Yealm Estuary to Moor
The Yealm Dippers
Jane Pennington
Challenges for the Yealm and its
Estuary
Survey Sites
What is being measured and why…
Exceeding Upper Safe Limits
Wembury Measures
• 3 sites currently being monitored
• Wembury Stream – Beach, Wembury Stream Mill Meadow Footbridge and Wembury Stream Church Road
• Assisting the EA and feeding back data after water quality decline from Excellent to Good
• Phosphates are the key concern with Upper Safe Limits exceeded at all 3 sites
• Carl Gibbard kindly takes the samples for us each month
• Please contact us if you can help us in the Wembury/Brixton area
Responders
• Group formed to respond to pollution alerts from the CWM
• 3 people receive alert and assess severity
• Response team in place for upper, mid and lower catchment
• Photos are taken at key sites; additional CSI samples may be taken; E coli measures of faecal pollution and additional analysis of hydrocarbons, pesticides, metals and minerals when necessary
• Data uploaded to cartographer, EA submissions made as necessary
Riverfly Project CSI
• WildFish SmartRivers Programme
• CSI volunteers x 10 sample at 6 key locations within the catchment
• Sites at Marks Bridge, Popples Bridge, Puslinch Bride, Silverbridge (Gorlofen), Cofflete Stream, Newton Stream (Bridgend)
• Professional baseline survey; CSI volunteer training Spring 2024 and then sampling each Autumn and Spring
• Minimum 3 year commitment
• Lab analysis by WildFish £2220/yr but we are now analysing 4 of our own samples and gaining new skills.
Stoneflies Caddisflies
Riverfly Results
Mayflies
