwyd and the Elwy with sheep dip chemicals getting into the sewage works on market days We Anglers should be more aware of the issue of Sheep dipping and the damage done to invertebrates and habitat so if you see sheep being dipped near a stream or in a farm yard by a stream, then complain immediately- sometimes the chemical smell from the activity is very noticeable, no matter if you get it wrong I guess a false alarm is better than no alarm and if you get it right you'll be congratulated by all concerned I'm sure. what galls me is that the EA want all the partnerships going to help them out of a hole that they have created by downsizing, so do we really have to be charitable and bale them out. If private industry was run in this way, the receivers would have been called in long ago or deficient managers heads would have rolled in the process.
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Post by clwydman on Feb 16, 2006 15:36:03 GMT -1
The Dwr Ial is the stream I am talking about. If you speak to anyone who can remember back 30 years plus, this stream held large numbers of trout often bigger in average size than the Clwyd itself. It also had a prolific run of sea trout and salmon. In terms of not knowing who the farmer is, I could name the farm and the farmer now! I accept what you are saying about ea downsizing etc. but that will not improve the situation in either the short term or the long term. For example, if the EA cannot catch the farmer, dont know how well you know the area but from the junction of the Dwr Ial and the clwyd upstream, I can think of at least 6 bridges that water samples could be taken from, making the process of catching the culprits far easier. I.E. sample clear at bridge 1, sample not clear at bridge 2- farm must be in between. I would happily undertake this process if given the sample bottles by the EA and if that evidence could be used. Times this effort by however many anglers fish the Clwyd plus the fact that you publisise in the local press you are doing it then pressure is brought on the culprits. In terms of the sewage works, I monitor the Ruthin storm drain on a regular basis and have reported several incidents over the last two years, I could just as easily take samples. I have moaned and groaned and spoken to EA officers in the area and in Bangor about bailiffing levels etc the long and short of it is that there is not enough funding and will not be enough funding for the forseeable future. Maybe it is time for interested parties to strike a partnership with the EA officers on the ground and help out in the regeneration of the salmon runs on the Clwyd. If we dont, I would predict based on current runs that salmon will be almost non exsistent in the Clwyd system inside 10 years.
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