Salmon find delays plans
ABERDEENSHIRE Council have been accused of "hiding behind SEPA again" after it was revealed that there has been a delay in carrying out promised dredging work in the Cauldcotts Burn at Fettercairn, which it was hoped would lessen the risk of flooding.
The comment was made by community councillor Alan Mowat following the news that dredging could not go ahead as salmon were spawning in the water.
In a report to Mearns Community Council, Provost Bill Howatson said that most of the burn banks downstream of the Royal Arch bridge have been cleared of vegetation/overhanging branches. The upper section is outstanding but is in hand. Some trees in the burn have also been cut back near the Distillery.
Aberdeenshire Council applied to SEPA (Scottish Environment Protection Agency) to undertake a limited amount of sediment removal to ease flows through this section of the burn. Essentially this is to ensure that whatever water can come through the Royal Arch bridge itself can be accommodated in the channel downstream.
The Esk Salmon Fisheries Board undertook some electrofishing and found a good population of young salmon in the burn. This was a bit of a surprise to them as it was previously thought there would be no salmon in the burn at this location.
This means that there are potentially young salmon reds in the gravel and it's illegal to disturb them.
Provost Howatson said: "The lowering of the bed of the burn in the more critical areas could well disturb young salmon so it is proposed that this should be undertaken with a bailiff in attendance.
"If young salmon are present in the gravel then work would have to stop and we would move on to the next section. This is not ideal for either flood risk or for fisheries but may be the most sensible way to make early progress.
"ESFB have promised to consider this proposal and report back to SEPA to get a decision on the application.
"In previous spates excess water has spilled out and into the informal bypass upstream thereby limiting the amount of water which could spill out downstream. However we also know how concerned people are when levels are high and that further improvements in the channel downstream of the Royal Arch Bridge are expected at an early stage."
Mr Mowat said he expected SEPA to say that salmon do not spawn in that depth of water.
Councillor Tom Fleming said that the council have to abide by what SEPA say and at the moment they can't do anything.
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Friday 10 February 2012
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