Prospects & General Comments:
Environment Secretary Michael Gove Visits The Foundation Thursday 7th June, 2018
Michael Gove was in Herefordshire on the 25th May to see how the work of the Foundation and the Wye Catchment Partnership is leading the way in reducing agricultural pollution in rivers.
The event was part of World Wildlife Fund's (WWF) "Saving The Earth" initiative (link). Also attending were the Angling Trust, The Rivers Trust, Environment Agency and WWF.
We are very grateful to Chris Norman of Leen Farm in Pembridge for hosting what was an extremely important visit. Events such as these are vital in demonstrating how issues such as diffuse pollution and soil loss can be solved without adversely affecting farmers' incomes.
Read more about Michael Gove's visit.
Marathon des Salmon Complete!
The 6-day challenge to run the length of the Wye has been completed successfully. Charlie Newington-Bridges, Gerry Stentiford and Julian Sarsby arrived in Chepstow on Saturday, in one piece having covered the 150 miles from the source on Plynlimon.
They will have raised over £15,000 for the Foundation and Ty Hafan, the childrens' hospice provider. Our thanks and congratulations to the three of them for completing the marathon journey.
Read more about the Marathon des Salmon.
New Lower Wye Webcam
With no promised improvement in the broadband connection at Lucksall, just downstream of Hereford, we have moved the webcam further downriver to Redbrook, a couple of miles below Monmouth. The live images are now being displayed on the Fishing Passport site here.
There will be some tweaks to the images and, possibly, the siting of gauge over the next few days but we hope that it gives lower Wye anglers some useful information when planning their fishing. Our thanks to Natural Resources Wales for allowing us to attach it to their gauging station and to use their facilities.
Tidal Lagoons
The BBC reported this week that another offer of a £200 million loan or stake in the Swansea Tidal Lagoon has been made by Wales's First Minister to help persuade Central Government to approve the scheme.
But according to the BBC, Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns said when referring to the lagoon that "the numbers are awful." They also quote a Whitehall source in saying "There are offers, and there are serious offers. £200m doesn't really touch the sides" (of the estimated £1.3 billion scheme).
The fact remains that lagoon generated electricity is the most expensive however it is dressed up.
Also, the scheme still has a number of unresolved technical issues such as the management of sediment and gaining a marine licence, either of which may be the final show stopper. There may yet be better ways of harnessing the tidal stream and flow in the Bristol Channel and Severn Estuary that is less destructive of the environment, rare habitats and species.
The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs listening to Kate Speke-Adams, WUF's Head of Land Use during the visit

The three runners (in orange) were cheered on by family and WUF staff on Boughrood Bridge on Day 2 of the Marathon des Salmon

One of the many high quality trout that have been caught on the Usk recently
To end on a happier note, there has been some outstanding trout fishing on the Usk in the past week or so, especially for those prepared to fish after 8pm. With a wide range of insects hatching (including mayflies), we are at the peak of the trout fishing calendar throughout the Wye and Usk catchments. Make the most of it before we hit the dog days of summer!
All the best from WUF.


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