Wild Trout Trust – Advisory visit report – Clare river tributaries

The observations and recommendations of the recent Wild Trout Trust (WTT) Advisory Visit to four locations within the headwaters of the Clare river catchment, locations recommended by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) and Cairde an Chláir is now available (79 page report).

This report and future follow up managerial support by the WTT has been generously funded by the Local Authority Water Programme (LAWPRO) through the Community Water Development Fund. Cairde an Chláir acknowledge and are most grateful for this funding support.

There are many good observations and recommendations within the report. The use of woody debris rather than rock for creating scour and flow diversity is highly recommended. Woody debris is more malleable than rock and moves with the natural flow, unlike rock structure which is fixed. There are recommendations for using gravel to create flow diversity or leaving established emergent rush beds to achieve the same result, sloping the gradient of steep or vertical banks to reduce flow velocity were some of the positive suggestions.

The most striking observation however, was the identification of some of the old river channels which were still in situ. These are clearly shown in Fig 3 Abbert River – Upper and Fig 33 Abbert River – Lower. These examples depict how our rivers were robbed of their natural diversity. The sinuosity of the old channels can be clearly seen. This evidence provides a strong argument for the reinstatement of those old channels and it is one which Cairde an Chláir will pursue.

Cairde an Chláir hope that the reader finds the report both interesting and enlightening and our thanks to IFI for their support in providing staff to guide and recommend areas for Gareth Pedley of the WTT to survey. We thank the WTT for their provision of advice and recommendations to further our stream development programme, and we thank LAWPRO for their funding support and advice for compiling the report.