Under the surface of the River Wye

So once again the plight of the River Wye has featured heavily in the media this week after an early season Algal bloom on the lower river.
Whilst it’s a good thing that the River is getting the coverage it needs to put a stop to pollution by various sources, the picture painted to the watching world is that of a dead environment, with little or no life.
Those that live on the river know this is far from the truth, and whilst I understand the need shock the world into action, the reality is it is incredibly damaging to tourism reliant businesses in the Wye Valley.
This video was filmed at Whitney on Wye on Friday and hopefully shows the true, and real time picture of life beneath the surface of the Wye.
Not covering up of denying pollution, just showing that our river, whilst in need of attention, is still very much alive and kicking.

[@PaulOutdoors]

A marvellous expose and reality check Dave. The green "slime" that you showed in the stagnant area with an abundance of life has always been a feature as long as I can remember along the shallows of Breinton, Belmont etc. 👍😊

[@minkyandbear]

A very measured view from a man who has spent over three decades deeply in touch with the River Wye.

[@johnjj1893]

Lovely to see, bring on June 16th. Thanks Dave.

[@markfarron-yo9dk]

Chicken farms are lower down in the mid section...so no surprise that problems start downstream and not above. I've seen it. Catastrophic. Upstream of the issue is irrelevant.

[@anglingescapadeswithdavero2363]

This poultry units are on the upper river catchment. This is well below. I’ve done this from Hay on Wye to Bigsweir. River full of life everywhere. Please tell me where this area of catastrophe is? I’ll go and investigate but I’m pretty sure I’ll find the same level of life and multi-species health!

[@troywales983]

the lower why was just like that in the 70s , but now its dead ,if its down to what you say then how come it was not like it back then ,the river is thousands of years old ,so it should not even exist if what you say is true ,our talking out of your arse ,i made a living from the wye for over 50 years ,ie, a salmon poacher 17years ,a pike fisherman 50years , a eel trapper 8 years elver fisherman 46 years , a pleasure angler 54years , i have seen it change more than most and it started over 30years ago and has gone down fast ,that is why it does not hold many fish , the big shoals of fish have all gone so no food for the system to live on ,and the big weed beds have rotted away that held all the smaller insects life , also the river bed has become silt that no longer hold life ,i once drank out of the river at tintern and came close to death

[@anglingescapadeswithdavero2363]

I’d suggest you’re still drinking the river water because you’re clearly talking nonsense! I deal in facts. Record numbers of coarse fish being caught every year. Currently the biggest explosion of chub we’ve ever seen. An increased number of otters, egrets, diving birds. Kingfishers landing on rods left right and centre. People like you judge the river on the amount of salmon. That ship sailed suddenly 35 years ago. Long before the increase in poultry farms. You cry about the lack of salmon but when there was plenty about, you murdered them to line your pockets! And now, where’s the only place where salmon are consistently caught? That’s right, the lower Wye which is dead according to you! Lack of water is the biggest problem facing our river. I’m in it every day. Top middle and bottom. Feel free to share these exact dead locations and I’ll happily come down and film some of the life you’re denying exists.