Well a moderate spate at last which should give the fish a helping hand to access whatever tributary or upper main stem site they are bound for.  A flush was badly needed and a period of good levels is just what is required.

Interestingly I was sent the below email.  The author suggested might I might  circulate it in view of current events and in the hope that some sort of unity might ensue and that some people will stop and listen for once..

"

I was around and working for WHIP (the habitat grant eligible arm of the Wye Foundation) when it began and one of the reasons for it's birth was the absolute horror that catches had dropped as far down as..............wait for it..............yes................you guessed it................1000 fish....................and that was accountable fish!

Dr (of fishery science) David Summers was our appointed scientific guru and I set off amongst the upland farmers like an evangelist.

Now the 1000th fish (hooked,brought to net,risen,played,lost,kelt) mark is held up as a symbol of the outstanding success of the now charitable foundation.

The foundation desperately has to defend it's multi-million grant extravaganza and those who see other solutions are excluded as "enemies of the people"

In the meantime schisms and factions have been born the likes of which make UKIP look like novices.

!000 fish or not......surely now is the time for the new Director Simon Evans to sit down with other parties and come up with a 6 year plan........the most important aspect of which would be the first step.......to sit down together!

New Director...new broom.....are you brave enough! 

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I too was around at that stage and well remember the arrival of David Summers who as I recall suggested the hatchery then operating at Green Bottom was not the answer and that habitat improvement was the way to go.   Nothing wrong with habitat improvement of course if that's what you actually get,  though you don't know if you don't monitor it. This cause much disruption between the them members of the new Wye Foundation

Interestingly David Summer now runs the large hatchery operated on the River Tay.   Has he changed his mind I wonder or is there perhaps another reason.

With all the talk of siltation these days some of us were around too when the gas pipeline ripped through the river valleys  principally the Usk and Monnow with probably thousands of tons of silt entering the rivers.  Not a lot of fuss was made then I recall though of course  I'm sure a financial compensation package had something to do with it.

A few photo's from back then lest we forget.