News Archive
-
Weir Issues
Dams and weirs on any river cause problems for salmon and trout migration. Not just adults but also smolts and juveniles that become held up behind them. Removing obstacles is acknowledged as one of the best ways to naturally increase fish populations. ART has long campaigned to see barriers removed or eased, where removal isn’t
-
Bogend Burn is in line for barrier easements
in ConservationAyrshire Rivers Trust have recently developed a novel new way to make and fit baffles at low cost. The concept has been proven and appears most suitable in small to medium sized culverts. ART are about to submit a CAR application to SEPA to ease two difficult barriers at the lower Bogend Burn in Catrine.
-
Mauchline Rainfall data 2018
The rainfall total in Mauchline for 2018 is now complete and reveals just how dry 2018 was compared to 2017. As I’ve only been collecting rainfall for a couple of years, it is hard to state what’s average rainfall is for this area however, other local recorders find that rainfall is broadly consistent between years.
-
The Ponesk in the Upper Ayr catchment
in EnvironmentART walked the Ponesk on the Upper Ayr today for the first time in well over a year to see how things were looking and to check if any salmon or trout had spawned or were looking as though they might. It was perhaps a bit early to expect to see salmon here. We didn’t
-
Date of next Board meeting
in ManagementThe next Ayr DSFB meeting will be held in Ayrshire Rivers Trust office at 7.00pm on the 11th December. This is a public meeting and all are welcome. Anyone wishing to raise questions are encouraged to contact the Clerk to the Board in advance with the question. This will help the board to provide
-
Trout spawning underway
in ConservationThe colder air and falling water temperatures have brought a few trout onto the redds for spawning and there were signs that a few had been successfully completed in different parts of the Ayr catchment. We had already watched a pair of smaller trout cutting a redd in the Hareshaw before the end of October
-
Catch Returns
Clubs and owners should remember that they must legally provide the Board and Marine Scotland with catch data from the season just closed. This should include all salmon and sea trout (including whiltling/finnock) caught on the Ayr system in 2018. As the river was Category 3 this year, no fish should have been killed but
-
Fish Rescue at Glenbuck
ART biologists rescued over 1000 fish from the very top of the River Ayr immediately downstream of Glenbuck Loch. The road is being straightened and contractors were asked to allow ART to remove any fish within the site before it was dewatered. A new temporary bypass channel was prepared and the river is being diverted
-
Bogend Burn
ART looked at the Bogend Burn again this week as water quality and sediment released from this burn has been of concern to the biologists and anglers for some time. ART have highlighted the impact this causes to anglers at times in the past when their fishing has been ruined by the dirty water emerging