World Rivers Day highlights work on River Dee restoration
World Rivers Day, taking place on Sunday 28 September, is being used to highlight work to restore the health of rivers across Wales, including the River Dee.
Natural Resources Wales (NRW) is leading two major EU LIFE-funded projects, LIFE Dee River and Four Rivers for LIFE, aimed at tackling long-term pressures on rivers such as climate change, poor water quality and barriers to fish migration.
The River Dee, along with the Teifi, Tywi, Cleddau and Usk rivers in south Wales, has been in poor condition. Both projects have introduced habitat improvements, worked with farmers and removed invasive species to help boost recovery.
On the Dee, 26 miles of fencing has been installed along farmland, creating riverside corridors where 20,000 trees have been planted. In-river habitats have been improved with 3,090 tonnes of boulders and 5,330 tonnes of gravel, while ten barriers have been removed or adapted to allow fish such as Atlantic salmon and lamprey to migrate more freely.
Nick Thomas, Natural Resources Wales Strategic Projects Manager, said: “Encouraged by the progress of the LIFE projects, in 2024, NRW launched the Upper Wye Project. The project aims to restore the health of the upper reaches of the River Wye, and in its first year it has tackled invasive species, installed fencing on farm land and planted 2,000 native trees.”
The projects also focus on controlling invasive non-native species like Himalayan balsam, which can damage riverbanks, and on planting trees to shade rivers and cool water for fish and wildlife.
The River Dee, along with the Teifi, Tywi, Cleddau, Usk and Wye, is a Special Area of Conservation, meaning it is of international importance for species such as salmon, otters and water crowfoot.
According to the 2024 Living Planet Report, freshwater ecosystems have declined by an average of 85% since 1970. NRW said the LIFE projects are working to ensure Welsh rivers and the ecosystems they support can recover for future generations.
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