Author: DoubleDart
Totnes Hydro – First turbine put in place
On thursday, the first of two Archimedean turbines was put into place at the Totnes hydro scheme. It was planned to locate both of the turbines into their channels but delays to their arrival only allowed enough time and daylight to install one of them, with the other re-sheduled for the next day.
A 300 tonne capacity crane stood waiting, ready to unload the turbines and swing them into position.
When the turbine eventually arrived there was a short pause to attach the linkage that will transfer the drive to the generator’s gearbox and to adjust the crane’s lifting strops.
With this done the turbine was lifted again and swung into position above its channel.
The other screw was due to be installed today (fri 13th!). We hope all went well.
The coffer dam should be gone within about two weeks and the plant is due to be working before the end of next month.
The fish counter will also be installed and should be working before the start of the 2016 season. The counter is long awaited and will be invaluable in the management of the river.
The Dart & Teign River Improvement Project (DTRIP)
The following quote is from the DTRIP report and describes its scope. The project has recently come to a conclusion.
“The Dart & Teign River Improvement Project (DTRIP) was a Defra-funded Catchment Restoration Fund Project administered by the Environment Agency. The project was written and delivered by the Westcountry Rivers Trust, and steered by its catchment partnership…”
“…This report documents the works delivered under the DTRIP and describes how these works were targeted to ensure that efficient on the ground management was delivered effectively throughout the catchment.”
You can see the full report here. It is a pre-publication copy and contains a couple of mistakes, which you will easily spot. The authors are aware of this.
2015 Catch return
Catch return forms for the 2015 season will be sent out to members soon. Please complete them and send them back to Hon Sec as soon as possible to give Phil time to collate the information in time for the AGM. If you can’t wait to receive your form by post, here is a .pdf copy.
Suspected illegal fishing
Would members please keep an eye out for a black C reg Mitsubishi with dark tinted windows. The owner is suspected of illegal fishing. If anything suspicious is seen please call the EA hotline 0800 807060.
Greenland acts to conserve salmon stocks
What could be some good news for once, reported in the S&TC-UK blog:
New name for Salmon and Trout Association
From 1st September the Salmon and Trout Association has a new name:
Salmon & Trout Conservation UK (S&TC UK).
For more details, click here.
EA awards landmark fisheries contract to Angling Trust
Slightly old news but of interest nevertheless –
The Environment Agency has awarded a landmark fisheries contract to the Angling Trust. This announcement follows a “rigorous competitive process” and is part of the EA’s “continued drive towards greater partnership working leading to thriving fisheries and angling throughout England”.
Tracking sea trout – AARC project
From 2014 –
Dr Andrew King of Exeter University is using DNA sampling to track sea trout in the south-west of England as part of an Atlantic Aquatic Resource Conservation (Aarc) project.
Landing nets
For anyone in the market for a new landing net, Fastnet have some on clearance at the moment.