Category: Environment
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Kames mine discharge treatment works revisited
in EnvironmentLast week we highlighted that work had started to refurbish the reed beds at the old colliery atKames near Muirkirk. Today we revsited the sire to see how the works were progressing. The first reed bed has been cleared and most of the old silt, reeds and other solids have been removed. The second bed that…
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Kames Reed Bed Refurbishment
in EnvironmentKames reed bed treatment facility at Muirkirk is being renovated. This reed bed treats upwelling mine-water and reduces the impacts of this type of pollution on the river. To ensure it functions properly, it requires periodic maintenance that includes clearing old detritus and vegetation and replanting reeds. We had been concerned for some time over…
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Trout Migration
Ayrshire Rivers Trust recently filmed trout migrating up a burn near Catrine ahead of spawning. Some of these fish may well be sea trout. Often clubs call for trout stocking to attract new members. This video shows that there are excellent quality trout in the middle river and plenty of them too. While they aren’t…
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Pollution on the Lugar
in EnvironmentART staff came across pollution entering the Ayr near the new Academy site at Cumnock this lunchtime. This is one of several incidents they have reported to SEPA from this outfall and so far no one has been able to pinpoint which developer/builders are responsible. While the main river was running clear and dispersed the…
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Giant Hogweed threatens the Ayr catchment
Apart from the leachate escaping from the Tarbolton Landfill site, there a new environmental threat and that is that Giant Hogweed will spread from the site to the Water of Fail and to the Ayr at Failford and downstream. The scale of the problems is vast and with SNH and SEPA both unable to help…
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An invitation to watch Patagonia’s film exploring man’s intervention in salmon farming and hatcheries
Ayrshire Rivers Trust have arranged to screen the Patagonia produced film ‘Artifishal’ at the University of the West of Scotland, Ayr Campus, University Avenue, Ayr KA8 0SX on the 3rd July at 6.30pm. The University is on the banks of the Ayr at Craigie and there’s plenty of parking available. This event is free to attend…
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Giant Hogweed Control
in EnvironmentThose who have fished the River Ayr over the last 15 – 20 years, can’t help but notice the decline in Giant Hogweed on the river since 2008 when Ayrshire Rivers Trust first started controlling this plant. Giant Hogweed is a non native and invasive species that out competes native species to the detriment of…
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Smolts in slow motion
Here’s a link to a slow motion video shot at Catrine as smolts were rising in the lade. While this is an appreciation of the agility and athleticism of smolts (juvenile salmon) the video highlights one of the main problems facing smolt emigration from the River Ayr when they become drawn into an artificial lade.…
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An update of the situation facing smolts at Catrine
in EnvironmentOn the Ayr at Catrine where there has been severe problems for smolts migrating to sea over the last 3 years, we are again seeing smolts within the lade between penstock and screens and an occasion fish trapped in the voes. Hopefully the problem areas where smolts accessed the voes through the screens have been…