A whole host of river improvements aimed at helping native crayfish have been completed within the Eden Valley. A two year project funded by SITA Trust on the Rivers Leith and Lyvennet near Penrith has just come to an end, and Eden Rivers Trust is reporting vital steps forward in saving this endangered local animal.
The River Eden is one of the last remaining strongholds for the native white-clawed crayfish. It is rapidly disappearing from rivers across the country because of the invasive American signal crayfish and the disease it carries.
Under the Leith Lyvennet project, over 5 kilometres of river bank have been fenced to create better conditions for the native white-clawed crayfish. These freshwater, lobster-like creatures do best in rivers with calcium-rich, clean water and stony beds, particularly where trees and tall plants line the bank. Native broadleaved trees have also been planted along newly fenced river banks because they provide shade, roots to hide in and leafy debris and insects as food for crayfish.
Eden Rivers Trust has found that crayfish are doing well in some areas, whilst being low in numbers or even absent in others. This crayfish survey has involved over 30 volunteers from all walks of life, including retired people, students, local anglers and school children.
Joanne Backshall, Conservation Officer at Eden Rivers Trust, said, “It is great to know that native crayfish are still thriving in certain areas of the Eden Valley. It is also excellent that the Eden remains one of the last rivers without the deadly signal crayfish and crayfish plague. We hope that the work we have done and will continue to do will ensure the continued survival of our native crayfish.”
A river clean up was undertaken on the R Lyvennet where bags and bags of plastic, metal and other rubbish were removed. The invasive Himalayan balsam plant was also pulled out of the riverbank on the River Leith near Cliburn. These activities were undertaken by local residents and anglers as well as members of Penrith Guides.
Water crowfoot has been transplanted into parts of the river where it has been lost. This long, trailing water plant provides shelter and food for crayfish, as well as many other river creatures. It is found in rivers and streams in the Eden Valley and can be recognised by its abundant white flowers which carpet the river in some places in June. Nearly 50 volunteers were involved in moving clumps of this plant from places where it is abundant to transplant it in little Hessian bags in areas where it has disappeared.
A number of events and exhibitions were held during the two years of the project, to highlight the plight of the native crayfish and the deadly threat of the introduced American signal crayfish and the crayfish plague disease it carries. As part of Eden Rivers Trust education work, more than 44 schools were visited and told about native crayfish in their local area. Information about the white-clawed crayfish and the dangers of introducing American Signal crayfish or transferring crayfish plague was widely distributed to angling and canoe clubs. A crayfish exhibition was set up at the Lake District Coast Aquarium and can still be seen by anyone wanting to learn more about this subject.
SITA Trust provides funding through the Landfill Communities Fund. Funding is available for community and environmental groups to carry out a range of improvement projects. A total of £51,865 was given to Eden Rivers Trust for this crayfish project.
Jo Hillis, Regional Fund Manager for SITA Trust, visited the area to see some of the outcomes of the project and said, “We were delighted to support such a well supported and well delivered conservation project. One of the major challenges faced by those trying to save the White Clawed Crayfish is public awareness of its plight. Eden Rivers Trust are doing a fantastic job in involving people of all ages in the bid to make Cumbria a haven for these amazing creatures, for years to come. ”
