DNMAC River Goyt restoration

more photos from 06-Sep-2010

2010-10-01T19:29:00.000+01:00

Paul Stolk from Substance Coop sent these excellent photos

photo shows really clearly the logs at the "toe" of the revetment before the brash is added

"jig" used at the brash bundles factory...

Sett/Goyt confluence. 22-Jan-2008

2010-09-27T23:57:00.001+01:00

Just found this photo on my computer; think it's worth sharing. Sent it to the EA back then but never did find out whether the drinking chocolate factory up the Sett was prosecuted

... and a new, improved bank revetment

2010-09-26T18:26:00.002+01:00

Two weeks back we hit a problem securing the brash in place; the existing masonry wall extends about a meter back from the river. Today thanks to Kurt we had a powerful masonry drill which made light work of fixing eyed Hilti bolts

As we were revisiting the job, Mike, Graeme, Stuart and Brian got to work making another half-dozen Xmas tree brash bundles

Finally these are secured top and bottom with fencing wire.

Here is our new, improved bank revetment. Another job well done boys.

two more "V" flow deflectors ...

2010-09-25T15:33:00.003+01:00

This morning Ross Lewis, Alan Marshall and I installed two more instream "V" flow deflectors at Strines. It took the three of us just 4 hours on a beautiful September day. A job well done boys.

Tomorrow more revetment work; watch this space ...

more Forestry brash

2010-09-22T18:20:00.003+01:00

Today we cut more forestry brash to complete the bank revetment. DNMAC member Roger Lombard met me at the Forestry Commission site in the Goyt Valley; Maurice from Derbyshire County Council Countryside Service helped us to move it down to Mousley Bottom

2010-09-13T22:42:00.007+01:00

After a couple of rainy days, the flow deflectors are doing their work

I've taken depth measurements downstream of each of the structures; will do comparison measurements in May 2011 to see the effect of the structures after one winter.
The scour can be clearly seen (the areas with the lighter stream-bed) in these pictures

River Goyt Phase#2 improvements Sep-2010

2010-09-13T11:59:00.002+01:00

March to June this year saw a series of teleconference and on-site meetings and submission of project designs/specifications from the Wild Trout Trust for another series of habitat improvement works to follow on from initial trial works done in 2008.

On Monday 06-Sep-2010, Tim Jacklin and Paul Gaskell from the Wild Trout Trust, Paul Breslin (E.A. biodiversity) and myself had meetings with four different landowners choosing suitable trees for introduction into the river to improve habitat for juvenile fish - as well as provide refuge from cormorant and goosander.

Wednesday saw first stage in practical works with tree felling for logs (walked downstream over riffles and pools into position for use on Saturday - sweaty work!). Tree "kickers" were also installed to complement/replace those put in two years ago.

On Thursday, assisted by Andy Heath from Trent Rivers Trust, and Maurice and John from Derbyshire CC Countryside Service, we felled Christmas Tree brash at a Forestery Commission site in the Goyt Valley and ferried them to our site, along with the fixtures, fittings and equipment for log and brash revetment work for use on Saturday.

Friday saw Tim, Paul and myself joined by Kev Casey at Strines where we installed LWD structures to promote the formation of adult holding lies (scour holes) and mounds of spawning gravel (deposition of scoured material). We will have to wait for the next decent spates before the river completes our work for us though.

A good spot for a mini upstream "V" flow deflector. Each 2-m length of rebar needs whacking a couple of hundred times to break through the cobbles - but they get there in the end (ask Kev).

We introduced sit up logs on low "legs" to provide overhead cover for trout. These are fixed roughly in line with the current alongside feeding lanes where there is insufficient bankside or in-stream cover.

On the Saturday a dozen DNMAC members joined us to build a "soft engineered" bank revetment at Mousley Bottom where a stone wall was collapsing after being eroded by the force of the river. Instead of expensive and difficult "hard" engineering (which often "reflects" spate flows and promotes bank erosion downstream), a cheaper alternative which will also create habitat for juvenile fish and "brake" or damp out spate flows is the use of log and brash. A line of logs is pinned to the stream bed at the "toe" of the bank using rebar. Brash bundles are stuffed into the gaps behind the log and wired to the logs using fencing wire; stakes are driven through the brash bundles and nailed to the tops of the logs help to strengthen the structure.

Diesel pollution incident on River Sett

2009-09-21T22:09:00.004+01:00

Over the weekend on either Saturday evening 19-Sep or Sunday morning 20-Sep there has been a diesel pollution incident on the River Sett. The source is reported to be Unit 3 at Thornsett Industrial Estate. The Environment Agency has been informed and booms have been installed on the River Sett.

I haven't visited the site but those who have report seeing and smelling diesel on the River Goyt on Sunday morning at both Kruger, and at Mousley Bottom. Another local anglers tells me that on Monday evening 21-Sep diesel can still be seen coming down the River Sett.

DNMAC River/Fly section - Speakers for Autumn 2009

2009-09-09T00:59:00.015+01:00

We have booked the following speakers for this autumn

01-Oct-2009 Warren Slaney
05-Nov-2009 Paul Gaskell - "Trout in the Town"
03-Dec-2009 Stuart Crofts - "Put the fly back into your Fly Fishing"

The format is first Thursday of the month, doors open 7.30, for a prompt 8.00 start. I'm not absolutely sure what all of the topics will be! but I will let you know once I find out. Like last year we will charge £3 per head, please pay on the door. The venue like last year is:

High Lane Conservative Club
23 Buxton Road
High Lane
Stockport
Cheshire
SK6 8DR
(Map: High Lane Conservative Club)

For those who aren't familiar with the speakers, please allow me introduce each of them

Warren Slaney is Head River Keeper at the Haddon Estate in Derbyshire; one of the most celebrated river keepers in the UK, known for his passion for wild Trout populations. Warren has asked that the proceeds from his talk be donated to his favourite conservation charity, the Wild Trout Trust.
The Haddon Estate fishery website is: http://www.haddonestate.co.uk/rivers/rivers.php ; Warren's blog is at: http://141207.blogspot.com/

Dr Paul Gaskell is the "Trout in the Town" Project Officer for the Wild Trout Trust, and a member of our club. Paul has produced a very well-received fly fishing DVD which circulates on the grey market! Paul has asked that proceeds from his talk be donated to WTT.
The WTT website is: http://wildtrout.org ; Paul's Trout in the Town blog is at: http://urbantrout.blogspot.com/

Stuart Crofts is renowned both as an angler and as an entomologist: he has published entomology articles in Wild Trout Trust periodicals, and works with the Riverfly Partnership and Buglife conservation charities. Those who were able to attend the entomology workshop run by Stuart for us in 2008 will know his passion for his subject is infectious.
Stuart's website is: http://www.pennineflyfishingguides.co.uk/

I hope you are able to attend some or all of these evenings, and would ask you please to publicise them to members and non-members alike.

Appraisal of trial LWD work on the Goyt, Apr-2009

2009-04-27T21:46:00.008+01:00

Rather than copy the entire document, can I refer you to Paul Gaskell's post on the WTT "Trout in the Town" blog.

WTT/EA Large Woody Debris review meeting Apr-2009

2009-04-12T15:21:00.002+01:00

This week I'm meeting up with Paul Gaskell ("Trout in the Town") and Tim Jacklin (Projects) both from WTT, and Kevin Nash our EA Fisheries Officer, to review the installation of LWD on the DNMAC sections of the Goyt.

Hopefully there will be talk about a "Phase Two".

I'll let you know the outcome.

Working-party Sunday 29-Mar-2009

2009-04-11T18:57:00.017+01:00

We had a fantastic turnout for this year's Spring clean: nineteen Disley & New Mills AC members and a local Councillor, Beth Atkins. Thanks to everyone who took part.

This year's effort was focused on the Torrs in New Mills.

Before:

During:

After:

Cllr Atkins arranged that High Peak Borough Council would collect all of the rubbish we dragged from the river.

I wonder if Peter Jackson, Stores Operations Manager Region/Area for Co-operative Food who operate the supermarket in New Mills, wants his trolleys back? There are plenty more downstream if he does!

Paul Gaskell, WTT Trout in the Town man has covered the day on his blog: http://urbantrout.blogspot.com/2009/04

Strines LWD - Status report 14-Oct-2008

2008-10-14T22:26:00.003+01:00

Tim Jacklin, WTT, reports:

I walked the Strines section to check on how the introduced LWD had weathered the recent high water. It was still there (phew!) despite the flows shown in the attached pic taken by Paul Gaskell a couple of weeks ago. It was interesting to see the effects of the LWD even after a relatively short space of time; the structures have pulled the anchor cable taut and swung into positions alongside the bank, and there has been an accumulation of finer sediment between the LWD and the bank. On the willow on the riffle there is some bed scour taking place (see other pic) and areas of clean gravel below it, which is great. On the structures in the ‘glide’ sections there doesn’t appear to have been as much bed scour as I had hoped (e.g. the most downstream structure). I think there is still some settling in to be done on some structures as some side branches shear off and the main trunk can reach the river bed.

In terms of having the desired effect on river morphology, I am thinking more and more that the structures need to be BIG. This presents practical problems in felling trees of that size, and it would be much easier to retain LWD of that calibre as it falls in. This will require DNMAC to look out for this, and for EA Fisheries/Biodiversity to influence Ops Delivery to retain rather than remove.

Felling larger trees isn’t impossible, but it would need a tree surgeon to be able to climb and reduce the tree to a height that could then be dropped into position without causing wholesale damage to other trees, opposite banks, etc.

Hague Bar LWD 14-Oct-2008

2008-10-14T10:29:00.014+01:00

EA Ops Delivery team and WTT Conservation Officer Tim Jacklin have today installed more Large Woody Debris into the upper Goyt.

Tim J says: "We completed the LWD introduction at Hague Bar today. It all went well and we introduced five structures, including some larger trees than at Strines. "

Grid Ref SJ858855

Co-op shopping trolleys Sep-2008

2008-10-13T00:37:00.005+01:00

Goyt Co-op shopping trolleys Sep 2008

Surveying what rubbish there is dumped in the river in New Mills in preparation for an autumn clean-up I saw a shopping trolley and bike frame lodged under the the bottom of the Millenium Walkway - fairly difficult to access and probably requiring a block-and-tackle winch or a boat ideally to remove.

During the same week I was at Strines and saw two more rusting trolleys deeply embedded in gravel well-clear of the normal river level, and a third in the river. Then downstream of Station Road bridge alongside the new housing development a further two trolleys.

Since they all had once belonged to the New Mills Co-operative store I have been in touch with the company and we are hoping that the Co-op will assist us in their removal.

Please click the photo to view the gallery of photos.

Strines LWD 22-Sep-2008

2008-10-13T00:26:00.006+01:00

Goyt - Strines - LWD Sep 2008

On Monday 22-Sep-2008 the EA Ops Delivery team and WTT Projects officer Tim Jacklin installed the first Large Woody Debris into the upper Goyt. Please click the photo to view the gallery of photos taken that day.

Members of DNMAC please note that the club has committed to assisting the EA to monitor the security of the large debris in the river: if you think any of the debris is likely to break free please get in touch with me.

Grid Ref SJ075864

Project update 26-Aug-2008

2008-08-26T22:26:00.005+01:00

Following an objection regarding Land drainage consent, a shortened form of the Large Woody Debris designed by the Wild Trout Trust will now be installed. This means hinging most of the willows identified and some sycamore where they can be safely secured to see how they perform when the river is in spate. The consent is valid for three years and includes both the Strines and Hague Bar stretches of the river.

The revised date for work to start week is commencing September 15th. The work is to be done by EA Ops Delivery, with technical supervision from Tim Jacklyn (Wild Trout Trust).

Inspections will be made by the EA over the winter to assess the stability of the woody debris. An assessment of the woody debris habitat will also be carried out in the spring by the WTT to determine the viability of the habitat and consider what level of further habitat works is required for the fishery.

Invertebrate monitoring at Strines 29-Jul-2008

2008-07-31T23:41:00.002+01:00

Several DNMAC members joined Paul Gaskell, WTT Trout in the Town officer, at Strines to conduct an initial "before" sample of invertebrates prior to the river habitat improvements. Paul has recommended that we sample weekly at Strines throughout August to build-up this picture.

DNMAC member Ian Horrocks has volunteered to take the lead on invertebrate monitoring.

Project update 28-Jul-2008

2008-07-31T23:30:00.002+01:00

The Environment Agency has confirmed that their own Operations Delivery team will carry-out the physical works supervised by experts from WTT. The start date agreed between all parties is Tuesday 26-Aug-2008. The advantage of this arrangement is EA Ops Delivery becomes skilled at river habitat improvement works.

Unfortunately EA Ops Delivery is not insured for DNMAC members to assist with the physical works.

We hope that a national angling journalist may be able to cover the works.

Invertebrate monitoring workshop 21-Jun-2008

2008-07-31T23:16:00.000+01:00

Ten DNMAC members attended a workshop run by eminent angler and Caddis expert Stuart Crofts, assisted by Paul Gaskell (now WTT Trout in the Town officer). We learnt the technique of riffle sampling and were introduced to the bugs, grubs and small fishes which inhabit the bed of our river. The attendees paid for this course themselves.

Subsequently the DNMAC committee has agreed to fund the purchase of the equipment we need to conduct routine sampling.

Project kickoff meeting 21-May-2008

2008-07-31T23:04:00.004+01:00

Scientists from the Environment Agency and the Wild Trout Trust met to determine the precise improvements to be done to the DNMAC Goyt. The meeting was a great success.

Following the meeting Dr Tim Jacklin, WTT, produced a detailed design for the Strines, Hague Bar, Mousley Bottom and Knathole sections.

... work to begin at Strines in 2008

2008-04-24T10:30:00.004+01:00

Our project has secured funding from the EA for work to begin at Strines in 2008. The application was an internal bid along the lines of:

. remove tunnel vegetation i.e. trees which stop light reaching the stream bed preventing weed growth

. install LWD into the stream

These were recommendations of WTT Advisory Visit report Sep 2007.

We hope that WTT will be able to help manage this project; an initial meeting between EA, WTT and DNMAC is planned for mid/late May.

There will be plenty of behind the scenes work needed before any visible work can commence e.g.

. agreement of landowners

. approval of flood management authority (EA)

. collection of electro-fishing and invertebrate data (EA).

Watch this space ...

Working group meeting 22-Apr-2008

2008-04-23T19:30:00.004+01:00

Breck, Max, Patrick and I met last night - this time on the river bank in our waders and with our trout rods. Max and Patrick caught fish; I was a boy (not sure about Breck)

Proposed work at Strines (action Andrew)

1) arrange initial meeting / site visit between DNMAC, WTT and EA
On Monday afternoon I spoke with WTT. They propose a meeting for late May. I am awaiting confirmation of meeting date...

I think at this meeting it will be useful if we can set some expectations of the improvements the project should deliver.

2) identify affected landowners on the Strines section

- start Grid ref: SJ975864

- finish Grid Ref: SJ979861

Trout in the Town (action Patrick)

1) Letter of introduction to local businesses.

Invertebrate monitoring

2008-04-23T19:09:00.009+01:00

To try to get to the bottom of what data about invertebrate life we might be able to collect for the EA, I spoke this afternoon with:

. EA Ecological Appraisal team leader, NW (South) Area, David Goodwin
. EA Riverfly Partnership contact Graham Lightfoot
. Riverfly Partnership founder Cyril Bennett

The Riverfly Partnership methodology (to quote founder Cyril Bennett) is "targeted at spotting pollution incidents quickly and in a form acceptable to EA". It is not a tool for monitoring the improvement in a river's health.

David Goodwin concludes there is *NO* invertebrate data we anglers can collect which will be in any way useful to EA. If they don't already have data for the relevant sections of river, the EA Ecological Appraisal Team will survey before any habitat improvement commences.

We may in future wish to join the Riverfly Partnership to ensure the ongoing health and well-being of our river. We have two water treatment works and a sewage treatment works upstream on the Goyt, plus other industries on the Goyt and the Sett. Fish are very mobile and in a pollution incident will travel miles to avoid the pollutant; invertebrates are much less mobile so a significant indicator species.

EA funding for Riverfly Partnership this year dependent on them getting into 8 new areas: our area, NW South, is a virgin territory so Graham Lightfoot and Cyril Bennett quite keen for us to become involved. That's one for later I think...

Thanks Andrew!

2008-03-31T10:25:00.002+01:00

I wanted just to congratulate everyone on a fantastic 1st working party. It was great to see what a few dedicated people and a couple of hours hard work can do. I was amazed at the amount of rubbish we pulled of the banks, on a relatively short stretch of river. I am not sure how many tonnes that skip held but it was full!
I also wanted to thank Andrew for all his hard work over the last few months. A true leader, he has managed to inspire us to get off our bums, and put something back! Without his efforts and environmental outlook this project would never have started, so thanks Andrew and well done mate!

Working-party Saturday 29-Mar-2008

2008-03-21T01:04:00.006Z

At tonight's DNMAC meeting the committee approved the working-party and any member who attends will qualify for a £5 reduction in their re-joining fee next year.

Derbyshire CC Countryside Service has very kindly offered to us the use of their skip, their wheel-barrows and tea/coffee facilities at Mousley Bottom: thanks to Will Griffin and Paul Finn.

The various landowners are happy for us to access their land for the tidy-up:

- New Mills TC

- Derbyshire CC

- Swizzels Matlow

The plan is to meet at Station Road for 10 am on Saturday 29-Mar-2008.

Please wear stout boots and bring suitable gloves if you have them. There is no plan to enter the river as Trout will have spawned and Grayling are in the process of or about to - we will have another working-party to tidy the river-bed during the high-Summer when the river is at its lowest level and there are no redds to disturb.

Brown trout make you smile!

2008-03-17T14:29:00.003Z

Just thought I would post a picture of what the clean up is all about.....making brown trout happy....which make us happy!

Proposed working-party - River-walk 15-Mar-2008

2008-03-17T09:02:00.009Z

On Saturday 15-Mar-2008 Patrick, Max, Breck and Andrew met to plan a working-party on the river. Starting at Waterside Road, Hague Bar and walking up as far as Station Road, New Mills. At the start of the walk, Hague Bar Meadows, and on through Mousley Bottom we found the expected plastic bags in trees following the winter flood, but there were only a few items of larger rubbish: a bicycle, a car tyre. Unfortunately once we got to Station Road we found much more of the larger stuff: piles of car tyres, road works signage, wooden pallets, et cetera.

We will propose a working-party for Saturday 29-Mar at the next DNMAC meeting: short notice but we need to get this tidy-up done before the temperature rises and those Olives start to emerge!

Project scoping working group

2008-02-20T00:47:00.011Z

Tuesday 19-Feb Patrick F, Breck R and Andrew P met at Royal Oak; apologies from Max (something about his wife having a baby :-).

Patrick had drafted a project scope document which we reviewed. Patrick will continue to work on this and will distribute to members of the working group for further review. We will then ask the DNMAC committee to approve the project scope.

EA will add detailed breakdown of works to enable the project to be costed.

WTT selects Goyt for "Trout in the Town' initiative

2008-02-16T11:41:00.009Z

On Tuesday 12-Feb-2008 I spoke with Simon Johnson, WTT Director (the first time we had been in touch since the AV Sep-2007). I explained where we are stuck: how do we identify precisely which and how many trees to remove, and where and how much LWD to install. If we need it, WTT can provide bursary funding to get us through this stage of the project to arrive at a detailed design.

Simon told me some good news: along with the River Wandle in London, and the Rivers Colne in Lancashire and Yorkshire, WTT has selected the Goyt at New Mills as a candidate for their "Trout in the Town" initiative. WTT/Trout in the Town has received funding for a full-time Projects officer for two years, and the post should be effective by May/Jun-2008; the purpose of this role is to help clubs who have had an AV and who need to move through the design, partnership, funding and implementation to deliver successful habitat improvements. Simon assures me WTT will be knocking on our door in the summer...

Trout in the Town seems big news within WTT but there is hardly any information available on the WTT website, http://www.wildtrout.org, or more broadly on t'internet.

Trout in the Town: a plan for improving urban rivers and involving local communities with their future, and the future of struggling wild trout populations in them.

EA meeting 15-Feb-2008

2008-02-16T11:24:00.004Z

I met with the EA fisheries technical specialist for North West (South) area, Kevin Nash. Kevin is quite new in this post, but having moved from another fisheries role in the area, is already familiar with the two consultant's reports on the Goyt (APEM and WTT). Kevin brought detailed maps of the river produced by APEM which identify specific habitat such as riffles and glides; spawning and juvenile areas; et cetera, but also problems such as Tunnel Vegetation.

We agreed that the failed funding bid is not a setback (had the bid succeeded it would have been a bonus) and we will jointly develop a proposal for the Goyt at Strines. DNMAC working group will draft the proposal, then EA will access expertise within the region (there have been no similar river habitat projects within the area) to arrive at a detailed design which can be be put out to tender. (If this expertise is not forthcoming DNMAC can apply to WTT for bursary funding.)

I feel very positive that Kevin has been assigned to help us.

River Fly Partnership

2008-02-15T11:01:00.003Z

I have looked into the costings for the "RiverInvertebrate Monitoring For Anglers". A one day course, held by the river fly partnership.
The workshops are designed for up to 12 delegates from one angling club. The course covers an introduction to monitoring, targeting species, (Up winged flies, Caddis or sedge, Stoneflies and shrimp), feild work and establishing a monitoring programme.
The cost for the one day workshop is £1000, that does not include venue costs and AV equipment. That cost has to be found by the angling club or sponsor.
There doesn't seem to be a monitoring course for an individual to attend, although I only had chance for a quick scan of the site.

DNMAC Goyt meeting - 11-Feb-2008

2008-02-15T00:18:00.009Z

approx 20 DNMAC members met at the Royal Oak.

Andrew Parker reported back on the 5 points raised at the Jan-2008 DNMAC committee meeting, and on the EA proposal to fell trees/introduce LWD at Strines.

We discussed the next steps:

1) Start recording things
- EA log books (pending - we have requested 50 when they are available)
- www.riverflies.org - Stuart Taylor offered to investigate invertibrate monitoring
- EA electro-fishing - the information we have suggests the EA does not record above Strines

2) Investigate possible source of funding
? How much will the work proposed at Strines cost ?
! Patrick Field suggested that we must first identify the project scope !

3) involvement with local environmental groups
WTT recommendation

It was concluded that we should

1) form a working group to define the pilot project scope: Max Ainscough, Breck Robertson, Patrick Field and Andrew Parker

2) contact WTT for design guidance

3) plan a working party to collect rubbish, perhaps in Jul/Aug 2008 when there are no fish spawning and the river level is at the lowest - Reg Dearden to liaise with New Mills Town Council

4) plan a working party to take steps to eradicate Himalyan Balsam - Reg Dearden

Inaugural DNMAC Goyt meeting - 17-Dec-2007

2008-02-15T00:17:00.003Z

26 members attended the meeting at the Royal Oak. A fantastic response. My thanks to all who attended.

Wild Trout Trust (WTT) Advisory Visit (AV) 10-Sep-2007

2008-02-14T23:14:00.001Z