Many residents and visitors to Ross-on-Wye have commented about the improvements to the upkeep of the open spaces near to the River Wye. Locals and visitors can often be seen strolling along the Rope Walk and towards Wilton Bridge. However in recent years there have been many complaints that, although there are benches placed alongside the paths anyone sitting on them could not see the river due to the amount of foliage growing there.

Recently a great deal of work has been carried out to clear the overgrown shrubs, trees and weeds. Chair of the Town Council’s Open Space committee, Councillor Richard Mayo, explained that some areas have been left alone as this will encourage biodiversity. He said that this approach has also put the Town Council in line for some grants from the AONB to improve the riverbank and access to the parks.

The river bank is not the only area showing signs of improvement. The River Wye is also the healthiest it has been for more than 20 years. This is due to more than a decade of hard work to improve the health of England’s rivers.

The Environment Agency has told the Ross Gazette that they will continue to work closely with farmers, businesses and water companies to reduce pollution and improve water quality wherever, and however, possible.

In recent years production of crop types, such as potato and maize has increased in the Wye catchment which raise the likelihood of soil being washed into rivers. Sediment smothering and nutrient enrichment pose a major threat to the Wye catchment and Environment Officers dedicate a great deal of time trying to regulate this problem.

The River Wye is the sixth largest river in the UK and is a premier salmon rod fishery and a major national focus for canoeing and other water sports. The Wye and many of its tributaries are designated as a Special Area of Conservation. As a result, the habitats and species that exist throughout the river have been identified as being of a high value and requiring more stringent river flow protection. Freshwater mussels are one of many species which live along the Wye around Ross. They are very sensitive to their environment and are only found in areas which contain clean sand and gravel in clean waters. They are a great indicator of the water quality of the river.

A local resident, Rachel Woods was delighted to spot freshwater mussels while walking alongside the river in Ross. This sighting has been reported to the Environment Agency.

Along the Wye and around Ross water abstraction is carried out throughout the year for agricultural purposes, public supply and for different industries. Anyone taking more than 20 cubic metres of water per day requires an abstraction licence. Many abstractors must cease taking water when the river flow falls below a certain level. Currently levels are close to ‘Hands-off’ flow restrictions due to a particularly dry first half of August.

But even with the recent spells of warm weather the Wye is within expected levels for this time of year. Over the next few days there will be additional water released from the reservoirs in the Elan Valley which will help maintain the base flow of the Wye and people may see an increase in the river levels.

When river levels are particularly low and when the weather is hot dissolved oxygen in the water can fall. Experienced anglers are well aware of this and take great care returning fish, particularly barbel, resting them in water and ensuring they have recovered enough from the fight to swim away strongly. It is not advisable to use keep-nets in such conditions.

Another issue the Agency has to deal with during long spells of warm weather is fish in distress; as river levels drop fish can often become stranded in shallow pools. If anyone notices any fish in distress please report it to the incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60.

Canoeing on the Wye is a wonderful pastime, but if the river gets particularly low there may be times when the canoe has to be dragged across gravel riffles.

Luckily the river levels seem to be fine for the Ross Regatta this weekend. See pages 11 and 14 for more details.