STOP PRESS:
June 2011: CRT expands its programme of clearing river blockages to West Carmarthenshire:
These are before and after photographs of one of biggest blockages encountered to date, the problem was reported to the Environment Agency, and their officers passed it on to CRT.
The tributary is the river Cynin which joins the main river Taf just below St Clears. It is regarded as one of the premier lower spawning tributories in the catchment.
Work to clear these major blockages to spawning areas is continuing all the time, thanks to the work of CRT volunteers and the use of the EFF grant to hire local contractors.
Here are some other typical blockages:
River Mynis River Dulais (Llanwrda)
April 2011
CRT highlights potential pollution problem for the Tywi.
As a result of vigilance by the CRT in raising the matter, the EAW stated ina release in their January Newsletter that “Informal discussions have begun with Carmarthenshire Rivers Trust to look at remediation work at Nant y Mwyn Mine, near Llandovery. Heavy metal pollution (especially zinc) is currently preventing the receiving water body (Tywi upstream Llandovery, Nant y Bai and Nant y Mwyn) from achieving Good ecological status. It is hoped that there will be opportunities to work with Cardiff University, Carmarthenshire County Council and Forestry Commission Wales./ End.”
The text above is taken from the release sent out by EAW in their January newsletter and is a consequence of persistent lobbying by the Trust in raising this potentially significant matter once again.
A scoping survey has been carried out by the EAW's heavy metals consultants, Atkins Limited and the findings are now in consultation with the partners mentioned above and the local community group in Rhandirmwyn.
The photos below show the extent of the lead mine spoils at the site and the flow of water into the river. This is only 300 metres above the confluence with the Tywi :
Surface Lead Mine Spoils leading to Nant y Bai
Lower Boat level flows leading out of old workings at Nant y Mwyn lead mine
October 2010
During October 2010, the Carmarthenshire Rivers Trust discharged some 68 tons of limestone grit into the rivers Doethie Fawr and Pysgotwr Fawr and Fach - important spawning tributaries of the Tywi. This was funded by WAG/EFF under the Afonydd Sir Gaerfyrddin project.
This was this year’s input and it will be repeated during coming years.
The project is delivered in partnership with the Environment Agency Wales, Countryside Council for Wales and the Forestry Commission. It is financed by the European Union and the Welsh Assembly Government through CRT’s Afonydd Sir Gaerfyrddin European Fishery Fund project.
The project has already collected extensive base line data and this will continue throughout with apparatus that log in the relevant PH readings 24/7. It also involves our invertebrate surveys.
Much of the work was mechanical with our tipping trailer and hired loader doing the grafting although there was some raking of grit overspill into the tributaries by volunteers.
The picture below shows CRT's vehicle and trailer in action - tipping limestone grit into the Nant Llyn stream which drains out of Llyn Berwyn and is a tributary of the Doethie:
During the work, the CRT was faced with a challenge as regards taking the ten tons of lime down to the site on the Pysgotwr Fach. We could not get our vehicle down there as the access had been destroyed by timber extraction. Fortunately the Trust managed to get the loan of a nearby specialised truck/loader free of charge and the exercise was completed. Yet another instance of the Trust solving a seemingly impossible situation at no expense, therebymaximising the leverage of the EU/WAG funding!
Here is the machine that was kindly made available free of charge to the Trust by Ilchester Estates managed by SelectFor Ltd. Personal assistance was generously provided by Mr. Derrick Roberts and Mr. Hugh Denman. The bag is loaded with lime:
This photo below is of the Trust's chairman, Gethyn Thomas discharging the lime into the Pysgotwr Fach. This was followed by raking the lime into the stream. Rains will eventually distribute all of it :
September 2010
CRT opens up new and important Tywi spawning tributary
Nant Rhaeadr has its confluence with the Tywi in the upper reaches of the river just below Rhandirmwyn.
A major obstruction (waterfall) existed on the Nant, just half a kilometre from the confluence - see “Before” photo below. Historically observation had shown that this obstruction could only be overcome by fish during occasional river heights and that this was not possible every year. Also the Trust’s study of juvenile fish for the stream indicated that although there were adequate numbers of juveniles above the falls, the "upper" juvenile population was only a fraction of the numbers found below.
Thus the opening up of this stream through the removal of the obstacle was high on our list of priorities. Work to reduce its severity was carried out in September 2010. This was funded by WAG/EFF under the Afonydd Sir Gaerfyrddin project.
The photos below show that the work of the Trust (using local contractors) has resulted in the obstruction being lowered by some two thirds of its previous height. As a consequence, the fish can now move through and up the river even during low flows and will no longer drop back into the main river and cause overcrowding, leading to them cutting over previously set redds.
Nant Rhaeadr before Nant Rhaeadr after
This action by the CRT as part of its WAG/EFF Afonydd Sir Gaerfyrddin project completely opens up approximately 8 new kilometres of prime spawning and juvenile nursery habitat for Sewin and Salmon on the Nant Rhaeadr and its main tributary the Nant Rhosan . Such "hard easements" by the Trust are only carried out where there is limited fish access under specific flows, so as not to adversely affect existing trout populations. Where a natural structure is a total obstruction, the Trust follows the policy of the EAW in not improving conditions for fish passage as trout populations upstream will be genetically isolated and may have developed unique characteristics.
June 2010
C.R.T. alerts Environment Agency of presence of invasive signal crayfish.
The Trust’s Chairman, Gethyn Thomas and a volunteer, in their regular surveys of the county’s tributary streams have discovered the presence of invasive signal crayfish in a small stream that leads into a productive tributary of the River Tywi. It was a random search, only turning likely stones. We found six in the area photographed. See pics below.
He immediately alerted the Environment Agency Wales who are following up. This email from the EAW to the Trust: “Thanks very much for this Gethyn. Helps emphasise the value of the work the Rivers Trust is doing to help identify these issues. Hopefully some remedial action can be resolved before they spread.”
Note size and length of sample stream Male crayfish from the stream
Female Crayfish from the stream- note the eggs!
Linking Projects:
The CRT has been engaged in more projects to improve the county’s river environment. For two of these projects, the Trust has been able to complete them in a cost effective manner – using waste material coming from one project as a raw material basis for another.
The river Mynis is an important spawning tributary of the river Tywi, joining the main river above Llanwrda at SN 72503 31764. Parts of the river bank were overgrown with willows and various invasive plants and trees, cutting off light to spawning areas on the river floor. A coppicing project was completed in April 2010 over a length of 300 metres (SN73243 32439 to SN73028 32374), thinning the wood and opening up parts of the river.
This project was timed to complete just before another started so that the willow branches from the coppicing could be used as raw material for the shoring up of eroded banks on a nearby section of the river through a process of revetment. Soft revetment is basically the fixing of posts in the river bed at 1 metre distances and then live Willow weaved and secured to them. The Willow will root and grow, thus offering protection to the bank.
The timing was crucial because willow left sitting for too long dries quickly and becomes unsuitable for further use. The photographs below show the cut willow lying on the field immediately after the coppicing project and then its usage to carry out soft revetment work on another part of the river:
Coppiced Willow River Mynys before
River Mynys After Revetment:
On the river and now, in the river.
The CRT has been busy preparing for its programme of improving water quality through adding lime to reduce acidity in the major tributaries at the headwaters of our rivers. We have been working in close collaboration with the EAW and the Forestry Commission Wales, the latter agreeing to the erection of a lime storage facility near to the source of the Doethie. All consents have been received, including from the Countryside Council for Wales.
The storage facility has been financed by the EAW and will be filled with 300 tons of lime, purchased with funds from the CRT’s Afonydd Sir Gaerfyrddin Programme (WAG/EFF). The lime will be distributed into the Doethie and Pysgotwr streams on a phased basis over the next three years by CRT volunteers and EAW staff.
This is an excellent example of close collaboration between the CRT as a voluntary organisation/ charity and official bodies i.e. the attainment of mutual objectives by the CRT, EAW, Forestry Commission Wales and the CCW.
Note the separate protective barrier in one of the photographs. This was erected to protect the very rare Stag’s Horn clubmoss (also known as Wolf’s foot clubmoss) which was discovered whilst scoping the site. This species of clubmoss is endangered in many areas of the UK surviving mainly in undisturbed sites and not usually at this altitude. Here in Carmarthenshire and throughout Wales it is one of the most important plants that need protection in our conservation plans. The barrier, with explanatory notices by the FCW, is to protect the moss from traffic visiting the lime site.
Compound for 300 tons of lime - Doethie source. Protective barrier and signs for Stag's horn clubmoss
Free Water for CRT Volunteers
In recognition of the work that the CRT is doing, a local Carmarthenshire company, Brecon Carreg Water from Trapp near Llandeilo, has agreed to sponsor the Trust with free supplies of its mineral water.
Thus all you volunteers will get free bottles of water when you work with the Trust!
On the River Bank
The main thrust of the Project Plan submitted for WAG/EFF funding by the Carmarthenshire Rivers Trust is a programme of activities which takes place directly on the rivers of the county – this includes removal of obstacles, easements, fencing, coppicing, bank revetment etc.
The Afonydd Sir Gaerfyrddin project is the embodiment of this plan. It started its operations in December 2009 but because of EAW rules preventing any in-river work before 15 April, the Trust has directed its activities during the first Quarter of 2010 to improvements to bank-side conditions i.e. fencing and coppicing in order to protect river banks and improve habitat. It has also used the time to seek consents from the EAW and Forestry Commission for in-river easements and liming of headwaters after 15 April 2010.
For the fencing and coppicing work, Job Specifications have been written, landowner consent secured, prudent shopping done and local contractors selected.
Two such projects have been completed to date and one is in progress.
1. Coppicing: River Cennen – Tywi Catchment
Work was recently completed at Glan Cennen Ganol farm on a stretch of the middle Cennen, a major tributary of the Tywi, between Llandeilo and Llandybie (National Grid Reference – Upper SN62330 18048 and Lower SN61935 18151). The coppicing covered some 1,450 metres linear of heavily wooded and overgrown river bank – both sides. The existing situation of significant shade over the river inhibits invertebrate life and plant growth.
Some 320 trees and saplings were marked and then coppiced. All cut wood was removed from the site and the riparian owner has taken responsibility for removal of the brash. All health and safety issues were observed and risk assessments carried out. Relevant chainsaw certificates were produced by the contractor and a current public liability insurance for £5 million was in force. Care was taken to ensure no damage to existing fencing.
The following photographs give evidence of the situation before and after the coppicing.
River Bank - Cennen - before and after coppicing
River bank - Cennen - before and after coppicing
2 Fencing of River bank: River Doethie – Tywi catchment
Work was recently completed at Gallt-y-Bere, Rhandirmwyn on a stretch of the River Doethie – a major tributary of the River Tywi in the Rhandirmwyn area in the north of the county (National Grid Reference – Upper SN77216 47264 and Lower SN77556 47091).
The fencing covered some 410 metres linear of eroding river bank in fields where cattle are kept.
The management targets for this project are:
• Create riparian tall-herb cover, with patches of riparian woodland and scrub
• Increase the number of juvenile salmonids
• Protect salmonid spawning and nursery habitat
• Create habitat suitable for other species of conservation importance and biodiversity
Work included brush cutting and removal of bramble, old fencing (old wire removed and disposed of at a licensed scrap yard) and dead trees. All fencing of the bank and field drains is stock proof for both cattle and sheep. The fencing is set back a minimum of 3 metres from the river thereby allowing vegetation to re-grow. Four wooden access gates were installed at agreed locations, one allowing access to the EAW’s water monitoring station.
The following photographs show the location before and after the fencing.
Before - no bank protection
After - fencing to prevent bank erosion and nurture plant growth.
This is the gate erected to allow access to the Environment Agency's water monitoring station. All projects are fully "scoped" and designed according to conditions on the ground.