Barriers project - Expanding fish spawning grounds

Four of Eden’s tributaries have been opened up to fish to live and breed as a result of work undertaken by the Trust during 2011.

There are many places in the Eden Valley where fish cannot migrate upstream to spawn because of man-made obstacles in their way.  Examples of these include weirs, bridges with cement pipes (culverts) underneath, and culverts beneath roads and railway lines.  These barriers particularly prevent fish migration in low water conditions and restrict the area of river available for them to live and breed. 

Three projects were undertaken on the River Petteril near Southwaite.  One involved placing a row of large rocks – a rock ramp - in the river downstream of a railway culvert, to create a pool and raise the water levels through the pipe.  A similar method was used downstream of a farmer’s bridge which had culverts beneath.  A third project involved re-instating an old water course around a small waterfall which had been acting as a barrier.

 On the River Belah near Kirkby Stephen a farm bridge with culverts beneath was removed and replaced with a bridge which spanned the river completely.  Nearby another bridge with culverts beneath was made passable using a rock ramp to raise water levels through the pipes.  This continued previous work by the Trust to improve the Belah for trout. See the before, during and after pictures below.

On Robberby Water near Langwathby a man-made weir at Little Salkeld flour mill had been preventing fish migrating up the river.  In 2007 the Trust installed a series of lines of stones in the river – pre-weirs - to raise the water level gradually so that fish could get up the main weir. 

Severe flooding subsequently eroded the banks and caused bank side trees to fall into the river.  This altered the water levels so that fish could no longer get up the weirs.  So the fallen trees were pinned into the river bank to prevent further erosion and to raise the water levels in the pre-weir pools.  Using the trees has the added advantage of introducing woody debris into the river which provides shelter and food for fish and invertebrates.  Willows were planted alongside the weirs to help stabilise the river banks.

The work, which cost £23,000, was funded by The Rivers Trust and supported by the Environment Agency.  It was undertaken by local contractors SIBA Contracts Ltd and Metcalfe Plant Hire Ltd.