River Roe Enhancement Scheme 2011

This year the Roe Angling Association concentrated its enhancement work on the Owenbeg.
 During the last year we have been involved with seeking grant aid from ARC Northwest. We have been successful in securing nearly £24,000 in grant aid. This aid has helped us complete thirteen spawning units with seventy five yards of nursery below each. This will finish our work on the Owenbeg.

As before each unit consisted of a low level groyne to facilitate spawning. Below this large stones were placed on the river bed to encourage more invertebrates. This will produce more food for juvenile salmonids. We have been using this method from 1997 and electro fishing results show that this method is working. Loughs Agency also feels that this work is the main reason that our salmon numbers do not follow the trend of other rivers in the Foyle system.
 We also installed a 360 yard buffer zone as this area was showing signs of erosion. We would like to convey our thanks to the local landowners for their permission to enter their land and conduct this work.

Enhancement work

Enhancement work

With the salmon arriving early and with good floods this year, we hope to see these spawning units being used this year.

If any angler is interested in seeing this enhancement work or finding out more, they can contact any member of committee.

River Roe Enhancement Scheme 2010

This year the Roe Angling Association decided to upgrade the spawning potential of the Alcattan Burn. The Alcattan had been electro fished by Loughs Agency prior to any enhancement work. Salmon Parr were found to be present so it was a perfect situation to install spawning sites. There were 7 habitat units installed in total. Just below them nursery stones were placed to help produce aquatic food for salmon Parr. These nursery areas were about 100 yards long. Some bushes needed to be trimmed back to allow more light into the sites. This was very labour intensive and thanks go to the lads from Dungiven who gave a day to complete this task. These types of groynes seem to be able to withstand the large floods due to their row of three stones. Salmon redds were seen on the groynes that we installed in the Woodburn last year so hopefully the same will happen in the Alcattan Burn. More work is planed for next year on the Owenbeg so if anyone would like to help just drop an email to our secretary.

Area of river before enhancement

After enhancement work

River Roe Enhancement Scheme 2009

The Roe Angling Association has completed its enhancement work on the river system for this year. The association concentrated its efforts on the Woodburn. Ten spawning units were installed with seventy five yards of nursery below each.

This is deemed best practice to encourage an increase in the survival rate of salmonids in river. The association has been enhancing the system since 1997 and have gained a wealth of experience in this field. The aim of this scheme was to reinstate the tributary to its original state (pre-drainage). A low level groyne was installed to facilitate salmon spawning.

New groyne

Below this large stones were placed on the river bed to encourage more invertebrates. This will produce more food for juvenile salmonids. With this in mind the association decided that a buffer zone would work very well on this small system.

New groyne

Local landowners were asked for their permission to install a buffer zone and 1,000 yards of river bank was fenced off. To accommodate cattle, small sections were fenced off to allow for drinking water. This buffer zone will help the river by attracting more fly life hence more food, as well as preventing bank erosion caused by cattle. It must be said that this type of enhancement work could not be accomplished without the cooperation of the local landowners.

Buffer Zone

This scheme was part funded by Loughs Agency with whom we have been working closely with over several years. We can undertake larger schemes each year with help through funding. Loughs Agency has been undertaking extensive electro fishing throughout the tributaries of the river Roe and has been informing the association of the results. This information is of great help to the association as they can aim their enhancement work at specific areas of most need. This particular scheme shows anglers what can be achieved when they work with governing bodies like Loughs Agency. This year the association spent £8,400 and a further £3,700 creating a buffer zone on the Woodburn. Loughs Agency helped by giving £5,000 in grant aid.

With the poor start to the fishing season so far we can take heart in that we have completed the Woodburn and that we can move on to another tributary. If any angler is interested in seeing this enhancement work or finding out more they can contact any member of the committee.

New nursery area created

The association intend to concentrate their efforts on the Owenbeg River next. Plans are in place for eight spawning units and seventy five yards of nursery below. This tributary is of major importance to the Roe as many salmon spawn there. Due to the size of this tributary eight units are planned. Permission has been given to carry out the enhancement work by Rivers Agency and also by ASSI. We are waiting for funding from Loughs Agency for this project to commence.