Flow Regulation on the River Awe Alan Kettle-White
The River Awe 5 km length HMWB (S&SE) Good EP 22 MW Scheme Loch Etive Power House 5 km length HMWB (S&SE) Good EP 22 MW Scheme Built 1959-65 NW Hydro Board Awe Salmon Fishery Hatchery replaced spawning at Barrage Barrage / intake Loch Awe
Migration Corridor & Nursery Habitat
The Awe Barrage 2 x radial flood gates Boreland fish lift Comp flow via top generator set
Old flow profile 2011
Regulated Flow - Summer
Regulated Flow - Winter
River Awe - Fish Recruitment Objectives; Identify & tackle factors affecting fish passage & spawning Spawning sites- Redd counts Assess egg-to-smolt survival – electrofishing surveys Identify potential to improve condition of habitats – habitat survey Inform flow regulation regime Mitigate loss of spawning sites Project partners; Argyll Fisheries Trust Awe District River Improvement Association Scottish & Southern Energy Scottish Government (via RAFTS)
R. Awe Study Conclusions Downstream Fish Passage Salmon smolts Salmon Kelts Ferox trout Spawning Shortage of optimal spawning sites Supply of spawning material Insufficient flow at spawning time Some spawning sites left high and dry in winter Comp / Freshet flow review Spawning site & flow mitigation / creation Produce plans and obtain licenses
Flow changes - Objectives AIMS; Increase ‘naturalness’ of flows to better serve general ecology & improve recruitment of Juvenile fish Egg incubation; >Jan-March 700,000 (m³/day) Alevin Survival; < April; 900,000 (m³/day) Emergent Fry > May – 15th June; 1,000,000 (m³/day) Inverts & fish growth; 16th June – July; 700,000 (m³/day) Increase habitat area; Aug-Sept; >900,000 (m³/day) Spawning; Oct – >Dec; 800,000 (m³/day) Freshets; 10 times per year at 1,500,000 (m³/day); 23 days Spare water for adaptive management
New flow profile 2012
Assessment of new flow regime 1. Fish counter validation Assess adult migration in relation to new flow discharge (December) 2. Early fry emergence Electrofishing at spawn sites (May) 3. Assess juvenile habitat suitability Map fry habitat at different flow discharges (May, July, Sept & Oct) 4. Redd counts Assess use of spawning habitat (Oct to January) 5. Habitat Restoration options Spawning site & flow restoration / creation Produce plans and obtain licenses
Off-line Spawning
Low flow channel connection
Anglers? All 1 SW grilse 4 to 8lb No fresh run fish Some left to fish on other rivers All of them moaned Some of them caught fish All 1 SW grilse 4 to 8lb No fresh run fish