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Post by victorclem on Aug 3, 2007 19:30:18 GMT
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Post by victorclem on Aug 5, 2007 16:11:02 GMT
Couple of small donations through website today, totalling £30. Thank you chaps, it all adds up.
VC
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Post by Willie The Gillie on Aug 6, 2007 6:11:49 GMT
Much appreciated macd
Best Regards
Jock
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Post by victorclem on Aug 7, 2007 13:21:23 GMT
Another £1000 pledged today by grass-roots fishermen.......
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Post by victorclem on Aug 8, 2007 16:10:49 GMT
Nearly got the first 100 miles today, but not quite. Tomorrow though.
97.5 miles and counting....
VC
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Post by victorclem on Aug 9, 2007 17:46:24 GMT
Got our 100 miles today, 106.5 to be exact. Important psyhsological marker now behind us.
Found a massive, undocumented colony of water voles at high altitude today as well, Britain's most endangered species of mammal. Ticks the biodiversity boxes in a really big way.
VC
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Post by victorclem on Aug 13, 2007 19:57:20 GMT
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Post by Willie The Gillie on Aug 13, 2007 21:29:26 GMT
Superb salmonking you help is highly appreciated
Best Regards
Jock
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Post by victorclem on Aug 14, 2007 16:43:26 GMT
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Post by Willie The Gillie on Aug 17, 2007 6:45:21 GMT
Thats now 18k that's been raised towards the overall survey costs of this highly worthwhile project. Many thanks to the following:Tay Ghillies Association, Jim Reid, Quales of Pitlochry, CLag, Greenbanks, Tony Black, Stan Pelc, Newtyle owners, Tay Liaison Committee, Dunkeld Royal Hotel, Gary Scott, Grev Humphrey, Killin Angling Club, madkeen, Robbie, Salmonking, D'oyly Carte, FWAG, Fish Scotland, European Obj2,Charlie MacDonald, Cromlix House, East Haugh House Hotel, Dunkeld Smokehouse and anyone else who I may have overlooked who has sent money to the Scottish Native Woods office.
There's probably the same again ready to come in but still along way to go to nail the 73K
Best Regards
Jock
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Post by victorclem on Aug 18, 2007 16:14:29 GMT
Survey work progreesing too, up to 129 miles now...
VC
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Post by robbie on Aug 18, 2007 16:38:39 GMT
Victor , I am enjoying hearing of your progress. I was wondering if you were able to add some "meat to the bones" in your postings. I am not asking for a blow by blow account of each mile, but a few snippets of examples of finds/difficulties etc. rather like your one re. the Voles. I realise you are very busy so understand if you cant'. Good luck
Robbie
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Post by Willie The Gillie on Aug 19, 2007 14:05:02 GMT
Many thanks Salmondan for your kind donation (and for the fine dram !!!!)
Best Regards
Jock
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Post by victorclem on Aug 19, 2007 14:07:31 GMT
Robbie,
I have been trying to avoid doing a running commentary and would prefer to present info on a catchment by catchment basis, the first being ready in October-ish.
However, to date, good and bad in Glen Lochay:
Erosion/ sedimentation problems are not that significant in this glen, mainly due to lack of any really intensive forestry or agriculture. Problems tend to be localized, and relatively easily addressed by conventional-type conservation schemes. Parr habitat in the river is good, also spawning gravel, although maybe not that well distributed.
Tree cover is pretty healthy in bottom half of glen , not too much, not too little. Good range of species, and the age structure is good on the whole. About 400 tonnes of sycamore could be removed which casts a very heavy shade and exarerbates potential erosion sites. There is an ambitious scheme for native woodland expansion at the top of the glen, which will ultimately improve the natural food supply for fish. Our information will help build up the case for that project going ahead.
We have found a large number of blockages on the side tributaries, mostly branches and poorly maintained water-gates.
We have found some invasive species (Japanese knotweed) that has not been picked up on previous studies.
We are getting a much better idea of how hydro extraction affects a river. Many potentially usable tributaries are dry, and extraction also cuts off supply of eroded spawning material to the river.
Main items of wider biodiversity interests are the water voles and distribution of rare montane willows, both of which have the capacity for drawing agricultural/ forestry support in to the area and really getting people to think about how wider issues affect the river.
We will put out something in the press about the water voles shortly, we are finding them in ridiculous numbers at present.
Glen Lochay is more good than bad, and some of the obvious issues present in the other catchments do not feature here to any great degree.We had anticipated that. The hydro issue here is the one to rectify above anything else, and we will have to think carefully how to go about doing that.
Bad weather in the last few weeks has slowed us up a lot, but things have picked up well in the last few days. There will be a bit of pressure to get finished Lochay before mid-September, but we should be OK.
We are getting more out of the higher-level surveying than I had anticipated, and are attracting interest in the information we are collecting.
We have had two enquiries from other parts of Scotland suggesting that we do something similiar there, as well as one suggestion that we should cover the rest of Tayside after we have finished here.
We shall try to get some more photos on the website link, maybe put on some links to news items, and I shall post interim report on Lochay when I have that done, probably end- October.
Regards,
VC
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Post by robbie on Aug 19, 2007 16:47:46 GMT
Many thanks Victor. (just adding to your workload-sorry) It is a fabulous project and I look forward to the next installment. I was at the Galloway Country Fair today and was talking to the Galloway Fisheries Trust who have done similar work locally, and obviously not on the same scale. I am keen to see if I can get involved with the GFT projects as a volunteer ( If allowed to by the Health & Safety mob . Best wishes and good luck
Robbie
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Post by victorclem on Aug 21, 2007 18:38:04 GMT
Up to 142.5 miles today. Water voles, montane willows and highly abstracted streams again. Right up in the high hills. What a difference a bit of decent weather makes.
VC
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Post by robbie on Aug 22, 2007 6:24:54 GMT
Hi Victor
Commuting, 1 hour delay at Heathrow, 1/2 hour delay at Glasgow (could not get door open!!) What b..ger all difference a bit of decent weather makes!!!!!.. I would love to swap places with you at times, I am sure I would not know where to start, but to be doing something worthwhile must be v.rewarding. Keep up the good work
Best wishes
Robbie
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Post by victorclem on Aug 22, 2007 8:23:17 GMT
Robbie,
If you would like to come out with us later in the autumn you are very welcome to do so. We are hoping to get ghillies, fishermen and members of local community to do approx 10% of total. ie 100 miles. This training and community involvement will be an important output for us. For those connected with the lower river in particular, it will give people an insight in to things up here, and if anyone is willing to come out for a couple of days then I think you would then be well equipped to undertake initial surveys of the issues in your own area.
If anyone does want to get involved with survey work, please get in touch. We are trying to finish Lochay asap at present, but will have plenty of opportunities on Lyon later in the year.
Regards,
VC
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Post by robbie on Aug 22, 2007 8:30:10 GMT
Brilliant idea! We may even get Mrs Robbie involved as well. Let me know suggested dates ,places etc etc
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Post by victorclem on Aug 22, 2007 16:35:23 GMT
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