River Culm/sewage spills.

[morendat]

Anyone who fishes the River Culm should read this article from the Times. "Britain's Rivers ruined by thousands of sewage spills."

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/221560fa-788e-11ec-a9ac-7b4ca33c4cb4?shareToken=e78d792ffdf7fcda5d54a2c23102906e
The River Culm has been rated No.8 in the whole of the country for having illegal sewage spills. These spills take place from their pumping station at Coldharbor in Uffculme. I have fished the private stretch downstream from the South West Water's sewage pumping station for many years and recently noticed a marked deterioration in fly life life and catches. I sample the river just down stream through the River Fly Partnership and with the West Country River Trusts CSI scheme and the results are one of the poorest on the River. I am lucky to be able to fish another private stretch above the pumping station and the catches have been consistently good. The next stretch down stream from where I fish is the top water at Skinners Farm, the top stretch of the Crediton Fly Fishing clubs water. Have any of their members noticed a deterioration in their catches and the general fly life? The River Culm was noted as one of the few Devon rivers to have the native white clawed crayfish which have vanished over the years down stream from the pumping station but can still be found up stream. They are an endangered species but they will soon to be no more if these water companies are not held to account. The problem is we as fly fishermen sit and moan when we read these articles but as individuals there is little we can do.

[johnesmithson]

I share your dismay and anger, but we aren't entirely powerless. Look how influential Professor Peter Hammond (cited in the above article) has become, and he started out as a lone voice because he was appalled at what he could see happening in the stream running through his land. Become a RiverFly Monitor (like you are already doing). Write to your MP and local councillors. Join local pressure groups. Involve the local Press and TV. Set up a social media account dedicated to water quality. Get local school classes to do water sampling projects. Become a shareholder of any one of the companies involved and hold them to account at their annual meetings. Contribute to environmental fighting funds. Create a petition. Don't give up. Those would be my starters for ten!

[yeoman]

It's hard to tell, the Culm is a moody river trout wise, but I would say the fishing on CFFC was poor last season, I felt there weren't as many fish as normal but that could be a reflection on the ever changing pools.
Fly life was definitly down, but it was everywhere I fished.
It does sound worrying, though. The last few years of Riverfly Data seems to suggest there is more of a problem below Collumpton, I'm sorry to hear there are serious issues further up as well.
Agree with that John, I'd also be massively in favour of some kind of public information campaign to try and get people not to throw inappropriate items down the Loo....especially those wretched wet wipes that seem to be a necessity these days rather than just good old Bog Roll! Until the Sewage systems get the upgrades they need, I'm sure we can all help our rivers a bit by just considering where what we throw down the drain might end up.Less blockages/ fatbergs etc. Less storm overflow...

[terry]

I agree Johnny, a good starter for sure. I’m sure not all would agree but we should be befriending/talking to other river users e.g. wild swimmers, paddle boarders canoeist etc. as they seem to have the ear of the media. When you watch our local news reports on pollution how often are anglers represented. I believe we don’t seem to come over that well and we have the likes of Chris Packham and co who are against any form of Angling to contend with. I’m amazed that the millions of anglers throughout the country don’t seem to be seriously heard. Even the Angling Trust appear to be subdued on the subject.
Not sure about contacting our MPs is worth doing (from my past experience ) but hammer the media and as Johnny has said “don’t give up”

[halfstoned]

Results were low for CFFC last season, just 16 fish I think, however fishing pressure was correspondingly low for some reason ( perhaps covid related)?
The reply I received from my MP was complete "word salad" with some BS about how the Duke of Wellingtons amendment couldn't be enforced. We already have the regulations, they just need to be adhered to! Totally pointless bringing in new regs because they "can be enforced " if no-one is going to do the enforcing. When I replied with this point and a question about what a "progressive reduction " actually was, guess what? No reply. Public action, naming and shaming seems to be the way to go. It does feel as though this stuff is being spoken about now by the wider public, TV, radio,podcasts etc so perhaps the tide is turning? ( no jokes please about the tide bring all the turds back with it).

[yeoman]

Looks like the tide might be taking some turds out just now😉

[yeoman]

With friends like these....

www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/feb/06/anglers-heartbroken-as-stretch-of-river-tone-stripped-of-trees

[halfstoned]

Looks like they asked that farmer on the river Lugg to help them out😆
The problem appears to be that people think the EA is there to protect the environment even though all the evidence points to the contrary. Budget cuts,self monitoring by water companies, instruction to officers not to investigate pollution cases etc.. all point to the fact that the EA has been tasked by government to give the facade of caring while ensuring that their activities don't affect profits. You do indeed "get the Environment you pay for" James Bevan CE. Forget the EA coming to help our rivers, private groups like WASP and SAS seem to be the way forward plus more public outrage!
Phew, I think I need to have a lie-down.

[halfstoned]

Some more interesting reading about our lovely SWW. I'm not sure where they get the annual bill figure from, £503 a year I wish!


www.ft.com/content/0c9f1644-1c7d-41d7-b3dd-02e2a9e3d2d1

[yeoman]

www.gov.uk/government/speeches/water-myths-facts-and-inconvenient-truths

Worth a read.

[halfstoned]

Oh Ben stop it, I'm crying with laughter!! This must be why he gets paid the big bucks,the ability to turn an utter sh*t show into good news. How the hell can you declare that there are fewer serious pollution incidents when you don't investigate them anymore? How does he know that the discharge of dangerous chemicals has decreased when the testing is either non existent or reported by the water company? Beach bathing status is only taken at certain times of year and if a beach fails it can be de-designated so it's no longer part of the overall figures.
Sorry I feel another migrane coming on so I'm off to lie in a darkened room. It's all my fault, apparently.

[yeoman]

It is all your fault, Chris.
You've been flushing those wet wipes and pouring cooking oil down the sink, and I strongly suspect you may have paved over your front garden as well😂😂😂

[halfstoned]

Let's keep up the pressure

www.sas.org.uk/bathingriverspetition/?thanks

[terry]

Signed.