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Wye update

Climate change is a difficult one !

yes the weather patterns are changing - hotter temperatures and also rain in ‘bigger dollops’ being the most obvious changes.

Perhaps the most important problem that drops out of that is the impact on our historic flood defence policy. As flood heights get higher (more rain in shorter time periods and more concrete on the ground so more runoff) so 1 in 100 year floods actually become more regular events. Maybe even once every 10 or even 5 years.

Because we have too many people in this country, during recent times the government has allowed lots of house building on flood plains. These homes are now at serious risk and soon become un-insurable. The EA has argued against this policy -but has been ignored. The govt may have to start a subsidised insurance scheme….

We are now going to have to spend many billions protecting these homes by raising flood defences AND altering the way our rivers are managed. I foresee a return to the bad old days when river authorities cut down every tree along rivers and did much too much dredging in an effort to help ‘get rid’ of water in winter. Within the EA the pendulum swung away from flood defence in the 90’s and early millennium years (conservation being the benefactor) but now flood defence is going to have to call the shots.

All of the above is bad news for fish and fishing !

The other side of that coin is the fact that we have a water abstraction licence system that isn’t fit for purpose and furthermore not enough water storage capacity (at least in the Southern half of the country). So even when it isn’t raining, too much water is abstracted from the rivers and then we don’t save it when we have too much…..Add in a rising population AND rising per capita water consumption and you have a perfect storm.

I sat on the EA Thames region Recreation and Fisheries advisory committee for over a decade and we (the fishery reps) consistently argued in support of the proposed new Abingdon reservoir. Thames Water managed to stop the plan a few years back - so there is no prospect of a new reservoir in the SE this side of 2030.

All we need is two dry years in a row and the SE will run out of water……

Thames Water is well aware of that risk - a proposal to build a de-salination plant (as back up) in London was tabled 15 years ago. Needless to say it didn’t get built.

I told you I was a Pessimist !
 
Joe Winstanley said:
Was it so much better in the 80's? Take the Trent for example, I believe it was marvellous for catching shoals of roach up to the 1lb mark, but not great for barbel? Would be interesting to hear from some of the older forum members on this who can offer a long-term perspective.

Re livestock farming - more smaller farms in the past, generally at a much lower intensity, with less slurry based housing systems. Much more FYM which had a higher DM content as livestock were fed more on hay rather than silage. Hardly any maize grown compared today, and high risk crops such as spuds were grown in smaller areas and spread out more than in todays world which is generally specialists. And these farms were spread across the country rather than being largely concentrated in the west as they are now. In my own county of Cheshire there were over 70,000 farm workers in the 70's, nowadays I believe its around 6,000. Less farm businesses but more livestock and higher levels of production output. I get the impression that farm operations despite being more labour intensive were much more controlled and timely.

Totally agree about the impact of climate change though.
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Tim Marks said:
I told you I was a Pessimist !
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Excellent post IMHO...and "pessimistic"? No, more realistic I reckon. Simplistically ... the factors involved in water supply, quantity, and quality are obviously numerous, but the factor that effects us most, as anglers, is quality. But unfortunately, what "good quality water" is to the consumer/householder is not necessarily good quality water for the angler (e.g. fish wouldn't do well in 'pure' water). And that's where I see the problem being ... that river water being of poor quality for fish/anglers is not the slightest issue for over 95% of the population. And of that 5% that might see it as a problem, 99% of those aren't even bothered enough to sign a petition. Now is that pessimism?
We can easily make a list of contributing factors to the decline of our rivers (phosphates/nitrates, o/estrogen, silting, abstraction, predation, etc etc) but I think the first hurdle that needs to be surmounted is angler-apathy, and with the upsurge of canoeists/boarders/wild swimmers, maybe they can add stimulus?
I don't think we stand the slightest chance of finding a solution without it being first accepted that we do have 'a problem'.
N.b... in my view, barbel fishing over the last few years has more or less collapsed, and predation has been an additional factor in this. But to me the scariest facet in how our rivers have changed is the lack of weed, (especially) streamer weed. There is a no more obvious sign that a river is 'sick'. Some rivers/streams do still have streamer weed, and on those rivers, predation may be less of a problem. But take streamer weed out of a river, and the fish don't stand a chance.
 
Tim Marks said:
I told you I was a Pessimist !
Click to expand...
Excellent post IMHO...and "pessimistic"? No, more realistic I reckon. Simplistically ... the factors involved in water supply, quantity, and quality are obviously numerous, but the factor that effects us most, as anglers, is quality. But unfortunately, what "good quality water" is to the consumer/householder is not necessarily good quality water for the angler (e.g. fish wouldn't do well in 'pure' water). And that's where I see the problem being ... that river water being of poor quality for fish/anglers is not the slightest issue for over 95% of the population. And of that 5% that might see it as a problem, 99% of those aren't even bothered enough to sign a petition. Now is that pessimism?
We can easily make a list of contributing factors to the decline of our rivers (phosphates/nitrates, o/estrogen, silting, abstraction, predation, etc etc) but I think the first hurdle that needs to be surmounted is angler-apathy, and with the upsurge of canoeists/boarders/wild swimmers, maybe they can add stimulus?
I don't think we stand the slightest chance of finding a solution without it being first accepted that we do have 'a problem'.
N.b... in my view, barbel fishing over the last few years has more or less collapsed, and predation has been an additional factor in this. But to me the scariest facet in how our rivers have changed is the lack of weed, (especially) streamer weed. There is a no more obvious sign that a river is 'sick'. Some rivers/streams do still have streamer weed, and on those rivers, predation may be less of a problem. But take streamer weed out of a river, and the fish don't stand a chance.
 
but I think the first hurdle that needs to be surmounted is angler-apathy, and with the upsurge of canoeists/boarders/wild swimmers, maybe they can add stimulus?
I don't think we stand the slightest chance of finding a solution without it being first accepted that we do have 'a problem'.

Going back to the OP, I think this is exactly what is happening on the Wye. It's not just an angling problem anymore, which is why it is getting a little bit of traction. To be fair to the wild swimmer it's not just the disgusting state of the water she comments on, it is the dramatic disappearance of the weed and plants, the invertebrates, and the fish in certain stretches.
I've just returned from a week and everyone I spoke to knew about the death of the river and was gravely concerned .I would suspect continued decline will have an effect on fishing tourism/ B&Bs / pubs/camping/ canoe hire. Sad but true; money talks and it might be the economic impact that forces some kind of action, especially if ' staycationing' is here for the foreseeable.

But you are right Terry, as anglers we just don't seem to have a voice. When I spent time with John Wilson in 2017 just before his passing, he told me this was one of his biggest regrets/ frustrations in that he wished he had tried harder and used his profile to unify all arms of angling so we had some serious political clout. I guess like BASC do for hunting. I know he tried but I think he simply ran out of steam in the end, but he predicted exactly what is happening right now in all aspects of river fishing.
 
Paul Richardson said:
Things can and do get better. My nearest River is the Tees, so we know a thing or two about pollution.
Upstream of the barrage it is a healthy and beautiful river which if the seals weren't in reisdence at the barrage, would have a tremendous run of salmon. But that's a whole different story....
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Not in the south, with the proliferation of massive housing estates, all requiring water, and their sewage taken away from them. My little local town of Biggleswade has increased by 40% over ten years. In excess of 3,000 houses built, and thousands more planned in and around the surrounding villages.
This all spells catastrophe for our already suffering Ouse, Cam and Ivel.
 
Until successive Governments stop playing lip service to environmental issues the outlook is poor. Can you imagine a Boris or Starmer actually give damn regarding river quality? We need new houses that's a given, but it's about time we implemented how we deal with waste, and supply water, water waste is a crime, no need for it the water that falls from the sky should be harvested efficiently, and waste bio degraded rather than being pumped into rivers. The natural world is our friend there absolutely no need to pump raw sewage into our rivers. But of course the water companies have a duty to their stake holders, so profit before the Planet.
I am afraid the willingness to actually do something is way down the list, the priorities for many is to fly somewhere, anywhere in polluting aircraft in search of a lovely destination that is better than our own, of course this is a fallacy, we have or had beautiful rivers, and diverse a countryside that is as unique as anywhere in the World, its about time we appreciated that.
Oh! and while we are at it tax fooking paddle boarders and kayakers the new staycation couldn't give a damn about anyone, spoilt my evening session yesterday, and was told the river is for everyone and would I like a punch in the mouth?
I am afraid there is just not any concern beyond people's own selfishness.OK we fish, but I absolutely despise sharing my peace and tranquilty with these mindless adrenalin junkies who insist on hollering and screaming, and as yesterday blaring rap music full volume.
I liked it so much better when the Otter was the villain.😞
 
You mention paddle boards etc.

Back in the day there was a group called the ‘angling and canoeing liaison group’ and overall a fairly decent relationship between angling and canoeing at National representative level. In those days (15 - 20 years ago) the government was firmly of the view that canoeists did NOT have automatic rights to canoe anywhere. The angling ‘view’ was that we negotiated access and then PAID for it And canoeists should do likewise.

More recently the canoeists have abandoned the ACLG and are ramping up the pressure to be allowed to canoe anywhere for FREE. With my pessimist hat on (again) I foresee a change in government recreation policy fairly soon that will legalise canoe access anywhere.

More bad news for angling….
 
So, following my previous "rant" I have now written my letter to various individuals, organisations and companies who are in a position of influence regarding the Wye. I'm not expected a flurry of responses, except perhaps from the local MP. It will be interesting to see who does respond and what they say. Watch this space!
 
It is quite significant when Defra come out to see something, having worked with them for 20 years they only rarely come out for site visits (they did it for the severe flooding on the Somerset Levels so it shows that this issue is very serious).
 
Quick update on my letters to various individuals and organisations who can influence the state of the River Wye. I wrote 10 letters (I prefer letters to emails) and received 2 responses (predictably via email!) from Jesse Norman MP and Noble Foods (who operate chicken farms in the Wye valley) Their responses, in a nutshell, was "we are aware, we are doing something, we are committed to saving the environment/ecology" etc etc. In Jesse Norman's case, he has raised the issue in the House. Now, I didn't get to be 70 years old without contracting a touch of cynicism but I am not holding out much hope of a reversal of fortune for the Wye!
 
Two miles above Monmouth.
As we post. Raw sewerage going in.

IMG-20211010-WA0000.jpg
 
Paul Bullinger said:
Quick update on my letters to various individuals and organisations who can influence the state of the River Wye. I wrote 10 letters (I prefer letters to emails) and received 2 responses (predictably via email!) from Jesse Norman MP and Noble Foods (who operate chicken farms in the Wye valley) Their responses, in a nutshell, was "we are aware, we are doing something, we are committed to saving the environment/ecology" etc etc. In Jesse Norman's case, he has raised the issue in the House. Now, I didn't get to be 70 years old without contracting a touch of cynicism but I am not holding out much hope of a reversal of fortune for the Wye!
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I’m a similar age Paul and a cynic like you. I don’t trust politicians to do right unless they can benefit and as for private companies!!!! It’s all about the balance sheet and what bonus the CEO and directors can be paid…notice I didn’t say earn !!!
 
Paul Whitehouse said it on the last gone fishing, nothing will happen until the river is biologically dead.
 
Tim Marks said:
You mention paddle boards etc.

Back in the day there was a group called the ‘angling and canoeing liaison group’ and overall a fairly decent relationship between angling and canoeing at National representative level. In those days (15 - 20 years ago) the government was firmly of the view that canoeists did NOT have automatic rights to canoe anywhere. The angling ‘view’ was that we negotiated access and then PAID for it And canoeists should do likewise.

More recently the canoeists have abandoned the ACLG and are ramping up the pressure to be allowed to canoe anywhere for FREE. With my pessimist hat on (again) I foresee a change in government recreation policy fairly soon that will legalise canoe access anywhere.

More bad news for angling….
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I think the fly in their ointment so to speak will be their own behaviour. If they start or continue to land places for lunch breaks trespassing and leaving litter etc they will make few friends amongst land owners many of which will be by the nature of the beast in touch with their preferred representative in parliament.

Not to mention in this age of litigation, when one of them has an oops, who is going to rescue them? and when subsequently one attempts to take legal action who is going to pay?

It’s really not as simple as it would appear at first glance. We as anglers have land access, usually not ownership and as a consequence we have to adhere to the wishes of the land owner, which would include the H&S responsibilities/liabilities. There’s a reason why many of these areas don’t have public footpaths, the land owner does not want a free for all on their land.
 
I had a miserable time at the weekend due to the rowing club. Generally the rowers are fine and some even say hello, but the ones in the motorboats shouting commands are such ignorant personas. I know we share the river, but it’s not something they seem to be bothered with.
 
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