Contractors faced difficulties when they entered the river to start excavating a pool below where the Archimedes Screw turbine with sit. They has installed a temporary dam made of tonne bags filled with stone however, it soon became obvious that the depths would not allow them to carry on working while keeping the lower fish pass open.
On Behalf of the board and as specialist consultants, Ayrshire Rivers Trust attended the site and advised the contractors that they would have to reopen a section in their dam and restore fish passage which they accepted and did immediately. Further advice was given and ART suggested a temporary Larinier fish pass could be installed in the weir crest beyond the existing lower fish pass and then work could recommence – all subject to SEPA approving the design. SEPA considered this amendment to the CAR license and approved a temporary installation until mid July.
The temporary fish pass being installed today
The fish pass follows a typical Larinier type design
Contractors built a fish pass in Bolton over the weekend and installed it in the dam today. Once the concrete has set, flow through this pass will commence tomorrow. Despite 2 minor closures of the fish pass during the installation of the temporary dam and the temporary fish pass today, migration routes into the river have been kept open and ART have been involved each time to remove any trapped fish from pools. They will continue to provide this service whenever required as works progress. ART will monitor performance of the temporary fish pass.
