Welland Partnership
Welland Habitat Sub-Group meeting
24th Feb 2012 1030 hrs, Nene House, Kettering
1. Welcome & Introductions
Present: Simon Bonney ( Environment Agency ), Peter Barham ( Welland River Trust ), Amanda Jenkins ( WRT ), Caroline Tero ( EA ), Chris Reeds ( EA ), David Moore ( Angling Trust ), Heather Ball ( Northants / Beds Wildlife Trust ), Ian Froggart ( Woodland Trust ), David Sheppard ( Lincs Wildlife Trust )
2. Purpose of the group SB
The group exists to act as a forum to discuss and agree potential habitat projects that will aid improving the current WFD ecological status of the River Welland and its tributaries within the pilot catchment area, but also consider and promote projects that will contribute mutual ecological benefits beyond the riverbank.
3. Presentation of EA habitat work completed on the Welland CT
Caroline Tero gave an explanation of the current habitat problems on the Welland, caused by over-zealous engineering works in previous decades, and gave a presentation showing habitat improvement works currently on-going, and the EA’s future plans for 2012/13.
4. Upper River Welland Fisheries Technical review CR
Chris Reeds gave a précis of the fisheries technical review, attached below, which demonstrated the poor state of fish stocks on the Welland, particularly above Market Harborough
5. Current funding opportunities
CT explained that 350k was currently available from the EA for habitat improvement work within the Welland Pilot catchment area for 2012/13. Further monies would be available in future years.
Catchment Restoration Fund money was also currently open to applications nationally over a staged period of time. Two CRF applications have been submitted by the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust and Welland River Trust within the pilot catchment that would have habitat benefits:
a. Water Friendly Farming project. A project researching how effective diffuse pollution and habitat enhancement measures are at mitigating the multiple impacts of rural land management in the headwaters of the Welland.
b. A Living Welland for Nature & People, a project to remove obstructions and put in place soft engineering techniques to make the Welland through Mkt Harborough a more natural watercourse.
6. Open discussion for habitat proposals based on WFD priorities for the Welland
Summary of discussion from those present:
CT explained that the EA would like to join the smaller projects currently completed, or under completion on the Welland, by extending the type of work currently undertaken at Drayton & Slawston & Sutton Basset, ( narrowing of the channel, flow deflectors, riffle installation ), to make a much longer length which would provide greater benefit. Local habitat projects connected to the on-going programme of fish pass construction would also be beneficial.
Others present supported the idea of a larger more strategic vision that would be aspirational. A feasibility project could look at the Welland Valley as a whole not just within the river, and what partners would like that long-term vision for the valley to be. DS warned that it would not be feasible to restore the valley to what it would have been 50 years ago, but it should remain an aspiration to restore beyond the river channel, The Welland Partnership should look at larger scale projects that would go some way to restoring what natural habitats the Welland did enjoy decades ago but bearing in mind factors such as climate change meant that the river and valley may have to support a different range of bio-diversity than in the past. Habitat damage had been in place on the Welland valley for some time, and we should understand that rectifying it would be a very long term plan, but nonetheless we should take this as an opportunity now to remediate the habitat damage. PB gave the example of the flood plain at Harringworth as an aspiration ( photo required here of this location for those who have not seen it ). IF explained that future funding could be enhanced if projects were linked to a larger scale strategic plan for the Welland Valley.
DM supported the thinking behind the a larger strategic plan for the valley, but emphasised that there would still be a need for smaller habitat enhancement projects within the river which would deliver ecological benefits over a much shorter time period, such as the EA were doing. DM did give advice to the EA that they should also consider constructing pools not just riffles, as pools were more important for fish habitats, particularly in creating shelter from high flows and predators. DM also explained the importance of providing shade and cover for fish, which was currently missing on much of the Welland.
Those present were not aware of any recent bio-diversity surveys along the Welland that would act as a benchmark for measuring any future habitat enhancement benefits.
SB agreed to take away both the need for a larger, strategic vision with projects to support this, as well the need to progress with smaller in-river projects that could deliver more immediate habitat improvements. There was flexibility within the current available funding to accommodate both approaches, and opportunities to discuss the detail of both approaches could be had at the next meeting when perhaps the Leics & Rutland WildlifeTrust and Natural England could attend.
End