£20K study could help Dorset fish population
A project's being carried out on the River Tarrant near Blandford
£20,000 is to be spent by the Environment Agency towards a new study into fish populations on the River Tarrant in Dorset.
The chalk stream near Blandford is one of England's most productive brown trout locations., as well as being a major spawning ground for salmon and trout living in the River Stour.
But the Tarrant is a ‘winterbourne’, meaning, it naturally dries up in summer.
That leaves fish stranded and most years, the Environment Agency rescues hundreds of them and moves them to the Stour.
Now, a new detailed study will look into why that happens and how it can be prevented.
The study, to be conducted by Wessex Rivers Trust, will include a desktop study of historic maps, hydrological data, LIDaR data, and underlying geology.
Fieldwork will include a topographic survey of the 7 sites associated with fish entrapment, drawn up as long sections, cross sections and plan views.
Luke Kozak, Environment Agency Project Manager, said:
“This project will focus on the lower stretch of the River Tarrant. Here it dries out frequently in summer, leading to significant numbers of fish and invertebrates becoming trapped in pools as the river recedes.
“We have been carrying out fish rescues for the past 20+ years to prevent the death of significant numbers of fish. Our data suggests that in 2003 some 2,800 salmonids were rescued from different areas of the River Tarrant and moved downstream to the main River Stour.
“The river is not only an important spawning tributary for salmonids, but also contains bullhead (Cottus gobio), a protected species under Annex II of the European Habitats Directive.”