"FISHING IN DEVON" -- Crediton Fly Fishing Club



FISHERY PROJECTS PAGE 1


Topics covered on this page:-


GRAVEL CLEANING


These are notes that I made at the time of the first gravel cleaning. (Autumn 1997)
The photos show Andy Locke and Nigel Guy who are local Assistant Fisheries Officers of the EA, working the gravels of the River Culvery. They are using equipment that Andy put together for similar work in the East Devon catchments. If you have any queries he can be contacted through the Environment Agency offices on 01392 444000.

Since the gravels were cleaned, there have been heavy autumn and winter rains which have maintained the streams in a swollen state for much of the time. In consequence we have been unable to assess the affectiveness of our actions in terms of increased redds on these gravels. Only time will tell.

As the window of time when this operation can take place is very short, and because Nigel and Andy are likely to be needed elsewhere next autumn, the club has recently purchased its own pump and attachments to do the work ourselves this year (1999).

If you are considering doing something like this yourselves, it is essential that you first seek advice from the EA or a reputable fisheries consultant, as there is quite a lot of legislation relating to such activities.
The Environment Agency is keen to work in partnership with local angling clubs, where their resources permit. So it is worth consulting them first.

Before you start any work, you should also notify both the local Fisheries Officer and the Pollution Hotline. Otherwise the EA Pollution unit might be called out by a well-meaning passer by. This would be a serious waste of the EA's resources.



REDUCTION OF CHANNEL WIDTH

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SITE:-

Downstream of Codshead Bridge from STW outfall downstream to Y5.
(Map of existing course of River as at 30/01/98) (69Kb)

DESCRIPTION:-


This is a very straight section with a wide flood channel, consequently it is very shallow during summer flows and has virtually no riffle/pool sequences.
There is plenty of tree cover but there are no natural lies for trout and the channel width is too great to maintain an adequate depth of water to hold fish during the fishing season. There are extensive gravels here, but they have become compacted due to lack of scouring activity.
Large fluctuations in the freshwater invertebrate populations from year to year reflect that the water quality below the STW outfall is a problem during prolonged low flows, but trout seem unaffected 300m further downstream.
The only way to improve this section on a permanent basis, is to provide a stronger current by reducing the channel width. However, this has to be done without interfering with:

PROPOSED OPTIONS:-

DEVELOPMENT OF A MEANDER PATTERN:-

Dr Andrew Nicholas and his colleagues in the Dept of Geography, University of Exeter, have suggested two options.


At the current time (14/3/98) we are assessing the feasibility of the second option.


PHASE 2 (30/05/1999):-

After two years of waiting for a response from the Environment Agency to our plans, we have decided to move on our own.   We have established that the gradient of the stream bed downstream of Dunscome Bridge is very similar to that downstream of Codshead.   Consequently, we have selected the first of the options namely to use the section of river downstream as a template for our intended riffle/pool sequence in the section to be improved.   To avoid complications of gaining consent from Flood Defence for the deployment of instream obstructions as current deflectors, we have decided to produce our own meander and riffle/pool pattern by merely loosening the gravel in a strategic pattern with a trash pump, and letting the river do the rest of the work.   It may take a few years to achieve the desired effects, but time is not so important, especially as we already have been attempting to get this particular project on the agenda for about fifteen years now.

The following diagram illustrates:

Work is beginning in August 1999, and an update will appear here in the spring of 2000, with subsequent annual updates on the natural development of the stream bed.


Back to Top of this Page   -   or return to Fishery Projects: Introduction

or move on to Projects Page 2
for:-

  • Trash Dam and Bank Clearance
  • Alder Root Disease and Bank Stability
  • Tucker's Weir


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