An innovative partnership to help conserve river environments
Anglers, natural guardians of the river environment, are in an ideal position to monitor the health of watercourses they fish, by using the riverflies they aim to imitate with their artificial flies. Many angling groups have expressed a desire to be able to carry out health checks on their waters. The Riverfly Partnership1 spearheads an initiative to allow anglers to take action that will help conserve the river environment. This initiative provides a simple monitoring technique which anglers can use to detect any severe perturbations in river water quality and puts them in direct communication with the Ecology Contact of the Environment Agency (EA) or Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). This angler-driven monitoring scheme, used alongside routine monitoring by the EA / SEPA, will ensure that water quality is checked more widely and action taken at the earliest opportunity should any severe perturbations be detected.
1 Visit www.riverflies.org_img_0.jpg)
for more information on the Riverfly Partnership
Riverfly Partnership tutors deliver one-day workshops to fishing clubs and other organisations committed to establishing a group to monitor their local waters.
Background
The Riverfly Partnership, in collaboration with local organisations, is working to help protect the water quality of watercourses and conserve their riverfly populations. The Riverfly Partnership includes many organisations committed to furthering the understanding and conservation of riverfly populations. The monitoring initiative has been developed over a number of years building on work pioneered by Dr Cyril Bennett on the River Wey in the 1980s; through workshops delivered by the John Spedan Lewis Trust for the Advancement of the Natural Science on the River Test and workshops coordinated by the Natural History Museum / Natural England partnership workshops involving the Riverfly Recording Schemes (for Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera). Following the Riverfly Conference held in November 2004 at The Natural History Museum, the initiative was taken forward in collaboration with the Environment Agency in a new pilot phase. The national launch of the initiative took place at the Riverfly Partnership Conference How good is your river? on March 8 2007 at Natural History Museum in London. For further information see www.riverflies.org.
One-day monitoring workshop
The one-day monitoring workshops, are hosted by a regional coordinator from a local fishing club or rivers trust and delivered by an accredited tutor, together with a local EA/SEPA Ecology Contact. The workshop provides a comprehensive review of the monitoring technique and includes short presentations, practical demonstrations and active involvement by participants at the riverside, as outlined in the timetable below. Participants receive the guide to the monitoring methodology River invertebrate monitoring for anglers published by the Field Studies Council and have chance to try it out for themselves. There is a ratio of one tutor to six participants. Each workshop is limited to 12 participants per day.
Supported by a comprehensive written guide to the methodology and post-workshop support from the tutors, clubs and organisations are shown how to establish monitoring groups and register sampling sites with their local EA/SEPA Ecology Contact.
Riverfly Partnership Workshop Coordinators:
England Dr Cyril Bennett
Wales Dai Roberts
RP Accredited Tutors: Steve Brooks, Natural History Museum, London; Warren Gilchrist, John Spedan Lewis Trust for the Advancement of the Natural Sciences; Alison Jones (Wales Region), Caerphilly Borough Council; Craig Macadam, Ephemeroptera Recording Scheme & Buglife; Bridget Peacock, Riverfly Partnership; David Pryce, Plecoptera Recording Scheme; Ian Wallace, Trichoptera Recording Scheme & Liverpool Museums
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9.30 |
Welcome
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Monitoring Group Coordinator Riverfly Tutor EA/SEPA Ecology Contact
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Health and Safety
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Riverfly Tutor |
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9.45
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Introduction to monitoring |
Riverfly Tutor EA/SEPA Ecology Contact
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10.10 |
The target groups– Life history & ecology |
Riverfly Tutor |
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Ephemeroptera: Up-winged flies |
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Trichoptera: Caddisflies or sedges |
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Plecoptera: Stoneflies |
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Gammarus: Freshwater Shrimp
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10.50 |
Field work: Practical session at the river Collecting, sorting and recording the sample
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All |
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12.30 - 13.15 Lunch Packed lunches provided by participants
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13.15 |
Field work continued |
All |
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To demonstrate life-cycles, adult flies will be collected from vegetation and matched to the larval species if time allows.
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15.00 |
Fieldwork and data overview
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All |
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15.30 |
Establishing a monitoring programme |
EA/SEPA Ecology Contact
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16.00 |
Further identification
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Riverfly Tutor |
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16.30 |
Questions, Summary and Feedback |
All
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17.00 |
Finish
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One-day workshops are organised by the Riverfly Partnership and delivered by an accredited Riverfly Partnership Tutor together with the Ecology Contact from the EA / SEPA to 12 participants. The workshop covers all aspects of the monitoring technique ensuring that participants are competent in the technique and are confident in setting up a local monitoring group.
The local volunteer Monitoring Group Coordinator is responsible for the regional organisation of the workshop: ensuring representation from local clubs, recruiting participants, securing participant fees and with the support of The Riverfly Partnership secure local funding, as indicated below (see workshop costs). A key role of the Monitoring Group Coordinator, or a nominated representative, is to act as a contact point between the individuals carrying out the monitoring and the Ecology Contact following the workshop.
Clubs that are interested in monitoring their rivers on a regular basis are invited to contact the Workshop Coordinator for their area:
England Dr Cyril Bennett e: freshins@btinternet.com_img_1.jpg)
t: 01980 624920
Wales Dai Roberts e: dai.theduff@btinternet.com_img_2.jpg)
t: 07890 188835
For take forward plans for a workshop complete and return the Workshop Form to
The Riverfly Partnership, Fishmongers’ Hall, London Bridge, London, EC4R 9EL
e: riverflies@salmon-trout.org_img_3.jpg)
t: 020 7929 6966
Monitoring Group Coordinator Responsibilities_img_4.jpg)
Workshop costs are £1000 for a one-day workshop and £1600 for two consecutive one-day workshops. Additional consecutive workshops can be accommodated at a cost of £600 per workshop. Costs include fees of the accredited tutor, their accommodation and travel, the supply of equipment for the day, insurance covering the participants, tutor and equipment, plus copies of the methodology for all participants to retain.
It should be noted that no costs are included for the host venue. The costs of the Ecology Contact and their ongoing support are covered by the EA/SEPA. It is suggested that the workshop costs be partially met by workshop participant fees at £35 per person as indicated in the table below, with remaining funds sought from local sponsors. It is advised that the number of monitoring kits required following the workshops should be factored into the funding application, at an estimated cost of £80 per kit.
A 10% non-refundable deposit is payable when confirming a workshop booking.
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Cost |
Suggested participant fee of £35 per person
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Amount to be secured from additional funding source
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One-day workshop
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£1000 |
35 x 12 = £420 |
£580 |
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Two consecutive one-day workshops
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£1600 |
35 x 24 = £840 |
£760 |
The Riverfly Partnership can provide background information for funding applications and a letter of support from the Riverfly Partnership.
The Monitoring Group Coordinator will administer the booking of workshop places, including advertising the workshop through their clubs and local networks. Booking forms are provided by the Workshop Coordinator. The Monitoring Group Coordinator should aim to fill places on the workshop at least two months before the date of the workshop. Participants must be physically fit for health and safety considerations.
Note: The Riverfly Partnership can assist with press releases and their dissemination and provide networking facilities to other clubs in the area to help meet the workshop compliment.
Riverfly Partnership responsibilities_img_5.jpg)