Celtic Rivers Trust Partnership Irish Update

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Celtic Rivers Trust PartnershipIrish Update

• Protecting and improving the ecology, fisheries
  and riparian wildlife of the Slaney Valley

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Background to the CRTP project Year One

• Desire for more active conservation role
• Private capital, Welsh and Irish partners
• Successful Interreg IIIa application
• SRT set up
• Aerial Survey, HWs 2005 on several tributaries

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Update since Sept 2005

• Habitat improvement works 2006
• Invasive plant survey
• Slaney Drive Brochure
• Young persons trip to Wales
• Casting classes with CFB
• Promotion of Catch and Release
• Information sharing visits to Wales and WRT
• Setup of Subcommittees
• Fundraising Foundation set-up

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Southeast SACs
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Slaney Catchment/SAC
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Habitat Improvement Works 2006Little Slaney

• Problem
• Severe bank erosion
• Overgrazing
• Improved drainage
• Siltation of spawning beds and pools downstream
• Action
• Pine logs with xmas tree tops attached
• Fencing
• Promote REPS
• In-Kind advice and man hours from CFB ERFB

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Habitat Improvement Works 2006Little Slaney
cont.
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Habitat Improvement Works 2006Carrigower

• Problem
• Slow water flow
• Excess weed growth
• Lack of good spawning beds
• Action
• Vortex weir creation
• Speeds up water flow
• Creates spawning beds

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Habitat Improvement Works 2006Aghade Bridge

• Problem
• Weir blocking access to important spawning
  tributary (river Douglas)
• Action
• Fish pass construction
• Water level raised
• Salmon spawned at the top of the pass 06/07

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Habitat Improvement Works 2006Aghade Bridge
cont.
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Slaney Drive

• Series of minor roads along the Slaney Valley
• Brochure produced Sept 06 to increase public
  awareness
• Promote tourism in smaller villages / towns
• BBs, cultural sites, activities listed
• Distributed via Failte Ireland tourist offices,
  hotels etc.

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Invasive Plant Survey

• Himalayan Balsam (Impatiens glandulifera)
  widespread on Slaney
• Riparian monoculture during summer months
• Threat to native plants
• Effect on insect life?
• Salmonid feeding?
• Dies back in winter
• Bank erosion
• Siltation
• SRT/CFB carried out river survey using GPS

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Wales Visit

• Weekend visit to west Wales for young adults
• Fishing and fly-tying instruction
• Develop cross border relations
• Increase appreciation of river wildlife future
  guardians

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Summary

• Evolution of fishing club to environmental
  organisation with active conservation role
• Greater interest in the wider environmental
  issues, not just salmon
• Development of a River Trust capable of
  engaging with national/regional bodies
• Increased public awareness

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The Future

• Tip of the iceberg
• SRT involvement in WFD (SERBD, abstraction)
• Continued partnership with fishery boards etc.
• Further engagement with farmers, businesses along
  the Valley
• Secure more funding for future projects
• Increased membership
• EU / National grants
• Slaney River Foundation

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Thanks for listening!