Invasive Species in UK Waterways!

 

American Mink

Populations of American mink in the United Kingdom were first established when individuals escaped or were released from fur farms. A voracious and adaptable predator, the American mink kills domestic poultry, causes damage to fisheries and predates native species. The American mink can act as a vector of disease, which it may spread to native species.



Floating Pennywort

Growing at a rate of up to 20cm per day, this plant may quickly dominate a water body forming thick mats and impeding water flow. May out-compete native species by blocking out light, causing deoxygenation, obstructing air breathing insects from reaching the water surface and reducing water temperatures.

 

Canada Goose

 

 

 

 

Large flocks of Canada geese create an enormous quantity of droppings, which foul parks and golf courses. The droppings can also pollute water bodies, causing health risks to humans. In areas where Canada geese are found in vast aggregations they can cause damage to riverbanks and waterside vegetation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Himalayan Balsam

 

 

 

 

The Himalayan balsam produces a large amount of nectar, which makes it much more attractive to pollen-spreading insects than neighbouring native species. Due to its large size, the Himalayan balsam outcompetes native species for light and space. The rapid growth of the Himalayan balsam and its tendency to grow around water can lead to flooding and other changes in the ecosystem’s water cycle.

American Bullfrog

                                                                                                It is thought that the American bullfrog was introduced to the UK through the release of unwanted pets or accidental importation with aquatic plants or fish. Classed as one of the 100 worst invasive species in the world by the IUCN, the American bullfrog threatens native species, through competition, predation and disease transmission. More than £100,000 has been spent on control and monitoring of the American bullfrog in the UK so far, with over 9,000 individuals having been removed from the wild.

 

Killer Shrimp

The freshwater Killer Shrimp kills a wide range of British species including young fish. It is rapidly spreading, is one of the most invasive species in Europe, and can survive for up to 15 days at a time. They are usually between 10-20mm in length but can grow up to 50mm. They have distinctive cone-shaped bumps on their tale and usually have striped backs.

 

Zebra Mussels

 

Very small animals, from 30-50mm in length. They have a characteristic ‘D’ shape. They are found in rivers, canals and lakes, usually in large clusters and can affect lock gates and block pipe work. They rapidly take nutrients from the water, negatively altering ecosystems and suffocating native species.

 

Nuttall's Waterweed

Nuttall's Waterweed is commonly found in more nutrient-rich water. The waterweed produces dense growth in slow flowing rivers, drainage channels and canals can impede flow and exacerbate flooding. It can replace native aquatic plant species and reduce biodiversity in lakes and ponds and interfere with recreational activities such as angling and boating.



Signal Crayfish

Their small lobster-like appearance makes crayfish easy to recognise. Distinguishing non-native species from the threatened native white-clawed crayfish is essential. Compared to the native species, the signal crayfish is much larger and its claws are red underneath with a small turquoise / white blotch on the surface. Negative impacts include the almost complete loss of the native crayfish through the spread of disease and direct competition. Also undermines riverbanks through burrowing and can predate on native fish eggs and aquatic invertebrates.

If you see any of these species, please report it to iRecord at http://www.brc.ac.uk/irecord/. They can be very harmful to the local ecology. Thank-you.

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Where Are We Now? July Newsletter

Keep linked in with what we're up to via social media:

Twitter - https://twitter.com/WellandTrust or @WellandTrust

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/WellandTrust?ref=hl

Exciting Additions to The Trust

We are proud to have recently welcomed five new members of staff into the Welland Rivers Trust this summer on a temporary basis to offer their skills across a wide range of roles. Humanities students Joe Franklin and Alex Leaver are focusing on promoting the online status of the Trust via our social media accounts and blogs (listed below) and updating the website: www.wellandriverstrust.org.uk so as to keep everyone across the Welland catchment who is interested in our work in the loop.

Working on the Stamford Mill Stream project we have two Zoology students; Nikki Warden and Cameron Grundy, and a Sixth Form student Leon Nixon, a Nuffield Research Ambassador. Their aim is to gather data by mapping river habitats from consecutive stretches of the Welland River and the Mill Stream in Stamford. Their findings will be used to determine whether or not redistributing water flow from the river to the historic stream would provide an overall benefit to the local ecology.

Twitter - https://twitter.com/WellandTrust or @WellandTrust

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/WellandTrust

Tailoring the Project to the Community's Requests

Please click on the images below for an enlarged version: 

 

"A pond would be fun for the children."

 

"Litter is a big problem, especially through the town centre."

 

"You can't get near the river, the banks are too steep. It's quite dangerous in places."

 

"We don't see much interesting wildlife when walking along the river."

"My kids like to play in the river but there aren't many places for this. It would be great if schools could make more use of it too."

 

 

"I'd like to see more flowers and attractive vegetation."



Do you think we tackled the issues raised accordingly?

Don't hesitate to let us know your opinion either on the blog, via the e-mail option on the right hand site of the page, or through one of our social media sites below such as

Facebook (Welland Rivers Trust), or Twitter (@WellandTrust). 

Community Engagement

Throughout October and November 2012, a survey was conducted to find out the public attitudes towards the River in Market Harborough. We spoke to over 150 people and found that the majority of people’s comments could be categorised as follows:

- Aesthetics

 -Flooding

 -Accessibility/Education

 -Safety

 -Recreation

These comments were used to ensure that the aspirations and expectations of the people of Market Harborough were integrated with the science when producing the design for the restoration. We think we managed to find a perfect middle ground where both parties were sufficiently included and satisfied. Our next blog will include some of the more notable comments, and our responses.

Geography of the River Welland

The Geography of The River Welland

The River Welland rises near Sibbertoft, west of Market Harborough and flows through Northamptonshire, Leicestershire and Rutland, before reaching Stamford, where it is one of the features that makes the town so attractive. Below Stamford, the river continues on its way to Market Deeping and Spalding where its character changes, slowing down as it becomes one of the four fenland rivers which drain the Fens, before entering The Wash.

Over the past 50 years the river has been deepened, straightened and polluted and as a result, there has been vast habitat loss which has greatly reduced the ecological value of the river. Alongside the reduction in wildlife, the river has been largely neglected as a source of amenity and recreation for those who live nearby.

The WRT exists to facilitate the protection and development of the River Welland via the creation and completion of several projects across the Welland.

Welland for People and Wildlife Project Objective:

The Welland for People and Wildlife project strives to restore the River Welland through Market Harborough to a more natural form correcting the unsympathetic flood alleviation works which were carried out in the 1970s. The methods used to prepare the proposal are based on rigid and accepted scientific principals which create confidence that the final outcome of the work will be a low flow channel which is both ecologically appropriate and functional and will also be sustainable, requiring less maintenance than is currently the case. The application of these scientific principles highlights a number of habitat types (biotopes) which can be achieved through the application of a number of design featutres.
The project seeks to achieve a transformation of the River Welland, to offer an attractive environment rich in wildlife, which appeals to the community and develops the focus of the river as a key natural asset to the Town. The main objectives of the project are to:

• Improve the habitats of the River Welland
• Increase the biodiversity of the River Welland through Market Harborough
• Reduce the stagnation and sluggish flow of the river
• Enhance the overall aesthetics of the River environment
• Develop safer and improved access to the River channel
• Increase the use and enjoyment of the River for recreation and education
• Re-connect the community of Market Harborough with their river by creating a sense of ownership
In order to meet the improvements to the Welland highlighted above, there is also a major requirement to demonstrate that any restoration works ensure flood risk is not increased in or surrounding the study area. The overall principal is the Welland fluvial flood risk is created by the ‘bottlenecks’ which are the bridges and weirs in the Town. The improvements we propose will either increase the flood capacity due to the opening of new channels and removal of bottlenecks, or, maintain the current flood capacity, by moving material within the cross section of the channel and not adding to it. This has been extensively modeled and submitted as part of a Flood Risk Assessment which has been subsequently approved by the Environment Agency.