Freshwater | RCT Action 4 Nature

Freshwater

Pond Surveys

Encourage pond surveys across RCT, especially where community groups can be engaged in citizen science projects

Biosecurity

Raise awareness of the importance of biosecurity for preventing spread of INNS e.g. plants and invertebrates

Aquatic Bioblitz

Work with SEWBReC / National Museum of Wales to undertake aquatic bioblitzes on the rivers of RCT

River Restoration Projects

Identify areas where physical modifications disrupt the natural processes of a river. Where possible identify opportunities to restore connectivity for fish migration, to reconnect rivers with their floodplains and to avoid new obstructions. Use of nature based solutions to address issues.

Nesting birds on our rivers

Continue monitoring the common sandpiper on the River Ely and create and monitor dipper nesting boxes. Sand martin nesting projects e.g. stilted nesting boxes as in Torfaen example.

Eel project

Engage schools with their local river systems through projects such as the SEWRT Eel project with schools

Surveys

Encourage river interest groups such as Angling Clubs to participate in surveys e.g. for river flies / shore beetles to improve our understanding of these unknown species groups

Garden Pond Network

Encourage communities to work together to create Garden Pond Networks. Raise awareness of amphibian disease and invasive plant species and the importance of not moving spawn and pond plants around. Avoid locating new ponds in valuable marshy grassland habitat.

Peatbog Restoration

Maximise opportunities for peatbog restoration where possible for the benefit of nature, climate and local communities

River Health

Raise awareness of the effects of detrimental human activity on rivers e.g. light pollution/ litter and dumping/ waste water input to rivers to encourage a change of habits e.g. Clean the Clun

Freshwater Habitats in RCT

These action plans are for a range of quite different habitats with a dependence on water. RCT is a landscape of river valleys, wetlands, upland peatbogs and high annual rainfall. These ‘wettest’ of habitats often exist in complex mosaics with the woodlands, marshy grasslands, and upland wet heaths described elsewhere in the Local Nature Plan. Freshwater is therefore a significant feature of our biodiversity, maintaining habitats of great biodiversity significance and connecting biodiversity networks. They also have a common threat of degradation and loss through water and air born pollution, physical modification, land use changes, the loss of sympathetic management and urban and industrial impacts and disturbance.

There are five principal types of freshwater habitat considered in this Plan which can be viewed by clicking the links below.

Rivers and Streams

Standing Open Water

Floodplain and Grazing Marsh

Fens, swamp and reedbeds

Peat Bogs

Case Study

SmartRivers- Cynon Hub

South East Wales Rivers Trust’s SmartRivers hub on the Cynon is a Wales first, run in partnership with The Salmon & Trout Conservation Trust. SmartRivers aims to use river fly invertebrates as a diagnostic indicator of the river’s health by identifying them to species level, utilising volunteers, and citizen science. Our group is made up of volunteers from community groups throughout the Cynon valley and further afield; aiming to involve local communities in the protection and conservation of our rivers and their wildlife. We have volunteers from Ospreys Angling, Pontus Aqua Research, Cwmbach Community Wetlands and Cynon Valley Organic Adventures, all helping with our river kick sampling at five chosen sites right along the length of the river Cynon and the identifying to species level, in lab conditions at our office. The hope is to improve and enhance biodiversity of the river Cynon through education, meaningful community engagement and encouraging effective stewardship of the river, creating of a group of volunteer river rangers monitoring the river in the future.

If you would like to know more about SmartRivers you can visit here.

RHONDDA CYNON TAF ACTION FOR NATURE PLAN