The project builds on previous restoration work funded through the Wild Fisheries Fund and will focus on improving a section of the Fruin Water and the Auchengaich Burn that is vulnerable to drying out during periods of low flow, restricting fish movement and reducing available habitat for wild salmon and trout.
To address this, the project will install three natural check weirs to help retain water in the channel, increase pool depth and improve groundwater recharge. Three observation wells will also be drilled to monitor groundwater levels and improve understanding of river conditions, while two remote monitoring cameras will provide real-time information on river flows and help identify when sections of the burn dry out.
The work will be delivered by Loch Lomond Fisheries Trust and Ayrshire Rivers Trust, both of which have successfully delivered Wild Fisheries Fund projects in the past. The project brings together expertise from the public, private and charitable sectors to improve habitat quality, increase resilience to climate change and support wild fish populations in the catchment.
It is one of nine conservation projects across Scotland sharing almost £230,000 from the fund this year. Since its launch in 2021, the Wild Fisheries Fund has delivered £1.5 million for practical conservation and restoration work, supporting 30 local projects across Scotland. Salmon farmers have now committed a further £460,000 over the next two years, taking total investment through the fund since 2021 to £1.96 million.
Joanna Girvan, Loch Lomond Fisheries Trust manager, said:
"Our project, Habitat Restoration of Glen Fruin, aims to increase the Fruin Water’s resilience in the face of climate change and biodiversity loss.
"The project brings together expertise from the public, private and charitable sectors, with each playing their part in restoring water quality and quantity, improving fish habitat and planting trees to regulate temperature and hydrological interactions."
