Hope for endangered salmon as Dartmoor river shows signs of progress

Salmon have been recorded spawning successfully on Dartmoor’s River Teign following more than a decade of habitat restoration work.

Surveys carried out as part of a South West Water project show Atlantic salmon are now being found further upstream in the South Teign, in areas where they had not been seen for many years.

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Electric fishing surveys have recorded salmon at a site close to the Fernworthy Reservoir dam wall for five consecutive years. 

Salmon fry have also been found in the area, indicating the fish have spawned successfully upstream of the reservoir.

The work has involved adding around 1,000 tonnes of gravel to the river over an 11-year period, with the gravel designed to replace sediment that would naturally move downstream but is blocked by the dam.

Salmon and trout rely on loose, clean gravel beds to lay their eggs.

The findings are being described as a positive sign for Atlantic salmon, which are classed as endangered in Great Britain, with salmon numbers across the UK at record lows.

Olivia Cresswell, Head of Fisheries and Ecology at the Westcountry Rivers Trust, said the project had helped restore natural river conditions.

“We are effectively rebuilding the riverbed,” she said.

“Dams and reservoirs reduce the natural supply of gravel and stones to downstream spawning grounds. On the upper Teign, after 11 years of adding nearly 1,000 tonnes of selected gravel, we’ve brought the habitat back to something very close to pre-reservoir conditions. It’s so rewarding to see.”

Monitoring by the Trust shows salmon are using the restored spawning beds. Strong numbers of brown trout have also been recorded, suggesting wider benefits for the river.

South West Water said reservoirs are essential for maintaining water supply in Devon and Cornwall, where rivers depend heavily on rainfall and can change quickly during dry periods.

ABOVE: Fernworthy Dam (Image: DCC)

Dartmoor rivers are particularly vulnerable during hotter, drier summers, when lower flows and warmer water create difficult conditions for salmon.

In some rivers in the region, fewer than 60 adult salmon return each year, due to other pressures including invasive species, sediment build-up and fragmented habitats.

South West Water said fisheries specialists now work within its Water Resources division to consider salmon protection when managing water supplies.

Dr Georgina Samoluk, Fisheries and Biodiversity Advisor at South West Water, said the work at Fernworthy was important.

“None of the 16 principal salmon rivers in Devon and Cornwall currently support sustainable salmon populations, meaning every step we take is important,” she said.

“Managing flows and protecting the fragile ecosystems that salmon rely on are at the heart of our work within the Environment Team.”

She added that milder winters in the South West also affect salmon, which prefer cooler water.

“Every salmon that makes the incredible journey upstream is a sign that our rivers can still support this species,” she said.

“However, now more than ever, we must work together, using engineering, science and partnership, to give these iconic fish a real fighting chance.”