Welsh Dee Trust have been given funding from NRW for our Restoring River habitat programme. The funding is part of a 1.1 million cash injection from Welsh Government to help protect and restore the populations of salmon and sea trout in Welsh rivers.

NRW will work with Afonydd Cymru and the six Rivers Trusts in Wales on a range of projects including restoring stream habitats, removing barriers to migration and improving water quality in rivers across Wales. Each of the Trusts has worked closely with NRW staff to identify and prioritise works needed.

Amongst the key projects that will now progress are:

• Removing barriers to fish migration in the River Ceiriog .
• Fencing off areas along rivers in the Ceiriog, Alyn and Clywedog rivers, allowing trees to establish along the bank.
• Installing gravel traps and in stream cover to boos the productivitiy of returing fish.

Ruth Jenkins, NRW’s Head of Natural Resource Management Policy said: 

“Salmon are a treasured part of Wales’ wildlife and healthy salmon populations are is important both culturally and economically too. We are determined to ensure that Wales has a sustainable salmon and sea trout population for years to come.

“This funding of more than a £1.1m, along with a wider programme that NRW itself will develop, will help us to go further, quicker and will make a difference to the work that we and our partners do every year.

“It is only through continuing to take concerted action for the whole river system that we will successfully protect these iconic species for future generations.”

Dr Stephen Marsh – Smith for Afonydd Cymru said:

“This project provides an important opportunity to tackle many of the problems across Wales’ rivers. It is a step change upwards in cooperation and coordination between the Rivers Trusts and NRW, with the actual on-site delivery devolved to each regional trust. We look forward to reporting at completion and seeing the benefits within Welsh fisheries.”