Upper Wye Catchment Restoration Project
Overview
The Upper Wye Catchment Restoration Project is an NRW project funded by Welsh Government to restore the health of the upper reaches of the River Wye.
The Wye is one of the UK’s most special rivers, which is reflected by its designation as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Special Area of Conservation (SAC).
It is home to several important species including Atlantic salmon, otter, shad, white clawed crayfish and the plant, water crowfoot.
The river is also loved and used by local communities and visitors for outdoor, wellbeing and cultural activities.
The Project Area
The project area encompasses the Wye catchment upstream of Hay-on-Wye. The improvements we carry out in the upper catchment will benefit the whole river
Overall Aim
The overall aim of this project is to protect species and enhance habitats by addressing a range of pressures affecting the river.
The project aims to:
- restore and improve habitat in the river, on the river banks and in the wider catchment
- reduce sediment and pollutants entering the rivers
- improve the resilience of the river to extreme weather events and warmer temperatures resulting from climate change
What we will do
We will work alongside landowners, farmers, communities and local organisations to:
- Restore river corridors by fencing and planting buffer zones
- Create habitat in the river by introducing large woody material
- Install measures to reduce pollution and keep soil on the land
- Install measures to slow the flow of overland water, encouraging it to soak into the soil
- Restore and reconnect floodplains
- Remove or adapt man-made structures that obstruct fish and gravel movement
- Remove invasive non-native species that contribute to bank erosion and out-compete our native plants
We will track our progress through a monitoring programme, using a variety of techniques such as photography, drones and ecological surveys.
Working Together
Restoration of the upper Wye is not something we can achieve alone, and support from local communities and landowners will be crucial. Other organisations and charities are already working in this area, and we are exploring ways that we can enhance and add value to each other’s work, and share knowledge and ideas.
Follow @AdferGwyUchaf
Contact us
If you're a landowner, tenant, or community group in the upper Wye area and you'd like to work with us and get involved, please contact us via email:
RestoreUpperWye@naturalresources.wales
AdferGwyUchaf@cyfoethnaturiol.cymru
Keep up to date
We are engaging with local communities, groups and organisations through local events, newsletters and blogs, and posting our progress through social media. Why not like and follow us to see what we are up to? Links are at the bottom of this page.
Events
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Project Launch at the Royal Welsh Show (entry tickets required)
From 22 Jul 2024 at 11:00 to 22 Jul 2024 at 11:30After a delay due to the General Election, the Upper Wye Catchment Restoration Team is delighted to announce the official launch of the project on:
Monday 22 July 2024 at the Royal Welsh Show, Builth Wells
After the launch announcement, the project team will be available to chat about the project and to answer any questions. Please come along to the NRW marquee (878-CCA) to say ‘hello’ if you’re attending the show.
RSVP not required. This does not include free entry into the show.
Areas
- Builth
- Llandrindod East/Llandrindod West
- Llandrindod North
- Llandrindod South
- Rhayader
Audiences
- Fly-fishing
- Rivers
- Flooding
- Management
- Citizens
- citizens
- NFU
- DCWW
- Anglers
- Metal mines
Interests
- Climate change adaptation measures
- Flooding
- Community Voulnteering
- Forest Management
- Community Engagement
- WFD
- water framework directive
- Terrestrial ecosystems and species
- Fishing
- Biodiversity
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