Completed work projects

Galloway Rivers Trust undertakes a wide range of work projects and studies every year. Listed below are brief descriptions of various work programmes completed in the past by GRT. Where available we have provided reports as downloads or links.

• Loch Ken Fisheries Survey - Loch Ken is a popular coarse angling venue. During the mid-1990’s North American signal crayfish were identified in the loch. These non-native crayfish are now abundant in Loch Ken and were believed to be having an adverse impact on the fish. The main objective of this study was to assess the condition of the fish stocks within Loch Ken. Using the data collected, recommendations for the future management of Loch Ken as a coarse fishery were made. A copy of the final report is provided as a download. 
   
• Investigating the possibility of reintroducing charr to Loch Grannoch - Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus L.) were historically present in Loch Grannoch  (Kirkcudbrightshire Dee catchment). These charr died out because of acidification. In recent years water quality has improved. A feasibility study aimed to ascertain whether the loch was suitable for sustaining a re-introduced population of Arctic charr was completed by GRT in 2016/17. A copy of the final report is provided as a download. 
   
• Bladnoch restoration feasibility study - Acidification of the upper River Bladnoch catchment, which has been exacerbated by afforestation and peatland degradation is the main limiting factor for juvenile Atlantic salmon recruitment. This study, completed in 2018, aimed to investigate the distribution of juvenile Atlantic salmon in relation to water quality and other limiting factors such as habitat availability, and provide recommendations for restoration projects with the aim of improving water quality and/or juvenile Atlantic salmon abundance. A copy of the final report is provided as a download. 
   
• Old Mill Restoration Project - In 2012, GRT identified a redundant weir 3.5m high and 13m wide, associated with a disused creamery situated on the Old Mill Burn (a tributary of the Tarff Water) near Twynholm, as impacting significantly on local fish stocks.  The weir (constructed >100 years ago) presented a complete barrier to migratory salmonid fish species considered important for economic and conservation reasons and blocked access to 10km of good quality upstream river habitat and transfer of gravels downstream.  The weir was successfully removed in 2016 as part of a national fish barrier easement project. Since the weir was removed, GRT has been monitoring the successful recolonisation of migratory fish back to the burn including Atlantic salmon, sea trout and lamprey. A copy of a monitoring report is provided as a download.

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