River Development

Dundalk & District Brown Trout & Salmon Anglers Assoc. Rivers Development Program

The Importance of River Care, Development and Enhancement.
All the water that falls from the sky eventually ends up in our streams, lakes and rivers. Rivers and their tributaries are like veins and arteries in our bodies carrying life to and from the surrounding areas as part of the great water cycle. As with the veins we know what happens when they become clogged and blocked, we feel unwell and sickly. The same applies to our rivers when they become overgrown, clogged and polluted. A healthy body needs a healthy supply of oxygen to the blood. A healthy river needs to be able to ‘breathe’ and oxygenate the water. Our river program tries to address these problems by clearing, cutting and general improvement to the overall river environment to supply the needs of the river and its inhabitants. As with most things in nature the right balance has to be found when undertaking these programs. For example tree planting in areas that have no cover and clearing to allow light in dark areas. Looking at the photos you will see a lot of gravel and stone been used, this is a particular grade and is used to assist Salmon, Sea Trout and Brown Trout to spawn and creates an excellent oxygenated nursery for the eggs to hatch. We hope that the river work that we undertake will benefit the entire river system and its inhabitants from source to sea and provide everyone in the community with much healthier rivers to enjoy and appreciate.

Castletown Tributary Rejuvenation
This photo was taken in the morning before work started where the tributary meets the Castletown River and photo taken later on right. July 08.	This photo was taken later that evening after brush clearance and small weir erection were complete. July 08
Further upstream. A labour of love.	And after the dust settles. A perfect nursery.
	Reserved for the next stage of development upstream on this tributary.
Some of the men behind the tremendous work carriied out on a tributary of the Castletown River. July 08.
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Clearing a fallen tree at Coffin Bridge on Castletown River which was diverting the river flow and over time can cause bank erosion and siltation. May 08.
Kilcurry River spawning beds enhancement 07	Fane River tributary confluence clearance (Miles Inniskeen) 07
Yes Master	Enjoying the break
Fane River tributary clearance (Castlering Knockbridge) 07	Kilcurry River spawning beds enhancement 07
Kilcurry River spawning beds enhancement 07	Fane River tributary spawning beds enhancement and clearance (Miles Inniskeen) 07
Castletown River spawning beds enhancement 07	Winter 07/08 scene on a cleared tributary on the Fane