1017 mile Habitat Project in Tay Headwaters

[victorclem]

Paul,

Not sure that there is an exact date yet, but for last two years it has been in the Birnam Centre ( in Birnam), early December. My interpretation of who is allowed to go is that they dont mind as long as you sign the record of who is there, and announce your interest if you are making any points from the floor.

Last year there was 35 people maximum, take away the board members and TDSFB employees and it was not a great show. The current Fish Tay figures show the 2007 catch running at 49% of the 5-year average with just a month to go. So you might well imagine there will be a few people out there with things to say.

VC

[murfey]

Thanks for that Victor. Think I may have to pop along too!!

[victorclem]

Just a quick post to move this thread back up past the various arguments that are going on. The things that people are interested in and want to debate have to be to the fore.

VC

[juststartedagain]

victorclem said:

You think people might be wanting to get a few things of their chests at the AGM??

definately!!! something needs done and fast!!

[victorclem]

We are taking a bit of a break for two weeks as surveyors on holiday, re-commencing Monday 1st October for another 3 weeks or so.

Total surveyed so far is 255 miles or nearly 24%.


VC

[juststartedagain]

. ...From Kercock on River Tay/Kercock Thread....One beat had 17 one day this week and killed the lot,the day before they had 6 , they had the same fate. No problem having the Fisheries Board Chairman as a boss there then ! Replies on a postcard please !!!

Disgraceful - Mr Milligan better start thinking of ideas to market his hotel and the river as some sort of bloody big cauld water spa cos thanks to the like of him there will be no fishing!

"Come visit the River Tay - Scotlands biggest Cauld Water Bath" - not quite Alice Springs is it - can't see it being a good tourist attraction!

[Willie The Gillie]

On the Tay Western Catchments Project everything is ahead of schedule and a quarter of the work already done. Full marks to Victor and his team and all who have shown balls via donations and encouragement for this godsend initiative.
Frankly I'm personally seriously angry at the indecisive nonsense thats involved with the running of the Tay but when you see such dire catches (especially at the lower end) it can only result in positive changes for the future as excuses are now running out for the decision makers. Thank F--k for tomorrow !!!
Jock

[victorclem]

Surveying re-commencing tomorrow for 2-3 weeks on Dochart, only one surveyor this week so miles will not clock up that quickly...........

VC

[victorclem]

Bit of a mile-stone today, now having done over 25% of total, standing at 281.7 miles.

Will pass the 300-mile mark early next week, if not by Friday.

Plan then is to do another 2 weeks on Forestry Commission ground and have interim report out by late November.........

VC

[victorclem]

Dear all,

Two important milestones in one day:

A successful Awards for All application has now put us past the £40,000 mark, over half the total required. This will set us up well for the winter.

We are also just past the 300 mile mark now as well, standing at 304 miles, having just finished at SAC Kirkton. Over the next two weeks we aim to complete the remaining 60 miles of Forestry Commission ground on the Dochart, which should leave us on 364 miles or almost exactly one third of the total. At that point, we will take a break from the walking, and go back to the talking; analyzing what we have got, raising the rest of the money and liasing and preparing for 2008.

The survey work is very demanding, both physically and mentally, and this is a good point just to take a break for a while. A number of issues can only really be recorded during the summer months, and, while they are OK at the moment, the cut-off point will come shortly.

Regards,

VC

[Willie The Gillie]

Its really great that the survey work funding drive is now over half way and approaching the home straight.

It is not so great to learn from many that a certain person involved with the Tay is vainly trying to undermine the integrity of this highly credible operation.

I suppose with anything in life when a rather unproductive individual tries to scupper your sterling efforts it should be taken as complimentary & a true sign that your actually on the right track.

Fuel on the fire.


Jock

[altmor]

Progress normally does touch a few raw nerves WtG, carry on - you're doing a great job.

Altmor.

[victorclem]

Home straight is 700 miles long! So a bit to go yet, but progress has been good, analysing data and writing up at the moment. First report hopefully out late November, and will post link on here once our project committee give the go-ahead.

We will have the unbeleivers on the back foot shortly.

VC

[victorclem]

We have had some useful donations from ghillies and fishermen in the last week or so, and pleased to report that we have now raised just over 60% of the £73,000 required for the initial survey. This sets us up well for the next few months, and some preparatory work by Jock should come to fruition shortly as well.

At the end of next week we will have done all the survey work we can for the moment, and will be taking a break from the walking. At that point we will have completed over one third of the total for almost exactly one third of the projected budget, with many of the hardest miles behind us. So we are happy about that.

I am writing interim report at the moment. That will be ready for internal consultation in 10 days or so, and should be out for wider consultation by late November. I will be putting a link on here.

I have received a number of letters this week from long-standing fishermen on the Tay who have witnessed the recent decline of the river and want to see more pro-active management. As envisaged from the outset, I am now more convinced than ever that WCP is going to have an important part to play in all this.

Regards,

VC

[victorclem]

Just out of interest, it is exactly 100 days tomorrow (Sunday) since we launched our Western Catchments Project with appearance on BBC Scotland and media blitz. Money has came in at a rate of £440 a day in the period since, much of it through contacts from these forums. Good effort everyone.

For those interested, we will organize some sort of talk early December to let people know what we have done so far, and what the issues seem to be. Because we are within budget, a few beers on the project for our supporters will be available.

Maybe Dunkeld or Stanley. Register your interest on here if you would like to come along.

Regards,

VC

[victorclem]

We have freshened up website with some more photos, mixture of issues and nice pictures to give a feel for the rivers concerned. Clicking on any of the photos blows them up to full screen.

www.scottishnativewoods.org.uk/index.asp?lm=60

VC

[victorclem]

Given the forecast this week, we have decided to call a halt to survey work, finishing on 346 miles or 31.4% of total, about 18 miles short of what we had planned.

We will restart the surveying April/ May next year.

Interim report with be posted late November/ early Dec.

Regards,

VC

[victorclem]

Ok, as instructed, we are away to the new forum.

Thanks to all for your interest on here.

Regards,

VC