PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
The project area covers approximately 6% of the UK's Natura 2000 river resource. This includes ~38% of the UK's allis and twaite shad (Alosa alosa and A. fallax) spawning sites in the Special Area of Conservation (SAC) network, 26% of bullhead (Cottus gobio), 14% of Ranunculion habitat (for which the UK has a special responsibility), 11% of river and brook lamprey, and 9% of sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus). Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) populations, although small in a UK context, are also regionally important.
The project area is strategically importantfor the conservation of freshwater pearl mussels (Margaritifera margaritifera). This species used to be widespread throughout all 4 rivers included within the project area but is now restricted to a few scattered individuals. The UK cannot reach favourable conservation status for M. margaritifera without restoring favourable ecological conditions in the project area, as it represents 50% of the Welsh range of the species, 41% of the Welsh favourable reference population and ~5.5% of the total UK range. Pearl mussels in this region are of the highly endangered southern genetic variant.
OBJECTIVES
The overall aim of the 4 Rivers for LIFE project is to improve the conservation status of 4 SAC rivers in Wales - Afon Teifi, Afonydd Cleddau, Afon Tywi and River Usk – by rehabilitating and restoring their natural processes, features and physical habitats. In total, these rivers support 4 habitats listed in Annex I of the EU Habitats Directive and 10 species listed in Annex II.
The specific objectives of the project are to:
- Improve the conservation status of all the Natura 2000 features across the 4 SACs to either favourable or recovering status, by addressing factors causing unfavourable condition, with a focus on the following target features: Water courses with Ranunculion fluitantis & Callitricho-Batrachion vegetation or aquatic mosses, Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus), bullhead (Cottus gobio), allis shad (Alosa alosa), twaite shad (Alosa fallax), and freshwater pearl mussels (Margaritifera margaritifera);
- Restore natural riverine physical processes (e.g. flow diversity, sediment movement), features (e.g. sediment quality, river planform) and physical habitats (including submerged, bank and floodplain areas) in more than 150 km of river. This will benefit all features of the 4 SACs and increase their resilience to pressures such as nutrient enrichment and climate change;
- Remove constraints to fish migration and wider ecological connectivity caused by weirs and other man-made partial or complete barriers in the 4 rivers, especially the Usk. This will improve access to or open up at least 295 km of river for migratory species (Atlantic salmon, shad species, sea lamprey);
- Re-establish viable populations of the critically endangered freshwater pearl mussel in southwest Wales, an area where it was formerly abundant but is now functionally extinct, by releasing at least 10,000 young mussels within suitable habitat in 15 km of river;
- Manage riparian and catchment land use to reduce nutrients, plastic and sediment entering the 4 rivers, thereby improving the quality of at least 160 km of river, benefiting all target habitats and species;
- Significantly reduce the extent and impact of invasive non-native species on at least 180 km of river, including eradication where possible;
- Establish long-term relationships with key stakeholders, by creating/working with community groups to restore local rivers; and
- Revise the core management plans for the 4 SAC rivers to ensure a sustainable future for Natura 2000 habitats and species.
The project supports the following EU legislation: the Habitats Directive, through the protection and restoration of 4 SAC rivers and by safeguarding Annex I and II habitats and species; the Invasive Alien Species (IAS) Regulation, by the control and removal of invasive alien plants and signal crayfish; and the Water Framework Directive. It also supports various other related biodiversity, freshwater and marine policies and strategies, including the EU’s biodiversity strategy for 2030 which set targets for restoration of free-flowing fivers (25,000 km by 2030).
RESULTS
Expected results:
- Improved access for migratory fish with more than 250 km of river improved through removal or remediation of physical barriers, which includes more than 150 km of habitat restoration measures;
- Agricultural land under sustainable management, including 35,000 ha and 350 farms within the sub-catchment under sustainable management. Nutrient levels reduced to target values or improved by at least 20% where target values cannot be met in the project lifetime;
- Habitat areas progressing towards favourable conservation status: 328 ha of Water courses with Ranunculion fluitantis & Callitricho-Batrachion vegetationacross 100 km of river;
- Improved or secured status of threatened species: including through fish and freshwater pearl mussel reintroductions and re-establishment, and the creation of 15 km of secure refuge areas for freshwater pearl mussels;
- Reduction in invasive alien species: including 80% reduction in Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) and the eradication of other IAS, resulting in significant improvements of bankside vegetation structures for around 180 km of river; and
- Stakeholders reached through direct engagement: 100,000 people with increased awareness of the SACs.
