River Sid Catchment Plan: endorsed by Town Council and to be taken forward by West Country Rivers Trust

Back in the summer, we had the River Sid Catchment Plan public consultation – and got the results.

All of this fed into the final stage – which was the publication of the final River Sid Catchment Plan late last year.

The River Sid Catchment Plan is also on the Town Council’s website

At the latest meeting of the town council’s environment cttee meeting, the Plan was formally introduced – and fully endorsed by councillors:

Charles Sinclair provided leaflets and talked through the River Sid Catchment Group Plan, a visionary plan within SVBG to restore the Sid to full health. The plan engages with ‘water’, ‘land’, and ‘people’. West Country Rivers Trust were being employed to map the quality of the river and its habitats, and to start visible action this year to address the multiple man-made barriers to fish passage, particularly salmon, trout and eels (a globally endangered species). 

All this would require significant public engagement and SVBG requested the support and endorsement of STC in this work. This marks a significant development in re-vitalising the River Sid catchment. The Vice Chair and Members thanked and congratulated the River Sid Catchment Group on their excellent communication, report, and leaflet. 

RESOLVED: STC fully support and endorse the project.

Much of the research has been carried out by the Westcountry Rivers Trust – who are also advising on the ‘whole river approach’ at the heart of the Plan.

In the latest edition of the Herald, we learn more about this Sid Valley project to restore life in the river system:

A significant project in the Sid Valley is set to restore life to the local river system.

The initiative has been backed by a substantial donation from Rupert Keeley, a local benefactor.

The West Country Rivers Trust has been enlisted to conduct a comprehensive study of the fish populations within the River Sid catchment area, aiming to ensure their sustainable survival.

Key challenges identified include barriers to fish migration and deteriorated habitats. The study will begin with a thorough mapping of the entire river system, evaluating the condition of fish habitats, including spawning sites and areas that provide feeding and shelter. The trust will also assess barriers and weirs, determining their impact on fish movement.

To gauge the present fish populations, the trust will employ electrofishing, with plans to compare these figures to future populations. They will also conduct genetic testing on the brown trout population. The focus extends to vulnerable and critically endangered species such as salmon and eel.

Evidence of salmon attempting to leap the three-metre-high School Weir in the past has been documented, highlighting the insurmountable challenge posed by the weir. Sea trout hoping to re-enter the river system for spawning also face the same predicament.

The objective of the project is to restore the river’s ecosystem, making it more hospitable for its native wildlife and supporting these species as much as possible. The West Country Rivers Trust will collaborate closely with the Environment Agency throughout the project. They will also engage with the community in meaningful ways, proposing enjoyable activities that will educate participants about the river’s wildlife and the importance of supporting this crucial ecosystem.