Peter powell
@peterpowell.bsky.social
2.3K followers 1.5K following 160 posts
CEO at Welsh Dee Trust. Our objective: A river Dee free of pollution and full of wildlife. Farmer at Cefn Ucha Farm. Objective: food, nature and not going bust
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Reposted by Peter powell
jojomo0.bsky.social
I’m always so impressed to see the work done by people like this. People who dedicate their lives to improving our world. When I compare this to the power hungry and the greedy, if it’s hard to believe we are the same species.
peterpowell.bsky.social
This is the Llynor.

It's one of the cleanest tributaries on the Dee.
No farmyards or sewage treatment works upstream.

And it's mostly forest, a big section being restored to ancient woodland.

But it has a major problem.
Reposted by Peter powell
peterpowell.bsky.social
The #CunliffeReview dropped today, proposing a major overhaul of water regulation in the UK.

But there's a glaring omission.
The review recommends new regional water system planning authorities, several in 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿, one in 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿.

But what about the Dee, which crosses the border?
👇
Reposted by Peter powell
peterpowell.bsky.social
This is the Llynor.

It's one of the cleanest tributaries on the Dee.
No farmyards or sewage treatment works upstream.

And it's mostly forest, a big section being restored to ancient woodland.

But it has a major problem.
peterpowell.bsky.social
At Welsh Dee Trust, we believe this is a missed opportunity.

The River Dee and other transboundary rivers such as the Severn and Wye) need catchment-based planning.
peterpowell.bsky.social
This creates huge risks for misaligned decisions, poor coordination, and further environmental harm especially in a river already under pressure from abstraction.

The report includes 88 recommendations, but non mention cross-border river management.
peterpowell.bsky.social
The River Dee starts in Wales (where it's stored in reservoirs), then flows into England (where it's abstracted to supply cities like Liverpool).

Under the new plan, two different authorities could be undertaking planning for this system.
peterpowell.bsky.social
The #CunliffeReview dropped today, proposing a major overhaul of water regulation in the UK.

But there's a glaring omission.
The review recommends new regional water system planning authorities, several in 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿, one in 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿.

But what about the Dee, which crosses the border?
👇
Reposted by Peter powell
peterpowell.bsky.social
Electrofishing the following year showed some success with 11 Young salmon above the road crossing.

Over the next couple of months we will be back to electrofish again

Fingers crossed we see yet another increase in Salmon numbers now they have had access for 2 breeding seasons
Reposted by Peter powell
peterpowell.bsky.social
So
@WelshDeeTrust
we have brought in tonnes of large boulders.

Placing these strategically we have created a ramp that allows salmon and other fish to swim up and over the roads.
Reposted by Peter powell
peterpowell.bsky.social
The cause?

Several forestry road crossings were probably stopping salmon migrating upstream.

The photo shows one of these crossings.

Although Salmon can jump 2 meters, they need deep water to get a run up. Downstream of these crossings was very shallow.
Reposted by Peter powell
peterpowell.bsky.social
In the lower sections of the river, Salmon are spawning.

You can see a hen and cock fish spawning in the video below.

But when we electrofished higher upstream, we found 0 salmon in the tributary.

Even though the habitat looked perfect!
peterpowell.bsky.social
That's excellent. Do you know when the forestry road crossings were installed?
Reposted by Peter powell
ecosystemengineer.bsky.social
A great thread that shows the value of boots on the ground, a keen eye and being pro-active.
peterpowell.bsky.social
This is the Llynor.

It's one of the cleanest tributaries on the Dee.
No farmyards or sewage treatment works upstream.

And it's mostly forest, a big section being restored to ancient woodland.

But it has a major problem.
Reposted by Peter powell
shonatiger.bsky.social
Cool thread
peterpowell.bsky.social
This is the Llynor.

It's one of the cleanest tributaries on the Dee.
No farmyards or sewage treatment works upstream.

And it's mostly forest, a big section being restored to ancient woodland.

But it has a major problem.
peterpowell.bsky.social
Electrofishing the following year showed some success with 11 Young salmon above the road crossing.

Over the next couple of months we will be back to electrofish again

Fingers crossed we see yet another increase in Salmon numbers now they have had access for 2 breeding seasons
peterpowell.bsky.social
So
@WelshDeeTrust
we have brought in tonnes of large boulders.

Placing these strategically we have created a ramp that allows salmon and other fish to swim up and over the roads.
peterpowell.bsky.social
The cause?

Several forestry road crossings were probably stopping salmon migrating upstream.

The photo shows one of these crossings.

Although Salmon can jump 2 meters, they need deep water to get a run up. Downstream of these crossings was very shallow.
peterpowell.bsky.social
In the lower sections of the river, Salmon are spawning.

You can see a hen and cock fish spawning in the video below.

But when we electrofished higher upstream, we found 0 salmon in the tributary.

Even though the habitat looked perfect!
peterpowell.bsky.social
This is the Llynor.

It's one of the cleanest tributaries on the Dee.
No farmyards or sewage treatment works upstream.

And it's mostly forest, a big section being restored to ancient woodland.

But it has a major problem.
peterpowell.bsky.social
I can't quite understand how the social values payment works or who is eligible?
peterpowell.bsky.social
The scheme will also include optional actions which receive additional funding.

It's these optional actions that will have the largest impact upon river and water quality.

First reaction is that the universal actions still feels paperwork heavy, rather than focus on outcomes. 😬
peterpowell.bsky.social
More detail on the 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 sustainable farming scheme has been released.

This is the Welsh governments biggest investment in nature conservation and food production.

12 universal actions required to receive £70 a hectare.
Reposted by Peter powell
peterpowell.bsky.social
How's this for nature friendly farming?

This is WelshDeeTrust site on the Cheshire plains.

The 3D buffer will help protect the watercourse from any pollutants in the field and also provide valuable habitat for 🐛🦋🪶🐦‍⬛🐀.
peterpowell.bsky.social
That's the plan for the landowner using long horns.
peterpowell.bsky.social
How's this for nature friendly farming?

This is WelshDeeTrust site on the Cheshire plains.

The 3D buffer will help protect the watercourse from any pollutants in the field and also provide valuable habitat for 🐛🦋🪶🐦‍⬛🐀.