Paul Gainey - 24-Aug-2007
- Work has started on installing a fish
pass at the Crump gauging weir at Louds
Mill on the Dorset Frome to allow passage
of salmon and sea trout.
The weir is a serious obstacle to upstream
migration of salmon and a complete barrier
to upstream movement of smaller fish. The
new fish pass will be built adjacent to
the main weir which will allow the fish
free passage across a wide range of water
flows.
The weirs at this site, complimented by
the gauging weir on the Stinsford Channel,
have provided a gauge of the total flow
of the Frome immediately downstream of Dorchester
for over 36 years.
The new project seeks to resolve the fish
passage problem at the site and provide
a sustainable solution to fish movement
past the weir structures, especially for
migratory salmonids, without affecting the
gauging accuracy.
A decline in salmon numbers nationally
has caused concern for some years. Work
to improve spawning and freshwater habitats
have been made by the Environment Agency
and its partner organisations within numerous
river catchments.
‘Work has gone on for a number of years
to address the problems faced by salmon
in the River Frome and this project will
ensure that these and other fish species
can easily reach the good quality spawning
habitat found in the upper river. Whilst
ensuring that the flow gauging facilities
of this structure are not compromised and
the flood risk to the adjacent properties
are not increased,’ said Andy Martin, for
the Environment Agency.
This project is the first in the country
to integrate a Larinier fish pass into a
gauging structure, without compromising
the gauging accuracy. It will serve as a
demonstration site for this type of technology.
This project links into the Environment
Agency’s vision by helping to achieve the
following themes:
An enhanced environment for wildlife by
ensuring free passage of fish passed the
Louds Mill site and thereby allowing the
fish to breed more effectively.
A better quality of life – increased fish
populations will lead to more opportunities
for angling and the benefits this brings
to individual anglers and the local economy.
Reducing flood risk by warning and forecasting
high flows and modelling and design purposes.
The work, which is being carried out on
the Environment Agency owned site and in
partnership with the Frome Piddle and West
Dorset Fisheries Association, is due for
completion by November 2007.
Richard Slocock, Chairman of the Fisheries
Association, said: ‘We are delighted to
be working with the Environment Agency on
this project and look forward to seeing
the salmon ascend the pass this winter.’
Like many salmon rivers, the Dorset Frome
has a ‘Salmon Action Plan’ that pinpoints
the main threats to local salmon stocks
and helps the Environment Agency and its
partners decide how best to boost fish numbers.
The plan includes a conservation limit.
This is a target for the number of salmon
eggs needed to ensure enough young salmon
survive in the river to sustain a healthy
population.
At present, the Dorset Frome is failing
to reach its salmon conservation limit.
At least 15km of spawning grounds will
be opened up to salmon spawning by the new
fish passes. Once built, the Environment
Agency will monitor the biodiversity improvements
and fish populations, using cameras in the
fish pass and electric fishing surveys.
