Latest news with #WestCumbriaRiversTrust
BBC News
23-05-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Dry spell sees Cumbrian rivers hit 'critical point'
High river temperatures are causing concern for the wellbeing of fish and other species, an environmental charity has Cumbria Rivers Trust says its monitoring efforts have found a number of waterways with temperatures at or nearing 18C (64F) - the point at which it says cold-water fish such as trout and salmon begin to experience stress, with a potential impact on breeding and feeding says the "unseasonably warm" weather of recent weeks has added to the long-term effects of climate organisation is calling for more tree planting near rivers to help provide shade and keep temperatures lower. The trust found St John's Beck, a tributary of the River Derwent flowing from Thirlmere Reservoir, to have a temperature of 18C, while the River Greta at Keswick was 17C (62F).The Upper Derwent, at Seathwaite, meanwhile, was 16.1C (61F) with water levels very low. 'Fish rescues' The organisation's assistant director, Luke Bryant, said data showed the rivers were reaching a "critical point" ahead of the summer."Key species would be salmon and trout, but there are also eels and lots of other types of fish," he said."We're also seeing some rivers drying out, for example the upper reaches of the Derwent that feeds into Keswick, and that can affect food sources with wetland plants and insects potentially dying or their eggs being wasted."We are very anxious about it. It's been quite an unusual April and May that we've had - unseasonably warm."He said while rain forecast for next week "would help", if there were a dry June or July then that could potentially lead to "even higher temperatures"."Sometimes you might have to do drastic things like perform fish rescues. We go in and try and move the fish out of a section if we think the river is going to dry up, but that's quite an undertaking and it's not something we can do every day," he said. Mr Bryant said the local picture was also being seen nationally following decades of trees being cut down to make way for the straightening of rivers and to maximise space for sheep and believes re-planting is now needed."There are great tree planting projects all over Cumbria and indeed the UK, but there's more to do and obviously it takes years for trees to mature," he said."All river systems need a variety of habitats. It's about having a sort of dappled effect, with a bit of sunlight in places and shade in others, because different species like different conditions." Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Fears over river restoration funding delays
Delayed decisions about funding for river restoration projects could have serious implications, according to the body which oversees rivers trusts. The Rivers Trust says its members face a constant battle to secure funding from the government and are hampered by bureaucracy throughout the application process. One of them, the West Cumbria Rivers Trust (WCRT) said it was "in limbo" waiting for the Environment Agency (EA) to confirm funding which meant several small projects, which could be "easy wins", might not be delivered this year. The EA said work to confirm any possible funding to the trust was "ongoing". WCRT said schemes usually had to be carried out in the summer so even if funding was secured now, it might not be possible to find contractors in time. One project affected involves the removal of a barrier to Atlantic salmon at the River Ellen, near the village of Ireby. The trust is hoping to remove a bridge made out of concrete tubes which gets regularly blocked and stops the endangered fish trying to get upstream to spawn. It also stops the free movement of gravel which creates habitats for insects that the salmon feed on. Mark Hastings, a member of the Derwent Owners' Association, which is a representative body of the waterbody's fisheries, said many of the salmon in the river would die without the £20,000 project. "[It] could save hundreds of salmon," he said. Moreover, as each salmon lays thousands of eggs, the scheme had the potential, he said, "to "give the river a kick-start and the Atlantic salmon a chance". WCRT assistant director Luke Bryant said the lack of funding confirmation from the EA for such projects made it feel like they were in a "bit of limbo". "If we can't work in this summer it has to be delayed for another 12 months," he said. "We need to tackle this problem now". The Rivers Trust said the problem did not just affect Cumbria but all its 65 member charities across the country. Chief executive Mark Lloyd said: "We really have to worry about this, this is a life support system for humanity." An EA spokesman said its officers were "passionate and enthusiastic about improving our water environment". He said there was a significant national "demand on the money". "Our work to confirm what funding we can provide to these works is ongoing and we will confirm this to West Cumbria Rivers Trust and others as soon as we can." Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. River reconnected to flood-plain to boost habitats West Cumbria Rivers Trust
BBC News
14-03-2025
- General
- BBC News
West Cumbria Rivers Trust feel in 'limbo' due to funding delays
A rivers trust has said it is in "limbo" waiting for the Environment Agency (EA) to confirm funding, despite the looming start of the new financial West Cumbria Rivers Trust (WCRT) said this meant several small projects, which could be "easy wins", might not be delivered this schemes usually have to be carried out in the summer, it said, so even if funding was secured now, it may not be possible to find contractors in time. The EA said work to confirm any possible funding to the trust was "ongoing". One project affected involves the removal of a barrier to Atlantic salmon at the River Ellen near the village of trust are hoping to remove a bridge made out of concrete tubes which gets regularly blocked and stops the endangered fish trying to get upstream to also stops the free movement of gravel which creates habitats for insects that the salmon feed on. 'Tackle the problem now' Mark Hastings, a member of the Derwent Owners' Association which is a representative body of the waterbody's fisheries, said many of the salmon in the river would die without the £20,000 project."[It] could save hundreds of salmon," he as each salmon lays thousands of eggs, the scheme had the potential, he said, "to "give the river a kick-start and the Atlantic salmon a chance".WCRT assistant director Luke Bryant said the lack of funding confirmation from the EA for such projects made it feel like they were in a "bit of limbo"."If we can't work in this summer it has to be delayed for another 12 months," he said. "We need to tackle this problem now".An EA spokesman said its officers were "passionate and enthusiastic about improving our water environment".He said there was a significant national "demand on the money", adding: "Our work to confirm what funding we can provide to these works is ongoing and we will confirm this to West Cumbria Rivers Trust and others as soon as we can." Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
