A CONSERVATION AUDIT OF FISH SPECIES IN TRIBUTARIES OF NORTHUMBRIAN WATER RESERVOIRS

Transcription

1 A CONSERVATION AUDIT OF FISH SPECIES IN TRIBUTARIES OF NORTHUMBRIAN WATER RESERVOIRS D T & D C Crisp Note: Neither the whole nor any part of this report, or reference thereto, may be included in any published document, circular or statement, published or referred to in any way without written approval of Northumbrian Water and the authors, of the form and content in which it may appear.

2 CONTENTS Page 1 Introduction 1 Methods and Equipment 1 Existing Data 2 The Reservoirs 2 The Fish Species 2 New Information from Individual Reservoirs 4 Species Distribution Summary 4 Other Observations 4 Discussion and Conclusions 7 Acknowledgments 8 References Appendix I Appendix II Appendix III Appendix IV Existing Information from Individual Reservoirs Published Information from Cow Green Reservoir Edited field notes Lengths of fish of each species examined

3 A CONSERVATION AUDIT OF FISH SPECIES IN TRIBUTARIES OF NORTHUMBRIAN WATER RESERVOIRS. INTRODUCTION Northumbrian Water has responsibility for 23 reservoirs of varying sizes in northeastern England. Information on major species (i.e. species of interest to anglers) within the reservoirs is already available from the Northumbrian Water rangers and reports by anglers. For most reservoirs, however, there is little or no information on minor species in small tributaries and, to a lesser extent, in the main inflow and outflow streams/rivers. These minor species include fish rarely caught by anglers and some of them such as the bullhead (Cottus gobio L.) and the brook lamprey (Lampetra planeri Bloch) are of conservation interest (Boon et al. 1992, Maitland 2004). It would, therefore, be useful to make an audit of fish species in a representative selection of small tributaries (plus, possibly, the inflow and outflow streams) for each reservoir. METHODS & EQUIPMENT The reservoirs can be conveniently separated into six geographical groups (Table 1) and the sampling was scheduled to take place over a period of five years, covering three to six reservoirs in each year during a working week early in May. This time was selected as a time of year when temperatures are high enough to facilitate efficient electrofishing but water temperatures are not likely to be so high as to cause stress to the fish. It was assumed that each reservoir would, on average, take one day. In practice, it was occasionally possible to complete two reservoirs in one day and the whole programme was completed in May At small reservoirs it was usually possible to cover all tributaries large enough to contain fish, plus the inflow and outflow. At larger reservoirs it was sometimes only possible to fish a representative selection of streams. Fishing was normally confined to reaches actually owned by Northumbrian Water and sampling stations were usually reached by walking round each reservoir margin. The position of sampling sites was defined by means of National Grid references, to eight figures when suitable maps were available, otherwise to six figures. Generally, each sampling reach was measured (length and mean width) and was given a single upstream fishing. As a rule, all fish caught were identified to species, measured and released. Identification and nomenclature follow Maitland (2004). This procedure gave a species list for each sampling reach and usually a minimum estimate of population density for each species. Records were also kept of any crayfish, newts or Ephemera danica seen. The electrofishing equipment was a Deka lightweight (5.5 kg) set powered by a 6.5 ampère-hour, 12 volt, sealed lead/acid battery operating at c. 2.0 amps. The output was pulsed DC at 80 cycles sec -1 and 220 volts. The equipment was fitted with a dead man s switch and an external emergency stop button. EXISTING DATA Suitable species lists already exist for Cow Green Reservoir because this water body and its tributaries were the subject of a long-term study of fish populations by the FBA/IFE during the period and the results have been published (Crisp, 1984; Crisp, Mann 1

4 & Cubby, 1984; Crisp, Mann, Cubby & Robson, 1990; Crisp & Mann, 1991 see Appendix II). During March 1997 three tributaries of Derwent Reservoir and two sites downstream were electrofished for Northumbrian Water as part of a study on feral rainbow trout. Similarly, two stations at Burnhope reservoir were examined. Fish census work was carried out at Kielder/Bakethin before impoundment (Ottaway, 1979, unpublished) and after (Haile, 1992, 1996, unpublished). Retrieval of the data facilitated creation of a species list without the need for further major fieldwork. This information is summarised in Appendices I & II and Tables a d. THE RESERVOIRS The reservoirs are listed in Table 2. They vary in area from 8.2 ha (Airy Holm header pond) to 1093 ha (Kielder Water) and in altitude from 105 m.o.d. (Whittle Dene) to 449 m.o.d. (Cow Green). THE FISH SPECIES The fish species recorded are listed in Table 3 together with abbreviations used in some of the species lists. NEW INFORMATION FROM INDIVIDUAL RESERVOIRS This section consists of a brief verbal statement about each reservoir together with tables for each reservoir, giving details of individual stations and minimum fish population densities. More detailed descriptions of individual stations are given in Appendix III and more details of the fish examined are in Appendix IV. 1. Grassholme Visited on 3 May Seven stations were electrofished. Six fish species were recorded and details of their distributions together with minimum estimates of their population densities are given in Table 4. Numerous newly emerged salmonid fry (brown trout?) were seen at Station Selset Visited on 4 May 2004 and seven stations were electrofished whilst a further station (St 8) was fished on 17 August Four fish species were recorded (Table 5). 3. Balderhead Seven stations were visited on 5 May 2004 but two (Stations 3 and 5) were found not to be safely accessible and safety considerations led to some of the others being fished away from the reservoir margins and close to Northumbrian Water boundary. See Table 6 and Appendix III for details. Three fish species were recorded (Table 6). 4. Blackton On 6 May 2004 six stations were electrofished and three fish species were recorded (Table 7). 5. Hury Six stations were sampled on 7 May 2004 and five fish species were recorded in tributaries and the downstream river (Table 8). 2

5 6. Scaling Dam Two stations were visited on 8 May Station 1 was the main inflow and no fish and very few invertebrates were found in the lowermost parts of the stream itself. No fish but good numbers of invertebrates were seen at the reservoir margin. Station 2 was the outflow beside the old pumping station. Very large numbers of small fish were seen there and a subsample of several dozen was examined but not measured. All were three-spined sticklebacks (Table 9). 7. Lockwood Beck One station sampled on 8 May There are no other inflows of significant size and the outflow is of such a nature as to be unlikely to harbour fish on a long-term basis. See Table 10 for details of species and minimum population densities. Recently emerged salmonid fry (brown trout?) present. 8. Burnhope On 18 March 1997 the outflow and main inflow (Burnhope Burn) were electrofished. Only brown trout were found in the outflow. The inflow was difficult to fish due to high water levels but a sample of eleven 0-group trout was collected. Ten were brown trout and the other was a rainbow trout (see Appendix I). On 2 May 2005 a total of six stations was electrofished, including the inflow (Station 1) and the outflow (Station 6). Four fish species were recorded (Table 11). 9. Tunstall Four stations were fished on 3 May 2005 and seven fish species recorded (Table 12). A major tributary by the car park lies outside the Northumbrian Water boundary and was not fished. The two lampreys were both adult brook lampreys. 10. Waskerley Eight stations were visited on 4 May 2005 but fish (two species) were found in only three of them (Table 13). 11. Smiddy Shaw Three stations were sampled on 4 May A single fish species was found in one of them (Table 14). 12. Hisehope Visited on 5 May 2005 and four stations were fished but no fish seen or caught (Table15). 13. Airy Holm Visited on 5 May Three stations were fished, two of them little more than drains. Fish (three species) were found only in the outflow. See Table Derwent Five stations were electrofished on 19 March 1997 (see Appendix I) and these are designated 1A to 5A. Six additional stations were fished on 6 May 2005 and, combining the results from 1997 and 2005, a total of five species was recorded (Table 17). 3

6 15. Whittle Dene Five stations were electrofished on 1 May Two additional streams shown on the maps were examined but found to be ditches with ephemeral flow. A total of five species was recorded (Table 18). 16. Hallington Two stations were electrofished on 2 May Two other sites were visited but one was dry and the other was a man-made channel. A total of two species was recorded (Table 19). 17. Colt Crag Three stations were electrofished on 3 May. The outflow was not fished as it was less than 1 km upstream of Station 1 at Little Swinburn, which was fished. Four species were recorded (Table 20). 18. Little Swinburne One station was electrofished on 3 May The outflow was a deep, engineered channel and was not fished. A further inflow was examined but found to be a small ditch. A total of three species was recorded (Table 21). 19. Fontburn Five stations were electrofished on 4 May 2006 and five species were found (Table 22). 20. Catcleugh Four stations were electrofished on 5 May 2006 and six species were seen (Table 23). A further site was examined and found to be only a ditch. SPECIES DISTRIBUTION SUMMARY The data from individual reservoirs are brought together in Table 24. OTHER OBSERVATIONS Electrofishing is a useful method of detecting groups other than fish. Newts are prone to capture by electrofishing and some groups of invertebrates such as crayfish and the large burrowing mayfly larva (Ephemera danica) can often be detected during electrofishing even though they may be missed by standard sampling methods for stream invertebrates. Up to the end of 2006 sampling no crayfish were seen. Ephemera danica (Müller) nymphs were seen at Tunstall (Station 3), Derwent (Station 5), Whittle Dene (Station 3) and Catcleugh (Station 2). Palmate newts (Triturus helveticus Razoumoski) were seen at Waskerley (Station 1) and Hisehope (Station 2). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS Table 24 is presented in due order in the Tables section but is repeated overleaf for convenience. 1. Distribution and identification of species. A total of eleven species was recorded (Tables 3 & 24). Brown trout (Salmo trutta), stone loach (Neomacheilus barbatulus), bullhead (Cottus gobio), minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus) and three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) occurred at a large proportion of the reservoirs (45 to 82%) and covered most of the observed 4

7 altitudinal range. A Salmo trutta pre-smolt of 12.0 cm length was found at Derwent Station 6 on 5 May The dam there was closed in 1966 and there is no fish pass. This implies that the tendency to smolt has been retained by the resident trout population for some 40 years. Similarly, a run of trout smolts occurs in Kielder Burn each spring (Peter Gray, pers. comm.). Juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) were found downstream of Grassholme, Kielder and Catcleugh reservoirs but not upstream. This might be expected because none of these reservoirs has an effective fish pass and the only way juvenile salmon could, therefore, appear upstream of a dam would be as a result of escapes from hatcheries (see Appendix I) or of deliberate introduction. The rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) is an alien species which is extensively stocked in reservoir fisheries and is adept at escaping downstream. Juveniles, almost certainly produced as a result of escapees or their progeny breeding in the wild, were found at four reservoirs. The grayling (Thymallus thymallus) is included in the list on the basis of a single juvenile seen in Carl Beck and of the known occurrence of the species in the River Lune downstream of Grassholme Reservoir. The European eel (Anguilla anguilla) was found at only three reservoirs and only downstream of the dam at two of them. Although eels can travel over damp ground, it is likely that the dams are a substantial obstacle to the upstream movement of elvers. Britain has three species of lamprey. The sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) whose ammocete larvae live in sandy silt deposits in rivers for 2 5 years and then migrate to sea. The adults return to freshwater to spawn (Maitland, 2004). The river lamprey (Lampetra fluvialitis) has a similar life cycle to the sea lamprey. There are several purely freshwater populations in Europe but the only one known in Britain is in Loch Lomond (Maitland, 2004). The brook lamprey (Lampetra planeri) spends the whole of its life in freshwater and is the smallest of three species. In the present study both adults (Derwent, Tunstall, Kielder, and Fontburn) and ammocete larvae (Derwent, Catcleugh) were found. The adults were positively identified as brook lampreys (Maitland, 2004) and the ammocetes are almost certainly the same species on the grounds of both size (all within the range 3.1 to 9.7 cm) and the fact that the dams will prevent access by adult sea and river lampreys. The gudgeon (Gobio gobio) was found only at the inflow of Tunstall reservoir. This is a common and widespread lowland species but would not be expected at this location. It is almost certainly there as an introduced species, possibly as a result of an angler discarding unwanted live bait. In reservoirs such as Hury, Lockwood Beck, Whittle Dene and Hallington, where coarse fish are known to be present, occasional incursions to the tributaries by such species as perch (Perca fluviatilis L.) and roach (Rutilus rutilus (L)) might be expected, but none were found during the present survey. 2. Conservation status of each species. The conservation status of British freshwater organisms has been summarized and discussed by Boon, Morgan & Palmer (1992) and Boon & Lee (2005). It is worth noting that the palmate newt (see pp 6 & 7) was given some protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act There are three main enactments that give protection to some fish species (Boon et al., 1992). They are the Wildlife and Countryside Act (as reviewed in 1992) (= WCA), the EC Habitats and Species Directorate (Annexes IV and V) (= EC) and the Bern Convention (Appendices I-III) (= Bern). These give protection to the brook lamprey (EC V), grayling (EC V, Bern III) and Atlantic salmon (EC V, Bern III). Maitland (2004) gives a more detailed summary for individual fish species and his comments on the eleven species listed in Tables 3 and 24 are summarized below. 5

8 a) The rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) is an alien species that requires no conservation measures in Britain. b) The stone loach (Neomacheilus barbatulus), minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus), threespined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) and gudgeon (Gobio gobio) are all classed as common or relatively common and in no need of protection in Britain. c) The brown trout (Salmo trutta). Maitland comments that this is one of Britain s commonest native species and that there are no national conservation measures. There is, however, some concern about the conservation of isolated genetic stocks and such stocks could occur upstream of some of Northumbrian Water reservoirs where there has been little or no artificial stocking (e.g. Balderhead, Cow Green). d) The European eel (Anguilla anguilla). Although there are at present no conservation measures, this species appears to be in decline throughout Europe and it may well receive protection in the future. e) The Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) is protected by various pieces of British legislation and also by Annexes II a and V a of the EC Habitat and Species Directive and by Appendix III of the Bern Convention. f) The grayling (Thymallus thymallus) is listed in Annex Va of the EC Habitat and Species Directive and in Appendix III of the Bern Convention. g) The bullhead (Cottus gobio) is a common British species but is in decline in parts of Europe and is listed in Annex IIa of the EC Habitat and Species Directive. h) The brook lamprey (Lampetra planeri) is in decline and is listed in Annex II a of the EC Habitat and Species Directive and in Appendix III of the Bern Convention. 3. Information on habitat requirements and monitoring. For Atlantic salmon, bullhead and brook lamprey, guidance on monitoring and ecological requirements have been developed in support of the European Commission s LIFE Nature Programme. Hendry & Cragg-Hine (2003) and Cowx & Fraser ((2003) cover the ecology and monitoring, respectively, of the Atlantic salmon. The corresponding works for bullhead are Tomlinson & Perrow (2003) and Cowx & Harvey (2003) and for the brook lamprey are Maitland (2003) and Harvey & Cowx (2003). Flow, habitat and water quality requirements for Atlantic salmon are summarized by Hendry & Cragg-Hine (2003) and covered in more detail by Crisp (2000) and will be discussed below. Ecological requirements of the bullhead are similar to those for brown trout and the main threats to them arise from pollution, habitat deterioration as a result of engineering and failure to re-introduce bullheads after fish kills (Tomlinson & Perrow, 2003). Adult brook lampreys require fine gravel for spawning whilst the requirements of the eggs for shelter and oxygen are likely to be similar to those for brown trout (see Crisp, 2000 for brown trout requirements). The larvae require beds of mud, silt or silt and sand but are sensitive to low oxygen concentrations and to pollution (Maitland, 2003). The main threats listed by Maitland are pollution, disturbance by engineering works, deposition of fine silt, eutrophication and obstructions that hinder movements to the spawning areas. It is worth noting that lampreys really require specialised sampling methods (Cowx & Harvey (2003) but in the present survey they were caught by standard electrofishing methods. The sampling time in early May is a good time in which to find adult lampreys. Nevertheless, brook lampreys may be more widespread in the tributaries of Northumbrian Water reservoirs than Table 24 suggests. 4. Fish conservation with special reference to Northumbrian Water reservoirs. a) Reservoirs in whose tributaries fish were absent or scarce. Four stations were fished at Hisehope Reservoir but no fish were seen. At the main inflow (Station 1) numerous dead earthworms and the scarcity or absence of aquatic 6

9 invertebrates suggest a water quality problem. This could arise from periodic pollution from agriculture (e.g. sheep dip) or old mine spoil, or a problem of acid inputs. Water analyses might give some indication of the cause(s). At Smiddy Shaw Reservoir three stations were fished and a single brown trout was found in one of them. The other two stations were not likely to have supported much by way of fish but invertebrates were seen at both. Eight stations were fished at Waskerley Reservoir and three of them contained fish representing two species (brown trout and minnow). Hisehope Reservoir is, apparently, known as a fishless body of water whereas Waskerley reservoir clearly supports sufficient game fish as to be a viable fishery. The general paucity of fish populations in the tributaries of the whole of this system is puzzling but probably reflects some aspect of water quality. b) Atlantic salmon. This species occurs only downstream of several of the reservoirs. Its welfare in these places may be influenced by aspects of reservoir operation. The following are, perhaps, most important. (i) Large falls in downstream water level during the intragravel life (i.e. October- May/June) could lead to exposure of the young stages to drying-out or freezing. (ii) Instream engineering works, or release of suspended solids from scour valves could lead to silting of redds and, hence, damage to young stages. (iii) Changes in downstream water temperature as a result of impoundment could influence incubation, growth rate or, even, survival of young stages. The precise effects, if any, will be site specific. c) Bullhead. There is a requirement for clean water and a stony substratum. The main potential threats arise from pollution (sheep dip, silage liquor, slurry) and from siltation (land use effects). Such threats will not usually arise on Northumbrian Water land but could come from agricultural and engineering activities upstream and outwith NW property. d) Brook lamprey. The main threats, again, hinge upon pollution, silt deposition and engineering works. It is worth noting that the ammocete larvae live in beds of fine gravel/sand/silt that often occur at the sides of the main stream flow. Attempts to clean-up such deposits should be resisted. e) General comments. For all of the above species the main conservation requirement is the maintenance of suitable water quality, water flow and habitat and, for these purposes, water quality includes fine suspended solids and temperature. The main threats are from agriculture and instream engineering. Some tributaries of Whittle Dene, Hallington and Colt Cragg Reservoirs appeared to contain large amounts of fine silt. These problems may emanate from outwith stream sections that are controlled by Northumbrian Water. The best way of mitigating these threats is likely to be through a programme of education aimed at Northumbrian Water staff and at owners of adjacent land whose operations might affect streams within Northumbrian Water boundaries. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The authors are indebted to Northumbrian Water for financing the work. Several private land/water owners gave permission to access sites via their land and we are most grateful for this help. Finally we are indebted to a number of staff of Northumbrtian Water for their help in a variety of ways. 7

10 REFERENCES Boon, P.J. & Lee, A. (2003) Falling through the cracks: are European Directives and International Conventions the panacea for Freshwater Nature Conservation? Freshwater Forum 24, Boon, P.J., Morgan, D.H.W. & Palmer, M.A. (1992) Statutory protection of freshwater flora and fauna in Britain. Freshwater Forum 2, Crisp, D.T. (1984) Effects of Cow Green Reservoir upon downstream fish populations. Freshwater Biological Association Annual Report 52, Crisp, D.T. (2000) Trout and Salmon: Ecology, Conservation and Rehabilitation. Fishing News Books, Blackwell Science, Oxford 212p. Crisp, D.T., Mann, R.H.K. & Cubby, P.R. (1984) Effects of impoundment upon fish populations in afferent streams at Cow Green Reservoir. Journal of Applied Ecology 21, Crisp, D.T., Mann, R.H.K., Cubby, P.R. & Robson, S. (1990) Effects of impoundment upon trout (Salmo trutta) in the basin of Cow Green Reservoir. Journal of Applied Ecology 27, Crisp, D.T. & Mann, R.H.K. (1991) Effects of impoundment on populations of bullhead, Cottus gobio L., and minnow, Phoxinus phoxinus (L), in the basin of Cow Green Reservoir. Journal of Fish Biology 38, Cowx, I.G. & Fraser, D. (2003) Monitoring the Atlantic Salmon. Conserving Natura 2000 River Monitoring Series No. 7. English Nature, Peterborough. Cowx, I.G. & Harvey, J.P. (2003) Monitoring the Bullhead, Cottus gobio. Conserving Natura 200 Rivers Monitoring Series No. 4. English Nature, Peterborough. Harvey, J.P. & Cowx, I.G. (2003) Monitoring the River, Brook and Sea Lamprey, Lampetra fluviatilis, L. planeri, and Petromyzon marinus. Conserving Natura 2000 Rivers Ecology Series No. 5, English Nature, Peterborough. Hendry, K. & Cragg-Hine, D. (2003) Ecology of the Atlantic Salmon. Conserving Natura 2000 Rivers Monitoring Series No. 7. English Nature, Peterborough. Maitland, P. S. (2003) Ecology of the River, Brook and Sea Lamprey. Conserving Natura 2000 Rivers Ecology Series No. 5. English Nature, Peterborough. Maitland, P.S. (2004) Keys to the freshwater fish of Britain and Ireland, with notes on their distribution and ecology. Freshwater Biological Association Scientific Publication 62, Tomlinson, M.L. & Perrow, M.R. (2003) Ecology of the Bullhead. Conserving Natura 2000 Rivers Ecology Series No. 4. English Nature. Peterborough. 8

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12 TABLE 1. Reservoirs listed in six geographical regions together with the year in which each group was surveyed. GROUP YEAR RESERVOIRS Scaling Dam, Lockwood Beck Grassholme, Selset, Balderhead, Blackton, Hury (Cow Green), Burnhope Derwent, Airy Holm, Hisehope, Smiddyshaw, Waskerley, Tunstall Colt Crag, Little Swinburne, E & W Hallington, Whittle Dene (Kielder, Bakethin), Fontburn, Catcleugh 10

13 TABLE 2. Details of the reservoirs (provided by Northumbrian Water). RESERVOIR NAT. GRID REF. AREA ALTITUDE (ha) (m.o.d.) Scaling Dam NZ/ Lockwood Beck NZ/ Grassholme NY/ Selset NY/ Balderhead NY/ Blackton NY/ Hury NY/ Cow Green NY/ Burnhope NY/ Derwent NZ/ Airy Holm NZ/ Hisehope NZ/ Smiddyshaw NZ/ Waskerley NZ/ Tunstall NZ/ Colt Crag NY/ Little Swinburne NY/ E & W Hallington NY/ Whittle Dene NZ/ Kielder NY/ Bakethin NY/ Fontburn NZ/ Catcleugh NT/

14 TABLE 3. List of fish species, their common names and abbreviations used in the summary table. Nomenclature follows Maitland (2004). SPECIES COMMON NAME ABBREVIATION Salmo salar L. Atlantic salmon S Salmo trutta L. brown trout, sea trout BT Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum) rainbow trout RT Thymallus thymallus (L.) grayling Gr Barbatula barbatula (L.) stone loach L Anguilla anguilla (L.) eel E Cottus gobio L. bullhead B Lampetra planeri (Bloch) brook lamprey BL Phoxinus phoxinus (L.) minnow M Gasterosteus aculeatus L. three-spined stickleback SB Gobio gobio (L.) gudgeon Gu 12

15 TABLE 4a. Sampling stations at Grassholme Reservoir on 3 May STATION Nat. Grid. Ref. Length Mean width Area (8 figures) (m) (m) (m 2 ) 1. NY/ NY/ NY/ NY/ NY/ NY/ NY/ TABLE 4b. Distribution and minimum population densities (number m -2 ) of six fish species in tributaries of Grassholme Reservoir. BT = brown trout, RT = rainbow trout, L = stone loach, B = bullhead, M= minnow, SB = three-spined stickleback SPECIES BT RT L B M SB STATION

16 TABLE 5a. Sampling stations at Selset Reservoir on 4 May 2004 (Sts 1-7) and 17 August 2005 (St 8). STATION Nat. grid ref. Length Mean width Area (8 figures) (m) (m) (m 2 ) 1. NY/ NY/ NY/ NY/ NY/ NY/ NY/ NY/ TABLE 5b. Distribution and minimum population densities (number m -2 ) of four fish species in tributaries of Selset reservoir. BT = brown trout, L = stone loach, B = bullhead, M = minnow. SPECIES BT L B M STATION

17 TABLE 6a. Sampling stations at Balderhead Reservoir on 5 May STATION Nat. Grid Ref. Length Mean width Area (8 figures) (m) (m) (m 2 ) 1. NY/ NY/ NY/ NA NA NA 4. NY/ NY/ NA NA NA 6. NY/ NY/ TABLE 6b. Distribution and minimum population density (number m -2 ) of three fish species at Balderhead reservoir. Note that Station 7 is the River Balder at the head of the reservoir. BT = brown trout, L = stone loach, M = minnow. SPECIES BT L M STATION

18 TABLE 7a. Sampling stations at Blackton Reservoir on 6 May STATION Nat. Grid Ref. Length Mean width Area (8 figures) (m) (m) (m 2 ) 1. NY/ (i) NY/ (ii) NY/ NY/ NY/ NY/ NY/ TABLE 7b. Distribution and minimum densities (number m -2 ) in tributaries of Blackton Reservoir. Small rainbow trout have been seen at Station 2 on past occasions. BT = brown trout, L = stone loach, M = minnow. SPECIES BT L M STATION

19 TABLE 8a. Sampling stations at Hury Reservoir on 7 May STATION Nat. Grid Ref. Length Mean width Area (8 figures) (m) (m) (m 2 ) 1. NY/ NY/ NY/ NY/ NY/ NY/ c.45.0 TABLE 8b. Distribution and minimum population densities (number m -2 ) of five fish species in five tributaries of Hury Reservoir. Note that Station 6 was part of the downstream River Balder and opportunist fishing on the margins of the stilling pool. For this station a selection of each species found was measured. BT = brown trout, L = stone loach, B = bullhead, M = minnow, SB = threespined stickleback. SPECIES BT L B M SB STATION Note: Rainbow trout can be added to the list for Station 6, on the basis of Environment Agency observations. 17

20 TABLE 9a. Sampling stations at Scaling Dam on 8 May STATION Nat. Grid Ref. Length Mean width Area (8 figures) (m) (m) (m 2 ) 1. NZ/ NZ/ TABLE 9b. Fish species recorded at Scaling Dam on 8 May SB = three-spined stickleback. SPECIES SB STATION

21 TABLE 10a. Sampling station at Lockwood Beck Reservoir on 8 May STATION Nat. Grid ref. Length Mean width Area (8 figures) (m) (m) (m 2 ) 1. NZ/ TABLE 10b. Minimum population densities of two fish species (number m -2 ) at Lockwood Beck Reservoir on 8 May BT = brown trout, M = minnow SPECIES BT M STATION

22 TABLE 11a. Sampling stations at Burnhope Reservoir on 2 May Station Nat. Grid ref. Length Mean width Area (8 figures) (m) (m) (m 2 ) 1* NY/ & & NY/ NY/ NY/ NY/ NY/ TABLE 11b. Distribution and minimum population densities (number m -2 ) of fish species in tributaries of Burnhope Reservoir. BT = brown trout, L = stone loach, M = minnow. SPECIES BT L M STATION < N.B. A 0-group rainbow trout was caught at Station 2 on 18 March 1997 and is included in Table

23 TABLE 12a. Sampling stations at Tunstall Reservoir on 3 May STATION Nat. Grid ref. Length Mean width Area (8 figures) (m) (m) (m 2 ) 1. NZ/ NZ/ NZ/ NZ/ TABLE 12b. Distribution and minimum population densities (number m -2 ) of fish species in tributaries of Tunstall Reservoir. BT = brown trout, L = stone loach, B = bullhead, BL = brook lamprey, M = minnow, SB = three-spined stickleback, Gu = gudgeon. SPECIES BT L B BL M SB Gu STATION <

24 TABLE 13a. Sampling stations at Waskerley Reservoir on 4 May STATION Nat. Grid ref. Length Mean width Area (8 figures) (m) (m) (m 2 ) 1. NZ/ NZ/ NZ/ NZ/ NZ/ NZ/ NZ/ NZ/ TABLE 13b. Distribution and minimum population densities (numbers m -2 ) of two fish species in tributaries of Waskerley Reservoir. BT = brown trout, M = minnow SPECIES BT M STATION

25 TABLE 14a. Sampling stations at Smiddy Shaw Reservoir on 4 May STATION Nat. Grid ref. Length Mean width Area (8 figures) (m) (m) (m 2 ) 1*. NZ/ & & NZ/ NZ/ * Two parts of a divided channel were fished. TABLE 14b. Distribution and minimum population densities (numbers m -2 ) of one fish species in tributaries of Smiddy Shaw Reservoir. BT = brown trout. SPECIES BT STATION

26 TABLE 15a. Sampling stations at Hisehope Reservoir on 5 May STATION Nat. Grid ref. Length Mean width Area (8 figures) (m) (m) (m 2 ) 1. NZ/ NZ/ NZ/ NZ/ TABLE 15 b. No fish caught. 24

27 TABLE 16a. Sampling stations at Airy Holm Reservoir on 5 May STATION Nat. Grid ref. Length Mean width Area (8 figures) (m) (m) (m 2 ) 1. NZ/ NZ/ NZ/ TABLE 16b. Distribution and minimum population densities (number m -2 ) of three fish species at Airy Holm Reservoir on May L = stone loach, M = minnow, SB = three-spined stickleback. SPECIES L M SB STATION 3. <0.01 <

28 TABLE 17a. Sampling stations at Derwent Reservoir on 19 March 1997 (1A to 5A) and 6 May 2005 (1 to 6). STATION Nat. Grid ref. Length Mean width Area (8 figures) (m) (m) (m 2 ) 1A. NZ/ A. NZ/ A. NZ/ A. NY/ A. NY/ NY/ NY/ NZ/ NZ/ NY/ NZ/ NZ/ TABLE 17b. Distribution and minimum population densities (number m 2 ) of five fish at Derwent Reservoir in 1997 (1A to 5A) and 6 May 2005 (1 to 6). BT = brown trout, L = stone loach, B = bullhead, BL = brook lamprey, M = minnow. SPECIES BT L B BL M STATION 1A A A A A < < * N.B. 1. Bullhead found only downstream of the reservoir. 2. All brook lampreys were mature except the one at Station 1 which was an ammocete larva. * One of the two brown trout at this station was a pre-smolt. 26

29 TABLE 18a. Sampling stations at Whittle Dene Reservoirs on 1 May STATION Nat. Grid ref. Length Mean width Area (m) (m) (m 2 ) 1. NZ/ NZ/ NZ/ NZ/ NZ/ TABLE 18b. Distribution and minimum population densities (number m -2 ) of four fish species at Whittle Dene Reservoirs on 1 May BT = brown trout, L = stone loach, E = eel, SB = three-spined stickleback. SPECIES BT L E SB STATION

30 TABLE 19a. Sampling stations at Hallington Reservoirs on 2 May STATION Nat. Grid ref. Length Mean width Area (m) (m) (m 2 ) 1. NY/ NY/ TABLE 19b. Distribution and minimum population densities (number m -2 ) of four fish species at Hallington Reservoirs on 2 May BT = brown trout, B = bullhead. SPECIES BT B STATION

31 TABLE 20a. Sampling stations at Colt Crag Reservoir on 3 May STATION Nat. Grid ref. Length Mean width Area (m) (m) (m 2 ) 1. NY/ NY/ NY/ TABLE 20b. Distribution and minimum population densities (number m -1 ) of four fish species at Colt Crag Reservoir on 3 May BT = brown trout, B = bullhead, M = minnow, SB = three-spined stickleback SPECIES BT B M SB STATION

32 TABLE 21a. Sampling station at Little Swinburne Reservoir on 3 May STATION Nat. Grid ref. Length Mean width Area (m) (m) (m 2 ) 1. NY/ TABLE 21b. Distribution and minimum population densities (number m -2 ) of three fish species at Little Swinburne Reservoir on 3 May B = bullhead, M = minnow, SB = three-spined stickleback. SPECIES B M SB STATION

33 TABLE 22a. Sampling stations at Fontburn Reservoir on 4 May STATION Nat. grid ref. Length Mean width Area (m) (m) (m 2 ) 1. NZ/ NZ/ NZ/ NZ/ NZ/ TABLE 22b. Distribution and minimum population densities (number m -2 ) of four fish species at Fontburn Reservoir on 4 May BT = brown trout, L = stone loach, E = eel, BL = brook lamprey, M = minnow SPECIES BT L E BL M STATION N.B. Both brook lampreys were mature. 31

34 TABLE 23a. Sampling stations at Catcleugh Reservoir on 5 May STATION Nat. Grid ref. Length Mean width Area (m) (m) (m 2 ) 1. NT/ NT/ NT/ NT/ TABLE 23b. Distribution and minimum population densities (number m -2 ) of six fish species at Catcleugh Reservoir on 5 May S = salmon, BT = brown trout, L = stone loach, BL = brook lamprey, M = minnow, SB = three-spined stickleback. SPECIES S BT L BL M SB STATION

35 TABLE 24. Summary species list for tributaries of Northumbrian Water reservoirs. S = Salmo salar (salmon), BT = Salmo trutta (brown/sea trout), RT = Oncorhynchus mykiss (rainbow trout), Gr = Thymallus thymallus (grayling), L = Noemacheilus barbatulus (stone loach), E = Anguilla anguilla (eel), B = Cottus gobio (bullhead), BL = Lampetra planeri (brook lamprey), M = Phoxinus phoxinus (minnow), SB = Gasterosteus aculeatus (three-spined stickleback), Gu = Gobio gobio (gudgeon). (+) = present but only recorded downstream of the dam. SPECIES S BT RT Gr L E B BL M SB Gu TOTALS RESERVOIR Scaling Dam + 1 Lockwood Beck Grassholme (+) + + (+) + (+) (3) Selset Balderhead Blackton Hury Cow Green Burnhope Derwent Airy Holm (+) (+) + 3 (3) Hisehope 0 Smiddyshaw + 1 Waskerley Tunstall Colt Cragg Little Swinburn E & W Hallington Whittle Dene (+) + (+) (+) + 5 (3) Kielder/Bakethin (+) Fontburn + + (+) (1) Catcleugh (+) (1) TOTALS

36 APPENDIX I EXISTING INFORMATION FROM INDIVIDUAL RESERVOIRS Tables a-d summarise data from existing accounts that have been incorporated into the present report. 1. Cow Green Published information is included in Appendix II. The brown trout (Salmo trutta) and bullhead (Cottus gobio) occur in the reservoir, its tributaries and in the River Tees immediately downstream of the dam. The minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus) occurs in the downstream river and the reservoir. Minnows also enter the lower reaches of the minor tributaries and of the upstream River Tees during the summer months. On 15 August 2005, during a separate project, two minnows were captured at Tees Bridge (Moor House NNR) at Nat. Grid ref. NY/ and an altitude of 533 m.o.d. Minnows had never been recorded so far up the Tees in previous years. 2 Derwent & Burnhope In March 1997 electrofishing was carried out at Derwent Reservoir in Burnhope Burn below the dam and below the Derwent intake and in tributaries known as the Branshaw, Cow and Acton Burns. The inflow and outflow of Burnhope Reservoir were also examined. The results were described in full in an unpublished report to Northumbrian Water [Crisp, 1997: Exploratory electrofishing in Hunder Beck (Baldersdale) and in selected streams around Burnhope and Derwent reservoirs]. Summaries for Derwent are given in Appendix IV & Tables a & b. 3. Grassholme The tributaries of Grassholme Reservoir had been neglected prior to the present survey. The fish in the downstream River Lune have, however, been studied in some detail by the staff of the former Northumbrian Water Authority and the Freshwater Biological Association and, latterly, by the Environment Agency. In addition various groups have electrofished Carl Beck and, in recent years, this beck has been extensively electrofished as part of a study on feral rainbow trout on behalf of Northumbrian Water. Species lists for the River Lune just downstream of the dam and for Carl Beck are given in Table c. 4. Kielder Water (including Bakethin) A wide ranging survey of tributaries of the River North Tyne and its tributaries within the basin of the proposed reservoir was made by E.M. Ottaway in 1978 and 1979 ( Report on two electrofishing surveys carried out between July10-25, 1978 and July 9-12, 1979 in the vicinity of the proposed Kielder Water. FBA Teesdale Unit Report No. 34

37 2 to Central Water Planning Unit, Northumbrian Water Authority and Natural Environment Research Council). Following impoundment, further surveys were made by S.M. Haile and these have been described in two unpublished reports ( Report on Fish Populations in the Kielder Area 1992 to the Forestry Commission and Electro Fishing Surveys in the Kielder Forest District (1996) to Northumbrian Water). These two studies used almost the same set of 40+ stations as did Ottaway. The present account uses data abstracted from Haile (1996) for seven stations as close to the reservoir margin as possible in each of seven tributaries of the reservoir and data from Haile (1992) for two stations in burns downstream of the dam. The sites are listed and the species recorded are summarized in Table d. The following points are of note. 1. The total species list would not have increased with the inclusion of the rest of the stations. This supports the view that a good species list can be obtained from sampling only the lower reaches of each tributary. 2. Haile does not give scientific names for her fishes. Stickleback could, therefore, refer to either of two species. It is most likely to refer to the three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) and this has been assumed below. Similarly, there are three British species of lamprey. The sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) and the river lamprey (Lampetra fluviatilis) would not be able to enter Kielder Water. The brook lamprey (Lampetra planeri) is most probable and has been assumed. The account by Ottaway gives scientific names for all species and this supports the above interpretation of the Haile data. 3. With one expected exception the species lists from all three studies are in agreement. Haile s summary of Ottaway s data does not include salmon, though juvenile salmon were widespread in the reservoir basin before impoundment and were recorded by Ottaway. The presence of salmon below the dam but not above it, after impoundment might be expected as there is no fish pass at Kielder dam. The future occurrence of small numbers of juvenile salmon upstream of the dam as a result of escapes or releases from Kielder hatchery cannot, however, be ruled out. 35

38 TABLE a. Sampling stations at Derwent Reservoir in March STATION Nat. Grid Ref. Altitude Station (m.o.d.) number Burnhope Burn below Derwent Intake NZ/ A Burnhope Burn near Derwent Dam NZ/ A Branshaw Burn near Millshields picnic site NZ/ A Cow Burn NY/ A Acton Burn above road bridge NY/ A Acton Burn below road bridge NY/ A N.B. The station numbers given here are used in Table

39 TABLE b. Population density estimates for those tributaries of Derwent Reservoir that were given a double quantitative electrofishing on 19 March *indicates a minimum estimate based on total catch. Where no fish of a given species were captured during the second fishing the 95% C.L. are given as ± 0. Estimated percentage fishing efficiency is also given, where appropriate. BRANSHAW BURN (52.4 m 2 ) C 1 C 2 P ± 95% C.L. No. m 2 % Efficiency Brown trout ± ± Stone loach 2 3 *5.0 * Brook lamprey 2 2 *4.0 * COW BURN (164.9 m 2 ) Brown trout ± ± Brook lamprey 0 1 *1.0 * ACTON BURN (71.5 m 2 ) Brown trout ± ± Minnow ± ± Stone loach ± ± Brook lamprey 0 1 *1.0 *

40 TABLE c. Species list for Carl Beck and for the River Lune immediately downstream of Grassholme Reservoir. Based on past observations by FBA/IFE and the Environment Agency. Salmo trutta Oncorynchus mykiss Anguilla anguilla Cottus gobio Noemacheilus barbatulus *Thymallus thymallus Salmo salar Phoxinus phoxinus * A single juvenile fish found in Carl Beck on one occasion. 38

41 TABLE d. List of selected electrofishing stations in Kielder/Bakethin reservoir basin and below Kielder dam, from Haile (unpublished 1992, 1996). STATION STREAM NAT. GRID REF. 17 Little Wickhope Burn NY/ Cranescleugh Burn NY/ Lewis Burn NY/ Kielder Burn NY/ Deadwater Burn NY/ Placketts Burn NY/ Belling Burn NY/ *5 Tarset Burn NY/ *9 Smales Burn NY/ *Downstream of Kielder dam. Species list for selected stations in Kielder/Bakethin reservoir basin and below Kielder dam from Haile (unpublished 1992, 1996). STATION S BT L E BL SB M * * *Downstream of Kielder dam. 39

42 APPENDIX II Published information from Cow Green Reservoir. 40

43 APPENDIX III Edited field notes 1. GrassholmeReservoir, 3 May Station 1. Station 2. Station 3. Station 4. Station 5. Station 6. Station 7. Water clear and low, some 0+ bullheads seen. Water clear. Pools and riffles. Fished upstream and downstream of footbridge. Pools and riffles. Numerous swim-up trout fry present. Water clear, pools and riffles. Narrowish section with pools. A stretch of silty riffle below farm. 2. Selset Reservoir, 4 May The water between Selset and Grassholme Reservoirs was inspected on 3 May but no area was found that could be safely fished. There was heavy rainfall during the night of 3/4 May. The tributaries were fishable but survey work was not possible in the River Lune upstream of Selset reservoir. Station 1. Narrow and very silty stream (drain?), no catch. Station 2. Narrow peaty stream, visibility poor. Station 3. Rowantree Beck peaty with large pools and riffles. Station 4. Soulgill Beck riffle with some pools, water discoloured by silt. Station 5. Cottle Sike clear & peaty, pools and waterfalls. No fish caught or seen. Station 6. Wemmergill fast peaty flow over cobbles and boulders. Looks good, but no fish caught or seen. Station 7. Hargill Beck torrential flow, fished at edges for a total area of 15m 2. Station 8. Inflow (R. Lune) visited on 17 August 2005 and fished c m 2 of margins. Brown trout seen but not caught. 3. Balderhead Reservoir, 5 May Two stations were not considered safely accessible by land and several others had to be fished in reaches relatively remote from the reservoir margin. It might be advisable to sample Balderhead again on some future date and gain access to the sites by use of a boat, though it is doubtful whether or not this would give any useful additional information. Station. 1. Station 2. Station 3. Station 4. Station 5. Access to lower reaches not safe. Fished an upper reach close to Northumbrian Water boundary. Small and peaty with two good, deep, peaty pools. No fish seen or caught. Gill Sike dangerous access to lower reaches so fished close to Northumbrian Water boundary wall. Falls with large boulders, bed rock and pools. No fish seen or caught. Blea Gill site inspected but not safely accessible from Northumbrian Water land. Foul/Fell Sike clear, peaty, small pools and riffles. Minnows present at reservoir s edge but no fish seen or caught in the stream itself. East Carni Gill not fished, access too dangerous. 41

44 Station 6. Station 7. West Carni Gill fished just below road bridge and two good pools above bridge. No fish seen or caught. River Balder fished just downstream of footbridge in an area of pools and riffles. 4. Blackton Reservoir, 6 May Station 1. Station 2. Station 3. Station 4. Station 5. Station 6. Outflow from Balderhead fished below the weir. Opportunist fishing on margin by north bank over an area of c. 15m 2. Hunder Beck two separate reaches sampled. First below bridge, fast, peaty flow over large stones. Second nearer reservoir margin, slower, shallower flow over wide stretch of riffle. How Sike. Fished from reservoir edge to Northumbrian Water boundary pools and riffles. Fished from reservoir edge for 20 m, gravely areas and waterfalls with large boulders. No fish seen or caught. A tiny stream (drain?). A minnow was caught in the reservoir margin but no fish seen or caught in stream proper. Blind Beck a small, stony stream, silty and peaty. 5. Hury Reservoir, 7 May Station 1. Station 2. Station 3. Station 4. Station 5. Station 6. Fished from reservoir edge upstream. Woody debris. Peaty, silty, large stones and pools, gravelly pools at top of reach. Many invertebrates present. Acre Sike a very small stream with large stones and waterfalls. Hope Gill fished from reservoir edge to bedrock below Northumbrian Water wall. Willypot Gill a very small, narrow stream (drain?) below farm, fished from upstream side of track to Northumbrian Water boundary. No catch. River Balder below Hury Reservoir. Opportunist fishing on edges of stilling pool. Area fished c. 45 m 2. Only a selection of fish of each species was retained for measurement. 6. Scaling Dam, 8 May Station 1. Station 2. Fished 60 m 2 of wide, deep feeder stream but saw no fish and few invertebrates. Exploratory fishing in reservoir margin produced no fish but numerous invertebrates were seen. Reservoir outfall by old pumping station. A concrete channel but with a bed of gravel, stones and silt in some places, especially in the section underneath the public road. Very large numbers of small fish present. A sub-sample of several dozen was closely examined. All were threespined sticklebacks. 42