Nutirent Restoration Trial River Muick

We are pleased to share a short film, which describes our nutrient restoration trials on the River Muick.
In the past, the decaying carcasses of 100’s of adult salmon would fertilise the stream and create an environment which boosted the growth of young fish. Streams that lack dead adult salmon have fewer insects (less ‘fish food’), so that the surviving fish fry are smaller and from fewer parents.
Our plan is to use the lower legs of culled deer to replace the nutrients from the dead salmon that used to enrich the river. The legs, which are usually discarded, are a readily available, no cost, sustainable resource. They are pinned in bundles to the river bed.
We are also placing bundles of salmon food pellets at four sites, in quantities which replicate a salmon carcass. By comparing the effects on insect life, aquatic life and juvenile salmon numbers at the different sites we will discover the correct volume of deer legs to use in the years ahead.
We will be monitoring the effect of this on algae, insects and aquatic life and of course juvenile salmon over the next 3 years. Invertebrate sampling will be carried out by the James Hutton Institute from June and fish sampling will be carried out in late summer.
Our aim is to send as many fit and healthy smolts to sea as possible. By kickstarting the cycle in the upper catchment, we hope that the salmon and mother nature will do the rest.
Thanks to:
Balmoral Castle & Estate
Glen Muick Estate
The James Hutton Institute
TwinPeakes Fly Fishing
Loop Tackle
EWOS

[@jeffreyrogers2491]

Great piece of work.