Wensum Roach Spawning Survey 2022 As a follow-up attempt to locate new roach spawning sites after failing (mostly!) in 2021, Tim Ellis and Kevin Powell are looking to set up an informal river-wide watch for spawning roach at the appropriate time this year. This is early May, only definite recent record from previous years is…
River Wensum Restoration Fish Monitoring Report 2022 The following report was presented to us, on the 8th April 2022 out of the blue, so to speak. In its conclusion it states that Rheophilic fish (Gravel Spawning) species in general have benefited from the Wensum restoration work, while Phytophilic fish (Plant Spawning) species struggled at the…
The Partnership produced its first catchment management plan in December 2021. Click on the image below to open the document.
Wensum Bank Breach Bintree Start Sep-2021 End Dec-2022 Back in Sep 2021 we learn about a bank breach on the river between Quest and Bintree. This first occurred as far back as November 2020, when we had the deluge of rainfall and much of the Wensum flood plain flooded. However this isn’t the floodplain working…
Wensum Fishery Management Plan Consultation To Members of the Wensum Working Group This is a paper for consultation looking at how we address fisheries management of Roach within the Wensum. Once we complete the site survey work, we will consider taking this forward for discussion with the wider Wensum Partnership including Natural England and the…
Wensum Sediment Tracing Walkovers Revisit 2020 Members of the Wensum Working Group, felt so en-sensed that little progress had been made following the significant APEM report of sediment tracing back in 2010. In 2020, they re-visited 20 of the category 1 priority locations and produced the following images and update in what they found. Sediment Report…
Natural England created a Diffused Water Pollution Plan back in 2015 following a Judicial Review brought about by the Angling Trust. This River Wensum SSSI – Exemplar Diffuse Water Pollution Plan and Action Plan has as yet failed in its recommendations to reduce significant nutrient load on the river. Click on the image below to…
Wensum Rural Sediment Tracing Project Start Jul-2010 End Dec-2021 The Environment Agency (EA) initiated the Rural Sediment Tracing Project in 2009 with the aim of identifying and classifying catchment sources of fine sediment inputs to streams and rivers within 11 priority catchments in rural areas across England. The selected catchments are the top failing salmon…
Wensum Past Present and Future This paper found its genesis in work undertaken by members of the Broads Angling Services Group (BASG) – Wensum Working Group to understand why there has been a marked decline in the River Wensum’s Roach population both in size and fish numbers. BASG’s initial intention was to conduct a BASG…
The EA team released a number of fact sheets and newsletters showing the progress on the restorations scheme. This one was produced in 2016. Click on the image below to open the document.