SHADY CHARACTERS NEEDED TO COOL OUR RIVERS
Fish in Britain’s rivers are under threat from warmer waters.
Cold-water species such as Atlantic salmon and brown trout,
are struggling to cope as climate change brings significant
increases in temperature.
Today there’s a call for urgent action to Keep Rivers Cool by
planting broadleaf native trees alongside river banks, creating
dappled shading and stopping water from warming up.
Shade can reduce temperatures in small rivers by on average 23C compared to un-shaded streams; and by more on hot
summer days.
Now Keeping Rivers Cool is calling for action. Speaking on
behalf of the KRC partnership (1) Diane Millis, from the
Woodland Trust said:
“We’re asking people who value our rivers to survey their local
river bank, and look at specific areas which may need shade.
Landowners, Rivers Trusts, anglers, farmers and ecological
groups can all help. “
The KRC partnership is asking groups working in catchment
areas to take up the challenge using a practical guide for
planting along river margins, available on the Woodland Trust
website.
The manual gives step by step instructions for planting, species
selection and location, ensuring the right balance of shade for
fragile river ecosystems.
The Keeping Rivers Cool partnership can provide landowners
and groups working in catchment areas with first hand
specialist advice; and the Woodland Trust can also offer
generously subsidised trees. Shade maps showing locations
along English rivers which are at risk from direct sun and may
need more riparian shade can be accessed here via The Rivers
Trusts
Brown trout start to die when water temperature hits between
22C – 25C for more than 7 consecutive days. In hot summers, a
small number of sites in the New Forest, have recorded
maximum water temperatures over 31 C - warmer than many
heated swimming pools.
Some climate predictions indicate water temperatures will
exceed the safe thresholds for river fish; and trees alongside
riverbanks are a crucial part of the biodiversity of our
waterways.
The Trust’s Diane Millis warned:
“Figures show that stocks are already decreasing and if we
don’t start taking the temperature threat seriously, iconic fish
like salmon, will face even more serious decline. Rivers, and the
ecosystems they support, are one of our most valuable natural
resources. “
Salmon are already under pressure, from sediment and
pollution run-off, barriers to swimming up-river, lower flows
and changes in habitat. The annual fisheries report from the
Environment Agency show a continued decline in salmon
populations, with over 90 % of stocks in England’s principal
salmon rivers assessed as being at risk, or probably at risk.
At sea, marine survival of salmon has nearly halved over the
last 20 years; making it more important that their freshwater
habitat is improved, and protected.
Already Keeping Rivers Cool schemes are underway in
Northumberland, Hampshire, the South east and the North
West of England.
It’s not only shade that’s important; woody debris which drops
into streams creates cooler patches under the water, which
protect fish, invertebrates and plants.
Trees planted alongside rivers also bring other benefits to the
natural environment, they help stabilise banks, reduce and
slow the flow of flood waters downstream, and improve water
quality by filtering agricultural run-off from nearby land.
Currently only 17 % of English rivers meet good ecological
water quality standards.
For further information & images contact the Woodland Trust
press office on 01476 581121 or email
[email protected]
IMAGES: Free to download
from
https://woodlandtrust.ftpstream.com/index.php
Login: publicrelations
Keeping Rivers Cool
Password: 0penSp4ce
Folder:
Image credit WTML/Edward parker
1) Keeping Rivers Cool partnership initiative supported by:
Angling Trust, http://www.anglingtrust.net/ Environment Agency,
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/environmentagency
Freshwater Biological Association,
https://www.fba.org.uk/ Forestry Commission,
http://www.forestry.gov.uk/ National Trust,
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ Natural England,
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/natural-england
The Rivers Trust, http://www.theriverstrust.org/ the University of
Birmingham, http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/ the University of
Nottingham https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/ and the Woodland
Trust.
· KRC Guidance Manual
http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/mediafile/100814410/pg-wt060216-keeping-riverscool.pdf?cb=f79b8553bb444b31b30d1fe0e42d833c
Planting advice contact:
[email protected]
http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/plant-trees/
·
Read more here: http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/planttrees/why-plant-trees/water-management/reducing-rivertemperature/
· http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blogs/woodlandtrust/2016/02/fish-and-flooding/
· Water partnerships : http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/planttrees/why-plant-trees/water-management/water-partnershipprojects/
KEEPING RIVERS COOL PROJECTS
NORTHUMBRIA: River
Tyne http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/plant-trees/why-planttrees/water-management/water-partnershipprojects/england/northumbria/
SOUTH WEST: Wessex Tree Planting Project Hampshire Avon and
Poole Harbour
http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/publications/2015/05/keepingtheir-cool/
SOUTH EAST: Arun and Rother Rivers
http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/plant-trees/why-planttrees/water-management/water-partnershipprojects/england/south-east/
NORTH WEST: Ribble Rivers Trust; Duddon Valley
http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/plant-trees/why-planttrees/water-management/water-partnership-
projects/england/north-west/
·
Maps & catchment areas:
Shade Maps: Rivers Trust Mapping Portal http://arcg.is/1RlT25H
Zoom right in on locations (to river level) to see areas of red (least
shade). Click on the patch of red and you will see a box which tells
you the fish and ecological status of the river.
Local Catchments: Find your local catchment here
http://www.catchmentbasedapproach.org/catchment
Environment Agency Annual Fisheries
Report https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/environm
ent-agency-annual-fisheries-report
Natural England
http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/6524433387
749376?category=429415