Ways to protect and improve wild trout habitats
We can, through thoughtful intervention, help to counter the negative effects of modern life and ensure that our relationship with the trout and its environment is not based solely on exploitation. Here are some of the more common approaches that can improve trout habitats whilst delivering positive gains to local biodiversity:

Restoration of in-stream and riparian habitats
Riverbanks can be damaged by livestock, and drainage and dredging works often leave channels that are unsuitable for good trout habitat. However it is often possible to restore habitat that has been degraded in this way. Where rivers are too wide, they can be narrowed. A new bank can be created with logs, faggots or coir rolls and infilled behind. Where rivers have been ‘canalised’, it is often possible to restore meanders, pools and riffles, and by re-introducing gravel to recreate spawning habitat. Where possible, this restoration work should use sustainable materials, sourced locally and appropriate to the type of river.

Fencing
Simply fencing off a stream can counter the effects of a number of the problems outlined above. A sturdy fence will keep out livestock, allowing natural riparian vegetation to re-grow. As banks stabilise and extend, the average depth and speed of flow will increase and there will be a significant gain in the amount of cover available for adult and juvenile fish. The dense build-up of bankside vegetation will also provide good habitat for water voles, insects and birds. Marginal water-tables also rise, improving the habitat for wetland plants.
Fences are ideally placed 3-5 metres from the bank, creating a generous buffer of vegetation which will also reduce the influx of silt, nitrate and other pollutants into the stream. However, some rare plant and invertebrate species need freshly eroded or trampled areas of bank, and some light grazing by stock over limited areas where these species are likely to occur can enrich the wider environment.

Tree management
Forestry schemes in upland areas should be planted so that they do not shade out rivers or streams no matter how small. Broadleaf trees provide a better basis for the food chain and coppicing or pollarding trees where appropriate is good practice. Coppicing leaves the root system of the tree intact to help bind the bank and creates low, dense bushes which provide excellent habitat for insects and birds, as well as localised cover for fish.

Good cover
Trout need cover at all stages of their life cycle. Cover for swim-up fry can be enhanced by trailing bundles of branches along the edges of a stream and placing cobbles and encouraging weed-growth in shallow glides. Cover for larger trout should be placed to provide secure lies adjacent to swift currents. Careful tree planting and allowing the subsequent build-up and retention of cover logs and other woody debris is an important part of a natural stream. Large fallen branches can be especially useful at scouring and sorting the river bed, providing both cover and spawning sites. Where pools are absent, structures like upstream ‘V’ weirs and current-deflectors can help re-establish a diversity of stream depths.

Passing obstructions
Fish must be easily able to pass culverts, log jams, weirs and dams. Large obstructions such as sluices may require fish passes. If land drainage and planning permits it, consideration should be given to the removal of obstructions wherever possible.

Spawning habitat
Spawning grounds must be accessible and clear of silt. In some circumstances, it is appropriate to artificially clean and loosen gravels used for spawning, by raking or high-pressure water-jetting. It is also possible to create spawning sites by importing and/or recycling gravel and locating it correctly.

How You Can Help

Vigilance
Be vigilant and report any evidence of pollution and habitat destruction. Notify the relevant authority immediately – don’t assume someone else will do it! For example, in Scotland notify the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency and in England and Wales, the Environment Agency. Liaise with the relevant authority responsible for water resources to ensure that fisheries and wildlife interests are taken into account where new or existing abstractions or developments may damage rivers or wetlands, or adversely affect wild trout.

Consultation and consent
Remember that many of the techniques described require written legal consent. Detailed information on planning, red tape, advice, funding and implementation can be found in The Wild Trout Survival Guide.

Get professional advice
Badly planned work can do more harm than good. The WTT recommends that anyone wishing to restore or enhance wild trout habitat should first seek professional advice. Many of our members have benefited from a WTT Advisory Visit (AV). This scheme was set up to meet the demand from our members for advice and planning guidance to initiate their own habitat restoration projects. More information on Advisory Visits.

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