The ACA Forum

Posts Tagged ‘environment’

The Environment Agency has two gauging stations for monitoring water levels on the Avon, at Didworthy and Loddiswell.  Data from both indicate a severe reduction in water flow during the current very dry spell of weather, especially in the lower reaches.

On Saturday 21st July, the depth at Didworthy was 0.35m (normal range = 0- 1.4m) and at Loddiswell was 0.19m (normal range = 0.25-1.8m).

A programme of gravel augmentation has been successfully carried out on the upper Avon by the Westcountry Rivers Trust, funded by South West Water, as an extension of collaborative work to improve the riparian environment for fish.   Gravel is an essential component of the salmon breeding grounds but on the Avon these breeding areas have become depleted because the natural flow of gravel downstream is interrupted by the Avon Dam.   Details of the work are available here:-

http://wrt.org.uk/gravel-bringing-salmon-back-to-devon-river/

We have launched our Sea Moor Lotto page to help raise funds in support of our work on the Devon Avon.  Please help by buying a ticket or two.  Click on the link below for more details:-

we-have-launched-on-seamoor-lotto – digital

Readers may be interested in an example giving some insight into our behind-the-scenes activities – all carried out by unpaid volunteers.  On the topic of the Avon Patrol, I heard just before the Avon Estuary Forum in May that this vital service was to be withdrawn, as a cost-saving measure, on the recommendation of the former Salcombe Harbourmaster.   None of those organisations that had contributed to the patrol for many years had been informed, including the ACA; one had even been invoiced for their 2018 contribution!  After a prolonged series of email enquiries and complaints to Parish, District and County Councillors, as well as the Manager of Commercial Services at SHDC, I was informed eventually that some way would be found to resurrect the patrol for July, August and September this year but that the future of the service beyond 2018 was uncertain.   However, a new Salcombe Harbourmaster has been appointed since this story broke and, as of today, I have been told by him that the usual patrol service will be resurrected from 1st July and I sense that we can expect a more enlightened and collaborative approach towards our estuary from SHDC in the future.

DEFRA is consulting until 20th July 2018 about designating new Marine Conservation Zones, seeking any fresh information that might influence the decision.  The summary sheet for the Avon Estuary proposal is available here – Devon Avon Estuary Factsheet

At present, the proposal does not include South Efford Marsh or the full extension of the Bass Nursery Zone out to Burgh Island.

The ACA, unsurprisingly, fully supports such a designation and our suggested modifications as a means of protecting the marine life of the estuary from unwarranted change, development or exploitation.

Our formal response is available for inspection here :- MCZ – Devon Avon Estuary

DEFRA reply – All responses will be considered before Ministers make their final decisions on which sites will be designated in the third tranche. We aim to designated this tranche within 12 months. Final decisions on which sites will be designated will take into account any relevant information submitted as part of this consultation. We will publish details of evidence received and a full Government response to these together with the final decisions on each site within 12 months. This will be placed on the consultations section of the Government web site.