Our Rivers Recovery & Renewal: Returning salmon to ’s post-industrial rivers Institute of Fisheries Management London & South East Branch Martin Slater Yorkshire Area Environment Programme Manager Returning Tuesday 29 May 2018 the wild.

Dendritic - The power Salmon and rivers get of beer everywhere alliteration Unfinished story….

diadromous Coarse and game anadromous and salmonids/ non migratory fish catadromous salmonids/eels

EstablishedA note selfon-sustaining terminology salmon populations in the Aire, Don, Wharfe and other Yorkshire rivers. Where are we? “Before the industrial revolution Yorkshire’s Rivers were the best salmon rivers in ” – so they say River Don (boom time)

• 1637 - Don at (John Harrison): “ye chiefest river within this manor is ye river that passeth through the same, wherein we get store of salmon”

• 1689 - selling for less than 2d per pound (approx. 2p per kg) due to its ready availability.

• 1700 – in apprenticeships contracts a clause was common ‘that the master should not compel the lad to eat salmon more than twice a week’ River Ouse early 1800s & 1900s

54lb

91 netting stations still operating & annual commercial catch could still exceed 30 tons (more than 6000 salmon). 31 species recorded in the Don

By 1840 the in was described as a: ‘reservoir of poison, careful kept for the purpose of breeding pestilence in the town.’

‘The hand of man and the neglect of our ancestors have deprived us of a river which must have been a vision of glittering beauty’ - Ernest Phillips (1921) editor of the Doncaster Chronicle 9 Ammonia River Don 1979 - 2018 Ammonia River Ouse 1984 - 2018 Dissolved O2 River Don 1994 - 2018 Dissolved O2 River Ouse 1994 - 2018 Salmonids: exposure to low levels of dissolved oxygen (less than approximately 5.0 - 6.0 mg/l) can result in mortality (Doudoroff & Shumway 1970, in Weithman & Haas 1984) Weirs, weirs and weirs – we have a lot of weirs in Yorkshire!

Recovery…. Yorkshire Water Environmental Quality Schemes

AMP1 1990 – 1995 £600M Control of Pollution Act 2 dominates AMP2 1995 – 2000 £750M Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive dominates

AMP3 2000 – 2005 £650M Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive dominates

AMP4 2005 – 2010 £400M Freshwater Fish Directive dominates EA Robust regulation Ammonia - River Don 1979 - 2018 Ammonia - River Ouse 1984 - 2018 Dissolved O2 - River Don 1994 - 2018 Dissolved O2 - River Ouse 1994 - 2018 Salmonids: exposure to low levels of dissolved oxygen (less than approximately 5.0 - 6.0 mg/l) can result in mortality (Doudoroff & Shumway 1970, in Weithman & Haas 1984) WB classification as % in YA

Grand Management Catchment Good Moderate Poor Bad Total Aire and Calder 4.80% 91.20% 4.00% 0.00% 100.00% Derwent 12.68% 69.01% 14.08% 4.23% 100.00% Don and Rother 5.68% 82.95% 10.23% 1.14% 100.00% Esk and Coast 45.45% 50.00% 4.55% 0.00% 100.00% Hull and East Riding 10.20% 79.59% 6.12% 4.08% 100.00% Humber AWB 83.33% 16.67% 0.00% 0.00% 100.00% Humber TraC 0.00% 100.00% 0.00% 0.00% 100.00% Swale Ure Nidd and Ouse Upper 12.98% 65.65% 16.79% 4.58% 100.00% Wharfe and Ouse Lower 18.87% 66.04% 9.43% 5.66% 100.00% Grand Total 14.49% 73.14% 9.72% 2.65% 100.00%

Water quality right  Green shoots of recovery - first signs. River Aire November 2002 - 16lb salmon River Aire - Knottingley weir in 2010

Salmon

Sea trout 2012

• 35lb and a 40lb fish were caught (rod and line) • 3000+ fish counted ascended Westwick pass

Sprotbrough weir River Don - a salmon caught below the weir. 26 rod caught numbers

2014 declared rod catch = 10x higher than Tees and higher than many established North West rivers (e.g. Kent), and other principal salmon rivers such as the Yorkshire Esk. Water quality right  Fish returning  Back to weirs - the limiting factor 2,096 weirs and top 100

39 Fish passage in Y & NE– where do we begin?

• Top 100 sites • 88 years • Different approach needed • 2013 Prioritisation study

40

42 Study Principles… 1. We will develop a 5 year programme focussed on key barriers in priority catchments to ensure that our investment can realise significant benefits at the catchment scale within the medium term. 2. Our prioritisation will be informed by consideration of the best available evidence, potential outcomes and likely costs. 3. We will lead by example in developing fish passage at our own assets. This will include where repair works provide an opportunity to address significant fish passage issues. 4. Our programme implementation will select the most cost effective options to secure WFD compliance and wider benefit.

5. Where possible we will work in partnership to deliver fish passage improvements, building capacity for external delivery and securing resources and funding for fish passage.

6. We will ensure that we learn from every project in the programme (and experiences elsewhere) to maximise value for money, follow best practice and take opportunities to innovate. A Northern learning hub will provide the focus for this.

7. We will actively communicate our programme to stakeholders to ensure our decision making is transparent and understood and to build support for delivery. Priority Yorkshire Rivers

Wharfe

Aire

Don Water quality right  Fish returning

 Fish passage prioritised 

Legislation and the mechanism to drive change.

WFD & Catchment Based Approach The Humber Basin Management Plan (2009)

“All rivers within the Humber Basin region will hold naturally self-sustaining spawning populations of migratory fish by 2021”

“We will seek to remove all artificial barriers to fish migration for all species, starting with the highest priority obstructions”

"We will work with communities and partners to provide opportunities and funding for the removal of prioritised barriers"

Catchment based approach:

EA Catchment co-ordinators will... • Main point of contact with EA • Share evidence & raise awareness • Agreeing actions and priorities with interested parties To do this we • Work with the partnership group need to build to sponsor delivery through long term others relationships • Technical support and sign and engage posting to funding bids others Water quality right  Fish returning

 Fish passage Funding prioritised  ? CaBA Partnerships

EA team place  Lets make it happen! Make it happen by creating a vision and telling a compelling story Perception is everything.. then and now Back it up with substance – delivery 2014!

Create a compelling story…

Salmon and beer Promotional work with the Don Network and the Sheffield Brewery Company Create a compelling story…

The power of alliteration Salmon to Sheffield/ Salmon to (DNAire) / Fish to the Friars Re-introduction of diadromous (anadroumous and catadroumous) species to empty or vacant ecological niches Create a compelling story…

… by telling a compelling story The man/women in the street, talk about it everywhere, getting into public consciousness…. Drip, drip, drip… “The River Aire and its environment matter to the people of Leeds and the wider region. That is why I am delighted that the two fish passes built through the Leeds FAS are supporting the improving health of the river and the return of salmon and otters for the first time in nearly 200 years.” SPROTBROUGH WEIR FISH PASS ON THE RIVER DON Art…. in public places

(sculpture produced by Anthony Downing, Agency EM officer, at Sprotbrough fish pass) May 2018 What have we achieved?

2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Weir CurrentWeir situation FisheriesCurrent statussituation Weir Fisheries status CurrentWeir situation FisheriesWeirCurrent situationstatus CurrentFisheries situation status Status

Wharncliffe Side Upper/Lodge Holmes CollapsedWharncliffe Side Upper/Lodge Holmes PassableCollapsed WharncliffePassable Side Upper/Lodge Holmes CollapsedWharncliffe Side Upper/Lodge Holmes PassableWharncliffeCollapsed Side Upper/Lodge CollapsedPassable Passable Holmes Fish passage proposed YW NEP 2020 Wharncliffe Side YorkshireWharncliffe Water Side asset NotFish passable passage proposed Not passable Wharncliffe Side WharncliffeFish passage Side proposed Fish passageYW NEP proposed 2018 Delivery 2018 YW Business Plan Yorkshire Water business plan Crag View/ Upper Collapsed Crag View/OughtibridgePassable Upper Collapsed Passable Crag View/Oughtibridge Upper Collapsed Passable Crag View/Oughtibridge Upper CragCollapsed View/Oughtibridge Upper CollapsedPassable Passable

Oughtibridge/ Middlewood Damaged Oughtibridge/Passable Middlewood in high flows Damaged Passable in high flows Oughtibridge/ Middlewood Damaged Passable in high flows Oughtibridge/ Middlewood Oughtibridge/Damaged Middlewood DamagedPassable in high flows Passable in high flows

Middlewood Iron Works DamagedMiddlewood & c ouldIron Worksbe removed PassableDamaged in high & c ouldflows be removed MiddlewoodPassable Iron inWorks high flows Damaged & could be removed Passable in high flows Middlewood Iron Works MiddlewoodDamaged & Ironcould Works be removed DamagedPassable in high flows Passable in high flows

Beeley Woods Upper CollapsedBeeley Woods Upper PassableCollapsed BeeleyPassable Woods Upper Collapsed Passable Beeley Woods Upper BeeleyCollapsed Woods Upper CollapsedPassable Passable

Beeley Woods Lower PBeeleyotential Woods removal Lower NotP passableroposed removal project BeeleyNot Woods passable Lower Partially removed Passable Beeley Woods Lower Partially removed Passable EA EABeeley 2016 Woods Lower Partially removed Passable EA 2016 Niagara / AlaskanNiagara fish /Wadsley pass PassableAlaskan fish pass NiagaraPassable /Wadsley Alaskan fish pass PassableEA 2016 Niagara /Wadsley Alaskan fish pass Passable Niagara /Wadsley Alaskan fish pass Passable

Owlerton CollapsedOwlerton PassableCollapsed OwlertonPassable Collapsed Passable OwlertonCollapsed CollapsedPassable Passable Ward End/Old park PWardotential End/Old removal park NotP partialassable removal Ward End/OldPassable park Partially removed JustPassable 1 weir left without a EA Spring 2015 EAWard 2015 End/Old park WardPartially End/Old removed park PartiallyPassable removed Passable / Parkwood Springs PartialNeepsend collapse/ Parkwood Springs PassablePartial collapse NeepsendPassable/ Parkwood Springs Partial collapse PassableEA 2015 EA 2015 Neepsend/ Parkwood Springs fundedNeepsendPartial collapse/ Parkwood Springs delivery PartialPassable collapse plan - Passable Packhorse/Steelbank DCRTPackhorse/Steelbank HLF bid NotDCRT passable HLF project Packhorse/SteelbankNot passable DCRT HLF project Delivery 2016/17 Packhorse/Steelbank Packhorse/SteelbankDCRT HLF project DCRTPassable HLF project Passable Kelham DCRTKelham HLF bid NotDCRT passable HLF project KelhamNot passable DCRT HLF project MasbroughDelivery Fish pass 2016/17 2016 Fish passweir 2016 central Kelham KelhamDCRT HLF project DCRTPassable HLF project Passable Lady’s Bridge DCRTLady’s HLF Bridge bid NotDCRT passable HLF project Lady’s NotBridge passable DCRT HLF project Delivery Easement 2016/17 2016 Easement 2016 Lady’s Bridge RotherhamLady’sDCRT BridgeHLF project DCRT Passable HLF project Passable Walk Mill AlaskanWalk Mill A fish pass PassableAlaskan A fish pass Walk MillPassable Alaskan A fish pass Passable Easement 2016 Easement 2016 Walk Mill WalkAlaskan Mill A fish pass AlaskanPassable A fish pass Passable Norfolk Bridge DCRTNorfolk HLF Bridge bid NotDCRT passable HLF project NorfolkNot Bridge passable DCRT HLF project Delivery 2016/17 Norfolk Bridge NorfolkDCRT HLFBridge project DCRTPassable HLF project Passable Easement 2016 Easement 2016 Sanderson’s PotentialSanderson’s opportunities in conjunction with NotPotential passable opportunities in conjunction withSanderson’s Not passable SCC project Sheffield FAS Delivery 2017/18 Sheffield FAS Sheffield FAS Sanderson’s Delivery in conjunction with Delivery 2019 Sanderson’s SCC project Sheffield FAS Delivery 2018/19 Brightside DCRT HLF project Delivery 2016/17 Sheffield FAS. Sheffield Council Brightside DCRTBrightside HLF bid NotDCRT passable HLF project Not passable

Brightside DCRT HLF project Passable Hadfields Meadowhall Fish & eel pass PassableBrightside DCRT HLF project Passable Hadfields Meadowhall FishHadfields & eel passMeadowhall PassableFish & eel pass Passable Fish pass 2016 DCRT 2013 Fish pass 2016 DCRT 2013 DCRT 2013 Hadfields Meadowhall Fish & eel pass Passable Jordon’s Dam Fish passage proposed YWHadfields NEP 2020 Meadowhall Fish & eel pass completed Passable Jordon’s Dam YorkshireJordon’s WaterDam and C&RT asset NotFish passable passage proposed Not passable DCRT 2013 DCRT 2013 YW Business Plan Ickles FishJordon’s passage Dam DeliveryJordon’sYorkshire 2016/17 Dam Water project Fish &Delivery eel pass 2017/18 under construction 2018. Delivery 2018 Ickles Private ownership Not passable Via planning gain Yorkshire Water Ickles Planning gain opportunity Not passable Masbrough OpportunitiesIckles via hydropower scheme, NotIcklesTempleborough passable Biomass Plant TemplebroroughPassable Biomass Plant development. Passable Masbrough Rotherham Potential opportunities via hydropower Not passable Rotherham FAS, Rotherham Fish and eel pass 2017 Fish & eel pass completed 2017. and/orMasbrough Rotherham Rotherham FAS phase 2. Potential opportunities via hydropower Not passable regeneration.Masbrough Rotherham MasbroughOpportunities Rotherham via, Forge Island DetailedNot design passable underway 2018. Potential Not passable and/or Rotherham FAS phase 2. Aldwarke Potential opportunities via hydropower Not passable Aldwarke H ydropower scheme and fish passage Completion Regeneration Autumn, Rotherham 2016 FAS delivery opti ons via Rotherham regeneration.

Aldwarke Hydropower scheme licensed Not passable Aldwarke AldwarkeHydropower scheme and fish passage HydropowerPassable scheme Passable Thrybergh Potential opportunities via hydropower Not passable Thrybergh Hydro power scheme and fish passage Passable Fish pass 2016 Fish pass 2016

Thrybergh Hydropower scheme and fish passage Passable C&RTThrybergh 2015 ThryberghHydropower scheme and fish passage HydroPassablepower scheme Passable Collapsed Passable C&RT 2015 Kilnhurst Collapsed Passable Fish pass 2015 Fish pass 2015

Kilnhurst Collapsed Passable Kilnhurst KilnhurstCollapsed CollapsedPassable Passable Sprotbrough Fish & eel pass Passable Sprotbrough Fish & eel pass Passable EA 2014 Sprotbrough Fish & eel pass Passable EASprotbrough 2014 SprotbroughFish & eel pass Fish &Passable eel pass Passable EA 2014 Crimpsall River restoration and fish pass Passable Crimpsall River restoration and fish pass Passable EA 2014 EA 2014 EACrimpsall 2001 River restoration and fish pass Passable EACrimpsall 2001 CrimpsallRiver restoration and fish pass River Passablerestoration and fish pass Passable EA 2001 EA 2001 EA 2001

J

Beeley Wood weir removal. EA 2016 Ward End weir removal EA 2015 DCRT HLF Project - Living Heritage of the River Don Norfolk Bridge, Kelham, Brightside, Lady’sBridge, Steelbank/Packhorse

Developing the Natural Aire – opportunities Gargrave Spawning gravels

Skipton Hirst Mill Weir Systagenix Weir Shipley Rodley Weir Cononley Kildwick Newlay Mill

Newlay Dark Arches Kildwick Saltaire

Shipley River Aire Leeds Leeds Liverpool Canal Railway Weir status Kirkstall Weir Armley Mills Passable to all fish Kirkstall Ford Burley Mills Passable to salmon

Passable to no fish KVNR 71 St Anne’s River Wharfe - Fish to the Friars

Grassington

Lobwood

Addingham Upper Burley-in-

Addingham Lower

Flint Mill Poole Addingham

Ilkley Wetherby Burley-in- Wharfedale Otley Boston Spa Poole-in- Weirs & their status Wharfedale Tadcaster EMFF Funding Ulleskelf Passable

Cawood Impassable Evidence of success

Salmon jumping at Aldwarke weir Dec 2015

Eels at Thrybergh Fish Pass July 2016 June 2015 Juvenile Salmon caught in the Ure – takes the current main run of salmon and sea trout – counters run by UST and YDRT have indicated 1000s, which is backed by catches – mainly spring salmon run with good sea trout run. The juveniles it produces, with their high straying tendencies, are helping to fuel the number of returning adults trying to ascend the other rivers.

Wharfe – increasing numbers and good video footage of numbers trying to ascend Otley. Weather dictates success and long period of very high flow in spring needed for ascent of Tadcaster and Flint Mill. Couple of years ago the number of salmon below Tadcaster weir in June was staggering. Good habitat even in middle reaches and salmon spawn even in lower river e.g. Boston Spa.

Swale – large numbers appear to be trying to ascend (see photos and videos at Topcliffe), but the weir is a major obstacle and as such the degree of recruitment is still low. Lot of good habitat blocked by this single weir. Topcliffe is the place to watch salmon in the early autumn.

Aire – numbers have increases year on year and for some reason this seems to have good number of grilse try to ascend it post spring (in addition to spring run). Trout also still smolt in numbers and as such we see number of adult sea trout try to ascend and these are targeted by anglers. Some years they did get into leeds with very high flows and we may get some occasional recruitment, but we’ve not picked up in surveys (most juvenile/trout surveys take place higher up the river). Don – Salmon and sea trout with first juvenile recorded recently. Improved access should only see things improve. In past reached Sheffield in extreme flow years, but once Jordans opened then they should get there every year.

Nidd – salmon reach lower reaches and have spawned in sub optimum areas. Numerous weirs in and around Knaresbrough are major blocker.

Calder – salmon recorded officially in lower reaches, around Altofts and numerous reportings further up. Photo of one in Colne. Kirkthorpe pass will improve things, but lot of barriers on this river. Where will we be short-term by – 2021?

• River Don passage complete

• River Aire passage complete

• Subtantial progress on Wharfe and remaining SUNO system

• Where it exists, maintain open access to rivers

• Engage public & community involvement

• Maintaining regulation and deal with incidents

• Very early days before we see established self- sustaining salmon populations in the Aire, Don, Wharfe. Where will we be long-term? 2021…… • Habitat • Resilience - tributaries • Public ownership and celebration - festivals • Retro fitting - replacing old fish passes. • Established self- sustaining salmon populations in the Aire, Don, Wharfe and other Yorkshire rivers. And finally.. to help tell this story we made a short film, I hope that you enjoy it.