SFCC Biologists' Meeting - Ayrshire Update 2024.pptx

Presentation at the annual SFCC biologist's conference in 2024.

1. working to improve Ayrshire’s rivers and lochs

2. Stuart Brabbs Trust Manager Jennifer Garland Office Manager Ian Jackson Catchment Officer Carolyn Bryce Biologist Morag Maguire Seasonal Assistant Struan Candlish Fisheries Biologist

3. Greening the Banks of the Girvan 2.5km of riparian fencing 3000 trees planted 60m of regraded, green engineered riverbank Funded by NRF, DSFB and landowner Approximately £70,000 investment Connecting fragmented habitats Creating better managed buffers Bringing shade and stability to the middle reachs of the river where the unprotected banks are susceptible to erosion

4. Ayrshire Grown With support of the ARIA fund, we are collecting, preparing and planting seeds to start our native tree stock, as well as train our staff so they are equipped with the knowledge and skills to run a successful tree nursery. A ddressing this risk and reducing the carbon footprint associated with importing trees, we decided to embark on our own journey of starting an Ayrshire based tree nursery. This meant we could track each tree from seed to sapling, and ensure that each tree is planted in an area where it is adapted to the prevailing growing conditions. 

5. Brockloch Burn Restoration 800m of riparian fencing 500 trees planted Shoestring watering systems installed – gravity fed and solar powered pumps due to landowner concerns Funded by Wild Salmonid Support Fund and DSFB. Approximately £17,000 investment An important spawning tributary in a highly impacted sub-catchment with a unique population of S3 smolts.

6. Barrier Easements River Ayr 16 timber baffles installed on historic weir Old fish pass lacking side wall height and requiring major refurbishment Funded by estate Approximately £7,000 installation and material costs Stair Weir – timber baulks to allow salmon movement in low flows due to hydro scheme abstraction.

7. Barrier Easement River Garnock 27 timber baffles installed on historic weir Historic weir with very poor passibilty for fish and a poaching hotspot in the upper reaches of the Garnock . Work carried out by ART (unfunded), material paid for by contractor who began work in 2022 and didn’t complete the project.

8. Green Engineering Contract work for North Ayrshire Council Busy public park – dog walkers etc. Several erosion scars repaired to prevent further damage to the banks and reduce diffuse pollution. Repairs made to paths and drainage Aided hugely by Stuart being a trained digger operative now.

9. River Ayr Counter & Camera System Approximately £110,000 investment Made possible by Archimedes screw installation on the River Ayr Scotland’s third counter and camera system Marine Science Scotland's investment, Fish Tech's design and expertise and ART’s maintenance, management and verification Much more on this tomorrow