DŴR GWYLLT

Nadolig Llawen

An end of year message from our Operations Manager

I took over as Operational Manager at North Wales Rivers Trust six months ago. It's been an exciting challenge and a busy six months of getting to grips with our area's 13 major river catchments. We have achieved numerous nature-based interventions in 2022 to improve water quality and increase biodiversity, which you can read about over the following few pages.

Yet there is still much to be done. With Rhyl Marine Lake recently receiving the only poor water quality bathing status in Wales, a biodiversity and climate change crisis, all designated species in an unfavorable condition, and our salmon and sea trout being at risk of extinction in every river in Wales.

Our 5-year strategic plan ( found on our website) aims to address the numerous issues facing our waterways. We will focus on these objectives to ensure that rivers across our catchment are restored to their natural state, with improved water quality and increased habitat for the numerous species in decline.

We have grown from a team of two to a team of four in 2023. We have secured funding for two River Habitat Restoration officers and a Community Engagement officer. This year has also sadly seen us say goodbye to our legendary project officer Rich White (although he hasn't escaped as he is now trustee), and Dr. Antony Smith, who moves on to follow his passion in fish data analysis in the private sector. Longtime Chairman Alan Winstone, who achieved many positive gains on our rivers over the years, also stepped down into a trustee role.

We have gained Dr. Robin Parry as board chairman, River Habitat Restoration officers Dr. Liam Whitmore focused on the Clwyd and Conwy catchments, and Alistair Marjot concentrating on the Seiont, Llyfni, Gwyrfai, Ogwen, and Ynys Mon catchments.

In 2023 we will increase our community engagement with events and opportunities for citizen science to help us further monitor our rivers. We will hold quarterly meetings with community groups, individuals, and water users within the catchment to share issues, good practice, and collaborative opportunities. To ensure you are kept up to date about these meetings, sign up for our newsletter.

We will increase our monitoring and data collection in 2023, assessing the impact of our interventions on rivers and monitoring water quality levels and biodiversity. We are also focused on projects to protect the endangered freshwater pearl mussels on the Mawddach and the Torgoch on the Seiont catchment. We will continue to deliver education and learning opportunities, strengthening our links with Bangor University and schools across the catchment.

This is the last newsletter of the year and the first North Wales Rivers Trust magazine. It's the best place to find out about our upcoming project updates, news on our rivers, opportunities to collaborate and volunteer and events. Sign up over on our website www.northwalesriverstrust.org

Nadolig llawen a Blwyddyn Newydd dda!

We are out in the field every day, making a difference to our rivers by restoring and reviving freshwater environments This is a difficult task, as urbanisation, industrialization, and agricultural intensification have all had an impact on freshwater environments

Our population is growing rapidly, urbanisation is occurring on a massive scale, and we are demanding more food at cheaper prices than ever before Unfortunately, many of these modifications have come at the expense of healthy river systems Many rivers are at their lowest point because of issues like soil erosion, water pollution, increased flood danger, and loss of biodiversity

ein gwaith

We have straightened, dammed, deepened, fortified, embanked, and culverted rivers over time These modifications have drastically changed how rivers operate on a fundamental level, affecting water flow and sediment sediment transportation, and the movement of species through the wider ecosystem Fish passage is disrupted and, in some cases, prevented entirely; the risk of flooding is increased; and erosion can worsen - Rivers

Trust

River restoration sits at the heart of what we do. Adfer afonydd yw gwir galon

How does it work? River Habitat Restoration

Restoring the habitat of smaller rivers and tributaries seems to be the most controversial and least well understood Yet restoring a riparian zone along our rivers makes a huge difference to water quality and habitat

For salmon and trout, the smaller rivers and streams of a catchment are vital for spawning and juvenile habitat But it’s not just salmonids that benefit from restoring the habitat of the tributary streams Coarse fish that live and breed in the main stems need clean gravels to spawn in too Significantly reducing the amount of silt washing downstream is good for all fish species

Additional benefits include the protection that bankside vegetation and trees give against climate change, droughts and hotter summers: narrower streams lose less water by evaporation

How does it work...

As part of our plans to restore rivers to their natural flows, we have a focused Open Rivers project. There are many weirs across our catchment no longer in use We know that they are detrimental to river ecology and a barrier to fish migration See the diagram below to learn more about these impacts Where it is not feasible to physically remove weirs, we design and deliver plans to install fish passes (such as ‘fish ladders’) so that migratory fish such as sea trout and salmon can make it upstream to breed

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Weir removal get involved

Throughout Europe, there is inconsistent and incomplete data on how many barriers currently exist. Thus, the magnitude of river fragmentation in Europe is almost unknown.

Download the BARRIER TRACKER app. On your next river walk upload any weirs/in river barriers This citizen science phone application has helped to map barriers in many countries, providing information on obsolete and abandoned barriers.

Images from Wild Trout Trust

How does it work...

Woody Material

The channelisation (straightening of meanders) and canalisation (flattening of a river’s gradient) of river channels through history has reduced the complexity of the river bank habitat. However, by adding woody material to these altered river systems, we can restore this diversity and help vegetation to mature along the river

Entering the river from surrounding trees, woody material adds diversity to the river: it offers a range of microhabitats to be used by aquatic organisms at various stages of their growth; traps sediment and creates a variety of velocities within the river (suiting invertebrate species that do not thrive in strong currents and gravel beds) and provides instream cover that is essential for brown trout spawning

Leave it in!

Woody debris should be left in a watercourse unless there is a very strong and well-supported case for its removal or repositioning If reduced local water levels and flood duration is the primary rationale for large woody debris removal, the case should be supported by a hydraulic analysis

Foxhall Farm, Afon Meirchion

900m of fencing to protect river and riparian habitat, Including ancient woodland. New design of solar pump system installed to supply water to livestock drinking troughs.

Attempted to rectify damage to gravel beds caused by dredging. We added in river boulders to create habitat and to slow the flow of the river.

Recent Projects

Removal of 1km self seeded conifers to create a riparian buffer zone along the river. Phase 2 tree planting to start in 2023.

Pont Y Ddol, Clywd Catchment.

Afon Wen, Mawddach

Here is a selection of our most recent projects...

Afon Eden, Mawddach

As part of our strategic plans to conserve vulnerable species we fenced off 1325m of livestock from the Afon Eden where the last strong hold of freshwater pearls are situated. Phase 2 in 2023 will include solar pumps, riparian tree planting with a 10m buffer zone, removal of invasives and further monitoring and reporting on the impact of these interventions for this SAC/SSSI river.

Bodorgan Estate, Ynys Mon

A series of in-river habitat schemes were completed on the estate.

Afon Perthi habitat improvement

The project completed double bank fencing over 300m of channel with associated crossings and access gates. Numerous debris blockages were removed, improving migratory fish access and two large boulders at a ford were re-positioned to the same effect.

Nantlle Habitat Fencing

A small mountain stream at Ffridd Farm enters Llyn Nantlle approx 170m south of the river Llyfni outflow. Although small, this is an important spawning stream for seatrout and trout migrating from the lake. The project completed double bank fencing over 130m of the lower channel with associated access gates. Numerous debris blockages on old fence crossings were removed.

Appraisal of Ogwen bank weir removal.

A study on the potential benefits and hazards of a partial or full removal of Ogwen bank weir.

Clwyd

Site management plans and installation of fencing and water supply schemes on two farms near Dyserth.

Inland Fisheries Habitat Walkover Surveys

Afonydd Cymru commisoned us to complete fisheries habitat walkover surveys of all of our major rivers. These were completed in 2022. All opportunities for fisheries habitat improvements have been prioritised. Issues include; barriers to fish migration, damaged or degraded riparian habitats (including erosion), over or under shading, invasive Non-Native Species (INNS), damage from livestock poaching or grazing, and adjacent land use problems (such as soil, herbicide, pesticide, nutrient run off), etc. The information gathered from surveys, including photographs, has been combined with known data to produce catchment specific reports to aid future mitigation projects.

TORGOCH

IArctic charr in Wales, named locally as the Torgoch or ‘red belly’, is an iconic wildlife species of the region These spectacular and colourful lake dwelling fish are closely related to salmon and trout and areafascinatingrelicofthelasticeage ThereareonlythreelakesinWaleswithnativepopulationsof Arcticcharr,andtheyarealllocatedinthenorthernmountainousregionofSnowdonia.

Unlike most other fish native to the British Isles, Arctic charr are highly effective in exploiting the deep, openwatersofnutrientdepleteuplandlakes,andthusfulfilauniqueandvitalecologicalrole,reflected intheirdesignationasabiodiversitypriorityspeciesfortheUK

Yet despite their recognised value, populations in the British Isles are in general decline due to various anthropogenicdisturbances

As part of our plans to conserve vulnerable species within our catchment, we have begun work on Prosiect Torgoch We are working with several stakeholders from the SGL angling club, NRW, and other local charities and schools Our project is focused on the Seiont, Gwyrfai, and Llyfni catchments

From Eutrophocation, sewage releases and barriers to fish migration Our more comprehensive project aims to address some of the problems facing the Torgoch's survival and raise awareness of this iconic species

We hope to create opportunities for further research and study of native fish populations by providing training opportunities Installing fish passes/easements to aid fish migration Monitor phosphate and ammonia levels and implement nature-based solutions to mitigate runoff and ensure sewage releases do not affect these sensitive fish Our monitoring plans aim to ensure we understand these ancient fish populations and how they react to modern day pressures

We aim to restore habitat and riparian corridors and implement easements within the Seiont, Gwyrfai, and Llyfni catchments. Restore natural flow and engage the public with these ancient fish. However, this is all down to key funding appeals - so watch this space!

Rhaglen Torgoch Dosbarth

In the new year we will be working with pupils from Ysgol Waunfawr on our school egg hatchery project

In early December NRW fisheries department and the team laid out nets to catch wild native populations of char. Overnight male and female char (as well as trout) were caught for monitoring purposes, and later returned to the river to continue their journey up stream

A few native Char were stripped of eggs ready for monitoring These will be mixed with the male milt and kept at Crawia hatchery, thanks to the Seiont, Gwyrfai and Llyfni angling club The eggs will be left to hatch and then taken to Ysgol Waunfawr as part of our education programme. Pupils will be able to monitor the eggs and watch them hatch before returning them to Llyn Padarn in the new year Look out for our animation and film on the project coming out in the new year

Rhyl’s Marine Lake only bathing water in Wales to be classed as

‘

’

poor

In early December, Natural Resource Wales bathing status water quality report was published

With Marine Lake in Rhyl classified as “poor”. Marine Lake, an artificial lake used mainly for water sports, is the only bathing water across Wales to fail the sufficient standard in 2022

Marine Lake has been a designated bathing water since 2016, and this is the first year it has been classified as “poor”

“Poor” results happen because of increased bacteria in sample results There are currently three high results in the dataset for Marine Lake.

One of these results coincided with a period of the lake being emptied for operational reasons and refilled over a short period of time

This large refill would have included significant amount of estuary freshwater and higher levels of bacteria

The two remaining samples coincided with heavy rainfall resulting in a discharge from Westbourne Avenue CSO on an incoming tide and an abstraction into Marine Lake

We will continue to monitor the Clwyd rivers and improve the water quality We will also now be monitoring the CSO at Westbourne Avenue

SEWAGE MAP

Releasing sewage into rivers introduces a large amount of nutrients into the water. This process, known as eutrophication, can have serious consequences.

When sewage is released into rivers, it contains a lot of nitrogen and phosphorous. These can stimulate the growth of algae, such as phytoplankton in the water or mats known as biofilms in the sediments, which can lead to algal blooms.

'A large amount of algae has an impact on the rest of the ecosystem, such as blocking out the light that plants need for photosynthesis. When these plants, and the algae itself, start to die, they are eaten by bacteria which reduces oxygen in the water, killing fish and other organisms.

One of the groups which is most badly affected by a lack of oxygen are freshwater insects, many of which spend large periods of their development in rivers.

'Most aquatic invertebrates in a river depend on high oxygen levels because most don't have the option to swim to the surface as they'll be swept away. When this oxygen disappears because of sewage, then the species disappear too.

'The most affected insects are stoneflies and mayflies as they don't survive well without high oxygen. In turn, this can have a knock-on impact on fish. While fish can swim away from an area of sewage contamination, they can't escape if their prey has disappeared.

This map shows where the sewerage network discharges treated sewage and overflows of untreated sewage and storm water into our catchment in 2021.

Combined Storm Overflows (CSOs)

Facts on CSOs

Dŵr Cymru (Welsh Water) has shared its 2020 data with The Rivers Trust, showing that in Wales 104,482 spills occurred for a total of 868,307 hours.

1. Combined sewer overflows (CSOs) and storm overflows (SOs) are designed to discharge untreated, diluted sewage directly into rivers and watercourses in event of extreme rainfall to prevent the flooding of homes and businesses. Whilst we estimate that 40% of them are more likely to be operating as designed with less than 20 spills a year, 40% are now shown to be operating poorly, and 20% are unmonitored, plus there are many inconsistencies in the current data.

2. CSOs are regulated by Natural Resources Wales (NRW), the body that sets the permit conditions which must be met by CSOs. The number of spills from a CSO that are allowed is dependent upon the environmental sensitivity of the watercourse to which the discharge is made.

3. All CSOs in Wales were monitored (approx. 3000 assets). These data have been reported on Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water’s website by region and have been pro-actively shared with both Afonydd Cymru and the Rivers Trust. Welsh data is included on the Rivers Trust sewer map (https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/e834e261b5374 0eba2fe6736e37bbc7b?org=theriverstrust) which shows the geographical distribution of CSO spills across Wales. Despite this, the data clearly shows that there are a significant number of CSO spills across Wales, including those that are operating outside of their permit conditions.

What to do if you are concerned about a CSO

A CSO is basically a pipe and often will have a hinged lid or grille on the front to prevent access by people or animals. They are often hidden and often release at dark.

The sewage map on the Rivers Trust website will provides locations for a beach or surrounding area which is known to have a CSO.

What can I do if I am concerned over a spilling CSO?

Photograph/record the incident. Note the time and location and the duration of the spill ( if known), high/low flows and the recent weather ( if any heavy rain).

Report it. You can raise your concern with your local council and local water company, Dwr Cymru hotline is 0800 085 3968- make sure you ask for an incident number and to be kept informed. Also send us a copy of the information so we can follow up on the incident.

Domestically, basic water conservation by households can reduce the strain on the sewer system. Not flushing sanitary items, cotton buds and other debris down the toilet can also help stop sewage-related litter on beaches.

OUTREACH WORK in 2022

This year we spent time out in the community talking about how we can protect our rivers and showing you how you can get involved.

Here are some of the highlights...

We supported the annual Wales Ecology and Evolution network ( WEEN) conference in Machynlleth. Where we gave a talk about the state of Welsh rivers and what we can do collectively to improve water quality.

We attended the Game Fair at the Vaynol estate in September. This gave us the opportunity to connect with many of you and discuss how we can work together in 2023.

We spoke at the national Blue Earth Summit talking about the importance of citizen science and community partnerships to protect our rivers.

We also worked with over sixty young people across the catchment on river health and biodiversity workshops.

RIVER GUARDIANS WORKSHOPS

We provided young people on the Dyfi and Dwyryd rivers with the opportunity to learn more about river health and the European Eel.

In 2023 we hope to build on these summer workshops allowing more young people to get involved in conservation and ecology.

Keep a look out on our social media channels for upcoming events.

Working with schools

The egg hatchery programme restarted with pupils from Ysgol Waunfawr learning about the ancient Torgoch and fish lifecycles. We hope to build on this in 2023 with opportunities for young people to get involved with water quality and growing their own mini wetlands.

We also provided river health pop up workshops as part of our wider links with climate change organisations.

ALAN WINSTONE RECIEVES RIVER CHAMPION AWARD

Congratulations to our very own ex chairman and trustee Alan Winstone on achieving the national River Champion accolade from the River Restoration Centre. The success of projects aiming to improve rivers for wildlife and people is largely influenced by the involvement of volunteers.

The River Restoration Centre understands the importance of this contribution and wishes to acknowledge those that may otherwise not get recognition.

‘River Champions’ seeks to recognise and celebrate the outstanding efforts of individuals contributing to improving rivers for wildlife and people outside of their day-to-day roles.

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GARFIELD WESTON FOUNDATION

We are pleased to announce that we have secured £25,000 funding from the Garfield Weston Foundation. This will allow us to employ a part time community engagement officer and to train staff and purchase kit to monitor and assess the impact of our work on the health of our rivers. These include Electrofishing and regular water quality testing. Thankyou to the Garfield Weston Foundation for this invaluable support.

Get Involved

Community Partnerships

As part of our commitment to work collaboratively, share good practice and potential training opportunities with individuals and community groups, we held our first wave of our community partnerships meetings. The goal for these meetings is to work together to strengthen our knowledge, partnerships and skill for the future health of our rivers.

In 2023 we will be running four in person Community Partnership meetings across our catchment. This will include an option to join virtually. These meetings will be great opportunities to find out how you can protect your local waterway, upcoming training events, opportunities within our catchment and the potential to collaborate on funding and volunteer projects, and a great opportunity to share good practice and discuss any issues you would like to raise regarding river health. To join email laura@northwalesriverstrust.org

To find out more and support our work through volunteering or donations through membership sign up to our newsletter:www.northwalesriverstrust.org

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