gravel tracking 200716WRT fisheries scientist Scott West explains some of his research into gravel reintroduction

“I spent the day alongside Plymouth University and fellow fisheries team member Matt Healey where we have been involved with some exciting work introducing gravels to the upper River Avon, Devon. This work has been carried out to try to create spawning habitats that have been lost due to the presence of the Avon dam. The Dam acts as a blocker to natural bedload material and due to this, South West Water have helped fund a programme to mitigate its effects.

Here we are locating gravel that we have tagged to try and understand where the material ends up over time and how successful it is at creating functioning spawning habitat for fish.”