New £12m fish pass opens on the River Trent
IT WILL HELP MIGRATING SPECIES TO GET UPSTREAM
THE UK’S largest fish pass has opened in Nottingham to help salmon and endangered eels avoid a huge barrier which has for decades stopped them swimming freely in the River Trent.
The £12m project at Holme Sluices in Colwick opened on Tuesday after more than two years of construction work.
Holme Sluices, which was built in the 1950s and opened by the late Prince Philip, spans the full width of the River Trent and is used by the Environment Agency to protect Nottingham from flooding and control river levels upstream.
The sheer size of the barrier means it has for a long time been the largest obstacle to the natural migration of fish in the Midlands, which the new pass has now corrected by using narrow slots and ascending chambers to allow salmon, trout, lamprey, eels, and other fish to swim past it.
The Environment Agency had originally allocated around £10m to build the 200m long, 6m deep and 6.5m wide structure, which was initially expected to be completed in August 2023.
The public body previously explained the months-long delay was due to the complexities of construction.
It said the now-completed flagship project was a significant step in restoring the River Trent catchment to its former glory for salmon and other coarse and migratory fish.
Fish of all species swimming upstream to lay their eggs in the gravel river beds of the Trent’s tributaries will be able to pass through the structure’s slots and rest in the chamber above before continuing, the Environment Agency explained.
The project also has an eel pass to help support the critically endangered European eel and a public viewing platform above the water.
This includes interpretation boards to inform and advise visitors about the local wildlife in and around the river, including the fish that are expected to use the pass.
Simon Ward, fisheries technical specialist at the Environment Agency, said: “We are excited to see the completion of the country’s largest fish pass after two years of construction, and many more years in the planning stages.
“The fish pass will open up the River Trent for all fish species and is the first scheme of the ambitious Trent Gateway Partnership which aims to remove all barriers to fish migration along the River Trent, the third longest river in the country.
“There are a number of barriers to fish migration within the River Trent catchment, including Holme Sluices, which is the largest barrier to the natural migration of fish in the Midlands.
“By installing fish passage, it will become easier for salmon and other fish to reach their spawning and feeding grounds.
“We are working with partners to improve the situation and hope that the Colwick fish pass will serve as a catalyst for other Trent Gateway projects, which will in turn enhance the river and boost the local economy.”
It is hoped the pass will not only help improve wildlife habitats, but reduce flooding risks and boost the economy of the local area.
The direct environmental benefits of the fish pass will be £18.6m, according to the Environment Agency.
The fish pass includes a two metre automated gate which constantly monitors the water levels and flow rates in the River Trent. The pass will open and close based on the differing water levels throughout the year.