A £14,000 improvement project to an Egremont beck has resulted in improved trout spawning in the area.
Black Beck in Egremont is a spawning tributary of the River Ehen. It had been historically straightened and this did not provide good conditions for wildlife to thrive.
A team has created meanders and bends, to allow the natural channel of the beck to be found again.
The meanders and in stream features, such as natural bed material, have provided essential habitat for fish and insects to thrive.
Other features found in natural rivers and on floodplains have also been introduced to slow the flow. They help to store more water during times of flood. This will help to reduce downstream risk by storing more flood water further upstream.
Following consultation, the project also incorporated systems to reduce the risk of cattle and sheep poaching. Two gateways were cleared and reinstated to help local farmers.
Mike Farrell, fisheries officer at the Environment Agency, said: “The Environment Agency are delighted that trout have been found to be spawning in Black Beck following recent works to improve habitats in this area.
“This clearly demonstrates how delivering river restoration work can provide a vast array of benefits for ecology, fish and biodiversity by using low cost environmental restoration approaches to achieve real and immediate ecological gains. We look forward to continuing to see the benefits this brings to the community and local wildlife.”
Gareth Pedley, of the Wild Trout Trust, said: “This year’s significant spawning success on Black Beck perfectly demonstrates the benefits of restoring habitat and fish passage on even small, often overlooked watercourses.
“By April 2021, less than six months after restoration was completed, thousands of newly hatched fry were already repopulating the newly reinstated channel, which was previously an area of grassy field.
“As they grow, many of those fish are likely to disperse, populating other areas of the beck and potentially the wider River Ehen catchment. Even small projects like this have the potential to make a bit difference.”
Neil Thompson, secretary of Egremont Anglers, said: “On behalf of the Egremont Anglers we are absolutely delighted that this project is now completed and we look forward to an enhanced population of fish for future summers of fishing.”
The project was funded through the Fisheries Improvement Programme and the Skirting and Whangs Beck flood risk management scheme in Egremont.
