Case study:Pearls in Peril LIFE+ GB Project

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Location: 54° 31' 28.36" N, 3° 24' 36.81" W

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Project overview

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Status	In progress
Project web site	http://https://www.pearlsinperil.org.uk/
Themes	Environmental flows and water resources, Fisheries, Habitat and biodiversity, Hydromorphology, Monitoring, Water quality
Country	England, Scotland, Wales
Main contact forename	Jackie
Main contact surname	Webley
Main contact user ID
Contact organisation	Scottish Natural Heritage
Contact organisation web site	http://www.snh.gov.uk/
Partner organisations
This is a parent project encompassing the following projects	Pearls in Peril LIFE+ GB Project - Afon Eden, Pearls in Peril LIFE+ GB Project - Mingary Burn, Pearls in Peril LIFE+ GB Project - River Borgie, Pearls in Peril LIFE+ GB Project - River Dee, Pearls in Peril LIFE+ GB Project - River Ehen, Pearls in Peril LIFE+ GB Project - River Evelix, Pearls in Peril LIFE+ GB Project - River Naver, Pearls in Peril LIFE+ GB Project - River Oykel, Pearls in Peril LIFE+ GB Project - River South Esk, Pearls in Peril LIFE+ GB Project - River Spey

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Project summary

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'Pearls in Peril' is a LIFE + NATURE project co-funded by 22 organisations across Scotland, England and Wales. This exciting nationwide project will act to safeguard important populations of freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera).

The project spans four years from 2012 to 2016. In that time, a wide range of conservation measures will be implemented in key river systems. The measures will aim to: - RESTORE the habitat of freshwater pearl mussel and salmonids (salmon and trout); - SECURE the long term survival of existing freshwater pearl mussel populations; and - COMMUNICATE with local, national and international audiences to raise awareness of freshwater pearl mussel conservation issues.

Best practice methods will be used to secure freshwater pearl mussel populations and some of these actions include: - Restore and improve riparian habitat by planting native trees and fencing riverbanks; - Pearls In The Classroom - an education programme to raise awareness of the freshwater pearl mussel amongst children; - Reduce diffuse pollution by ditch blocking, creating buffer strips and wetlands; - Employ a riverwatch scheme to reduce the risk from wildlife crime; - Encyst juvenile salmon with local pearl mussel larvae; - Monitor water quality, habitat restoration, pearl mussel populations and host salmonids; and - Raise awareness of freshwater pearl mussels and the project.

A total of 21 rivers across Britain will be involved, all of which are NATURA 2000 sites and are designated as Special Areas of Conservation (SACs). In Scotland, these are the Rivers Dee, South Esk, Spey, Evelix, Naver, Borgie, Oykel, Fionaven, Abhainn Clais an Eas, Allt a'Mhuilinn, Ardvar & Loch a'Mhuilinn Woodlands, Inverpolly, Moidart, Kerry, Glen Beasdale, Ardnamurchan Burns, Rannoch Moor, North Harris, Moriston and Mingarry Burn on Mull. In England, the project will involve the River Ehen in Cumbria and in Wales, the Afon Eden in Snowdonia.

Monitoring surveys and results

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Monitor water quality, habitat restoration, pearl mussel populations and host salmonids

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Catchment and subcatchment Select a catchment/subcatchment Site Edit site Name WFD water body codes WFD (national) typology WFD water body name Pre-project morphology Reference morphology Desired post project morphology Heavily modified water body National/international site designation Local/regional site designations Protected species present Invasive species present Species of interest Dominant hydrology Dominant substrate River corridor land use Average bankfull channel width category Average bankfull channel width (m) Average bankfull channel depth category Average bankfull channel depth (m) Mean discharge category Mean annual discharge (m3/s) Average channel gradient category Average channel gradient Average unit stream power (W/m2) Project background Edit project background Reach length directly affected (m) Project started 2012/01/01 Works started Works completed Project completed 2016/12/31 Total cost category Total cost (k€) Benefit to cost ratio Funding sources Cost for project phases Phase cost category cost exact (k€) Lead organisation Contact forename Contact surname Investigation and design Stakeholder engagement and communication Works and works supervision Post-project management and maintenance Monitoring Reasons for river restoration Edit reasons for restoration Mitigation of a pressure Barriers to fish migration, to safeguard the future of the most important pearl mussel populations in Great Britain Hydromorphology Continuity for organisms, Quantity & dynamics of flow, Width & depth variation Biology Fish, inverterbrates Physico-chemical redox potential Other reasons for the project socioeconomic benefits for salmonid fisheries, farmers and tourism Measures Edit Measures Structural measures Bank/bed modifications Floodplain / River corridor Fencing, Tree planting, Reduce diffuse pollution by ditch blocking, Creation of wetlands Planform / Channel pattern Other Non-structural measures Management interventions Social measures (incl. engagement) Pearls In The Classroom - an education programme to raise awareness of the freshwater pearl mussel, Employ a riverwatch scheme to reduce the risk from wildlife crime Other Encyst juvenile salmon with local pearl mussel larvae Monitoring Hydromorphological quality elements Edit Hydromorphological quality elements Element When monitored Type of monitoring Control site used Result Before measures After measures Qualitative Quantitative Biological quality elements Edit biological quality elements Element When monitored Type of monitoring Control site used Result Before measures After measures Qualitative Quantitative Fish Yes Yes Yes Yes No Invertebrates Yes Yes Yes Yes No Physico-chemical quality elements Edit Physico-chemical quality elements Element When monitored Type of monitoring Control site used Result Before measures After measures Qualitative Quantitative Oxygen balance No No No No No Any other monitoring, e.g. social, economic Edit Other responses Element When monitored Type of monitoring Control site used Result Before measures After measures Qualitative Quantitative Monitoring documents Upload monitoring documents Additional documents and videos Upload additional documents Additional links and references Edit links and references Link Description Supplementary Information Edit Supplementary Information