We have experienced our third successive mild autumn and winter period with
very low rainfall. This is the lowest recorded rainfall over a winter period
since 1991. The river and surrounding land is in need of rainfall in high
volumes over lengthy periods to replenish the aquifers. It was amusing to hear
Jeremy Paxman's weather forecast on Newsnight the other evening, which was 'The
weather forecast, well its April what do you expect it to be like' then
proceeded to the next topic. Lets hope we get what we expect and need in the
form of rain ! On walking the river this week notably the aquatic plant life is
growing strong already, far more dense and plentiful than is usual for this time
of year, probably partly natures way of providing cover to its aquatic
inhabitants to protect from natural predators.
River Management & Conservation
During Autumn and Winter we continued with our regular working parties
assisted with the help of the farmer, his sons, and their tractor. It continues
to be very rewarding to be working with the farmers for the same cause to ensure
countryside habitats are developed and maintained. We continued to work
primarily along the stretch from the road bridge to the farm bridge coppicing
several large dying alders. Also we coppicing several dying alders upstream from
the hatchgate bridge to where the River Hart enters the Whitewater on both sides
of the bank. All of this conservation work contributes to preventing bank
erosion and provides low level cover when the trees soon grow again.
Our stocked fish have come from the same source as recent years, so expect
some fine looking and dynamic fish. The stocking was purposely delayed by two
weeks due to extreme low and clear water conditions where it was felt the fish
could be exposed to predator attack from herons and associated stress.
We now have our first mink raft installed on the Whitewater. For further
background to this please refer to the Spring 2004
Newletter. The mink raft has
been positioned by the farm bridge as it is a known location of mink. For this
to be successful we require members not to disturb the mink raft in anyway and
accept the inconvenience to enable these American impostors to be dispatched
from the vicinity. Over the years the occasional member has mentioned
enthusiastically that they have just seen an otter, when in fact it was
definitely a mink. Therefore thought this identification guide might help
everyone and a reminder that should mink or evidence of mink be seen please
advise any of the Bailiffs / River Keepers.
