Loch Lomond Fishery Trust: 5 Burn Willow Spilling Habitat Improvements

Purpose of Grant

To undertake habitat enhancement work in 15 sites over 5 identified burns across the Lomond catchment where there are very low juvenile salmon numbers.

Project Description

Loch Lomond Fishery Trust requested grant monies to go towards a habitat enhancement project. LLFT has a strong connection with the Loch Lomond Angling Improvement Association (LLAIA) and is an environmental charity that exists to champion the conservation of Loch Lomond's native fish populations and their habitats.

This initiative aimed to address tree canopy, in-stream cover and bank erosion issues in 15 sites over 5 identified burns across the Lomond catchment where there were very low juvenile salmon numbers (as well as correspondingly low trout numbers). These locations were -

1. Kirkhouse Burn, 2. Dumgoyne Burn, 3. Alltquhur Burn, 4. Balglass Burn, 5. Murroch Burn.

The project undertook the following works in a bid to help improve juvenile fish numbers:

1. Placing of in-stream cover in the form of live willow spilling, backed by brash bundling, which provided instant in-stream cover for fish as well as prevented further bank erosion. While the placing of large woody debris using mechanical construction equipment is a recognized technique to enhance juvenile numbers, access issues for mechanical vehicles in the 5 locations rendered this impossible. Instead willow bundles were walked in to the selected sites and locally sourced brash was used to back fill.

2. Planting of native deciduous trees in the vicinity of the willow spilling to provide additional long-term canopy cover and to further stabilize erosion-prone areas of bank was then undertaken. All tree planting was on a relatively small scale, within protected pods to avoid deer predation.

This project specifically targeted hard-to-reach locations where juvenile salmon populations were in danger and urgently needed improvement. Project activities commenced in June 2022 and completed in March 2023.

Budget

A grant of £22,940.00 was awarded for the project which was the full cost of the project.