Drought-hit trout rescued (From This Is Wiltshire)

Drought-hit trout rescued

8:58am Saturday 19th August 2006

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LOW water levels and high temperatures have seriously affected wild brown trout in two south Wiltshire rivers, and the distressed fish have had to be rescued by Environment Agency staff.

A thousand brown trout have been removed from the River Nadder, near Tisbury, and moved downstream to deeper water, while a dozen trout were rescued from Nine Mile River - a tributary of the Avon, near Bulford - last Wednesday, and moved to the main river.

Environment Agency staff went to the River Nadder, upstream of Fonthill Lake, after being alerted by a river keeper that a large number of trout were in a distressed state. The fish were netted and transported downstream, where the water was deeper.

Last week's rescue operation at Bulford involved a dozen or so adult wild brown trout that were probably in the Avon tributary to breed. They were moved to the main river, which is deeper and has a better flow.

Over the last few weeks, the agency has faced an increase in incidents, due to the drought and high temperatures taking their toll on the country's wildlife and the environment.

At more than 100 sites across the country, low water and oxygen levels have caused fish to gasp for air and, in some cases, have led to fish deaths. Many ponds and lakes have turned green and the conditions have led to the growth of algal blooms, such as the bacteria botulism.

This bacteria is harmful to wildfowl and several ducks have, in fact, died.

An agency spokesman said many rivers were silting up and trees were shedding their leaves early to preserve moisture.

Dr David King, director of water management for the agency, said, after two dry winters and this year's hot, dry summer, the environmental impacts of the drought were becoming more apparent.

He said: "This drought is not only affecting people in the way we use water, the environment is suffering, too.

"It's now clear that the impact is no longer contained to the south-east of England - the environmental problems are much more widespread."

In some areas, aerators are being used to increase oxygen levels in lakes and ponds.

It is feared the low water levels on the south's chalk streams - favoured breeding grounds for mayfly - are affecting many invertebrate species, as well as frogs, waders and insects.

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