Reconnecting the Salmon Rivers of Wales

• The estimated average length of free-flowing river segments (i.e. those between consecutive barriers) is less than 7km in Wales
• Barrier density is 0.63 barriers per km. 
• More than 23% of barriers in Wales are obsolete and could be removed.
• We have identified 50 priority barriers inside protected sites in our five target catchments.

To help reconnect five iconic Atlantic salmon rivers in Wales:

1. Western Cleddau
2. Eastern Cleddau
3. Usk
4. Tywi
5. Teifi

To revert the impacts caused by habitat fragmentation.
Reconnecting quality habitats for salmon will benefit many other aquatic species, including the freshwater pearl mussel, sea trout, sea lamprey, white-clawed crayfish, and the Eurasian otter who require free-flowing rivers.

To help reconnect over 100km of fragmented river habitats across Wales
We will remove and/or ease disused barriers to reconnect achieve this target. 

To use the Barrier Tracker app to engage with local communities
Using the barrier tracker will showcase the benefits of collaboration in river restoration among the regulator, the water provider, the scientists and the local river communities.

1. improve the condition of four protected river sites

2. help reverse the loss of river biodiversity

3. make salmon and other endangered riverine species less isolated

Anglers will benefit from having more resilient and abundant fish stocks and more fishing opportunities. Angling (5,514 salmon and sea trout angling licences sold in Wales) is a significant source of wealth and tourism, and an increase in anglers and outdoor (nature-related) visitors will benefit local river communities. 

There are over 2,700 members of Canoe Wales and better connected rivers will also offer better opportunities for canoeing which are at present very limited in Wales due to river fragmentation. 

Having more free-flowing rivers will also improve river hydrology, facilitate the transport of sediments and enhance the functioning of rivers and the ecosystem services rivers provide. 

Healthy rivers are flowing rivers and better connected rivers will enhance the biodiversity value of the protected sites we are targeting in the five salmon catchments. Finally, the removal of obsolete barriers will help reduce flood risks and promote the adoption of Nature-based solutions (NbS) for flood management. 

Swansea University hosted the RIVER WARRIORS seminar on the 22 March, 2022. The event was a success and had the participation of four keynote speakers. The program and the presentations are free to download. 

Two-day training in Brecon at the Wye and Usk Foundation on the 20-21 June, 2022. 

Day one of the bootcamp saw barrier Removal Bootcamp talks from Natural Resources Wales, The Wye and Usk Foundation, Swansea University, West Wales Rivers Trust and Afonydd Cymru in the morning session.

Day two of the bootcamp was a trip to two project sites on the River Honddu for hands-on training on the Barrier Tracker app, barrier impact assessment, collection of water samples for eDNA monitoring and surveys on habitat, macroinvertebrates, diatoms and sediment.

The barrier bootcamp notes are now available.

Dan Removal Europe (DRE) have launched a campaign to promote the use of the Barrier Tracker App to collate data on in-stream barriers across Europe and worldwide. The App has 2,600 users, over 40,000 submitted records, and is an excellent Citizen Science tool for both outreach and education about the impacts of river fragmentation.

The campaign posters are available in many languages, and the Barrier Tracker welsh and  language posters and are available to download.

Join the campaign by recording the barriers you see on your summer holidays!