During December 2003 we walked part of the upper Taf Fechan with Roger Watkins of the Environment Agency fisheries dept. to count Wild Trout spawning redds as a possible mitigation factor against the declared drought order and subsequent reduction in compensation water from Pontsticill from 19 M litres/day to 10 M litres/day effective on 1^st January 2004. We actually confirmed 3 wild trout spawning redds and it was apparent that they were located at similar types of habitat i.e. the tails of scour pools where the gravels had collected and stabilised and had a good consistent flow of water. It was our intention to duplicate these natural redd site characteristics at numerous locations along the Taf Fechan during 2004 as they are proven successes.

Following the heavy rains during September – December Pontsticill Reservoir overflowed on 6^th January 2004 and the drought order was cancelled after only 6days in effect and we had high flows throughout the beginning of 2004 until April.

During January we removed a number of trees that had fallen into the river and listed possible maintenance works caused by flood damage for rectification/modification during the year.

During February we carried out some pleaching on the L.H. bankside trees along the inside bend of the long pool upstream of Clun Bridge (Location No.8.4) to provide a stock proof fence and to allow access to fish the pool and allow light to reach the bankside and stimulate the growth of vegetation to help stabilise the bank.

During March to May we repaired the flood damage to the L.H. side of 1^st Boulder weir at Location No. 2.8 and cut a number of Willow trees from other locations on the River Taff (Rhydycar and Aberfan) and transferred the logs/cuttings to the Taf Fechan and introduced them at locations to help stabilise and protect the banks from erosion at the following locations :-

1. Willow logs secured to the toe of the L.H. bank at Location No. 2 to protect roadway and bank from erosion (approved by Powys Highways Authority)
2. Willow logs secured to the toe of the R.H. bank (outside bend) on long pool upstream of Clun Bridge at Location No. 8.5 to protect bank and provide deep water overhead cover for adult trout.
3. Willow cuttings introduced at Location No. 17.5 on the R.H. bank to help stabilise the bank and protect the water main bank from erosion.
4. Willow cuttings introduced to the L.H. bank at Location No. 18.3 to help stabilise the eroded bankside.
5. Willow shrubs were introduced to stabilise banks and eroded areas at Locations No.4.4 (L.H. bank), No.6 (R.H. bank), No.8 (L.H. bank) and No.8.2 R.H. bank.

From end of August until end of September (working weekends only 8 hrs /day) we hired a 360 degree Hydraulic machine and driver ( Ex-member of the association Mr Ken Snape) to construct a number of low profile Boulder Weirs and the associated scour pools and various current deflectors, which are all proven methods of improving the habitat for wild brown trout and to excavate particular areas along the river to enhance pools and utilise the materials to repair flood damage and reinforce/stabilise vulnerable banksides. A summary of this work is as follows :-

1. Low profile Boulder Weir, in the form of an upstream arch and the associated scour pool created at Location No. 12.6. with large boulders suitably located in both pools.
2. Low profile Boulder Weir, in the form of an upstream arch and the associated scour pool created at Location No. 13.4. with large boulders suitably located in both pools.
3. The overflow at the existing Tree Trunk weir at Location No.14 was narrowed and centralised by utilising large boulders at the anchor points on each bank to ensure the scour pool depth was maintained and the scour pool itself was excavated and extended and large boulders suitably located in the pool to create various current flows and suitable trout lies. Spawning gravels were placed at the tail of the scour pool (N.B. Trout Redd created utilising Shopping Trolley basket).
4. Low profile Boulder Weir, in the form of an upstream arch and the associated scour pool created at Location No. 14.7 and large boulders suitably located in both pools.
5. The leaks at the Wooden tree trunk weir at Location No. 15 were repaired with

   boulders and the scour pool was extended and large boulders were suitably

   positioned to create diverse current flows and trout lies.

6. At Location No. 15.5 the pool was excavated and large boulders were utilised

   to create two current deflectors built into the L.H. bank to deflect flows towards the inside bend, which was heavily silted due to very slack water flows and a number of large boulders suitably placed throughout the pool to create trout lies. Spawning gravels were placed at the tail of the pool.

7. Low profile Boulder Weir, in the form of an upstream arch and the associated scour pool created at Location No.16.2 with large boulders suitably located in both pools, also spawning gravels placed at the tail of scour pool.
8. At Location No. 16.6 the very large boulder, which was deflecting flows towards the eroded L.H. bank was removed and re-located into the L.H. bank. The pool and gravels deposited on the R.H. bank (was slack water) were excavated and the materials utilised to re-establish both banks and compacting the materials around the very large boulder. Large boulders were then suitably placed throughout the pool to deflect currents and provide lies for the trout.
9. Spawning gravels placed at the tail of both weir and scour pools at Location No. 17.
10. The very large Sycamore tree on the L.H. bank at Location No. 17.2 was removed (recommended by the R.R.C.). The bankside was realigned and rebuilt with large boulders to ensure a straight river flow and rectify the previously deflected flows towards the R.H. bank with the exposed water main.
11. The low wall on the L.H. bank between Locations Nos. 17.4 – 17.6 was removed to relieve pressure on the eroded R.H. bank during flood conditions and the materials utilised to reinforce and help stabilise the eroded bank.
12. At Location No. 18.3 a Tree Trunk Current Deflector was securely anchored into the L.H. bank upstream of the eroded bank (outside bend) and placed at a suitable angle upstream so that the current was deflected away from the eroded L.H. bank and towards the inside bend and was secured and anchored to the river bed and R.H. bank accordingly.
13. A low profile Boulder Weir in the form of an upstream arch and the associated scour pool was created at Location No.18.6 with large boulders suitably placed in both pools.

The results of the electro-fishing carried out by the Environment Agency on 24^th September 2004 are very encouraging (see charted Electro-Fishing Results at various locations on the Taf Fechan) and the results suggest that we appear to be doing something right.

See also, the updated "Schematic" summarising the Taf Fechan Habitat Restoration Project, which details all the different types of habitat restoration work carried out at each location along the River Taf Fechan since we started the Project in 2001

B.D. Walkley

22.12.2004