Opening the Sid
Introduction
For many years Sidmouth has been trying to work out how to reinstate fish migration into the catchment. The main problem is School Weir which is situated near the mouth of the river and, being one of the largest weirs in the South West, is an absolute barrier to sea trout and salmon migration and a very significant obstacle to eels. The issues in resolving these problems at School Weir are not to be underestimated.
The electro fishing surveys within the catchment in 2023 and 2024 identified problems in the resident trout population that point to habitat degradation. The numbers of trout fry found in the surveys are in low numbers compared to the adult trout in the river. This means the adult population is not being adequately repopulated. The lack of suitable habitat for fish spawning, feeding and sheltering is a factor in this problem. The second thrust of the project is to enhance fish habitat within the river. Sea trout accessing the river system will also have a positive effect on fry numbers.
Sidmouth Town Council, the Sid Valley Association and the Devon Wildlife Trust have all engaged with these issues and now the River Sid Catchment Group, in partnership with the Westcountry Rivers Trust, have set up a project called Opening the Sid to tackle these issues.
The Westcountry Rivers Trust (WRT)
The WRT are an experienced and respected charity that have expertise in both barrier modification and river habitat improvement. Dr Dan Osmond is our project manager and Hannah Parvin our project officer. In 2024 the River Sid Catchment Group and the WRT formed a partnership, through the generosity of a local benefactor, to appraise the situation, liaise with the public and develop proposals for establishing full fish migration and river habitat improvement in the Valley.
Partnerships
Opening the Sid is a partnership project with Westcountry Rivers Trust aimed at understanding the extent and impact of barriers to migratory fish within the Sid. Delivery will focus upon building a knowledge base through habitat walkovers and barrier assessments, progressing options for technical passage on the super fragmentor (School Weir) and delivering habitat improvements and easements around less formal barriers within the Sid. This project constitutes one year partnership funding and it is hoped that this will enable and attract further funding for wider delivery for Opening the Sid.
The Course of Action 2025
Walkovers
To assess the location of barriers in the river and the opportunities for habitat improvement the WRT project officer will visually assess the riverside and all its major tributaries. This survey will identify multiple issues and form the basis of decision making for future works.
Opening the Sid is a partnership project with Westcountry Rivers Trust aimed at understanding the extent and impact of barriers to migratory fish within the Sid. Delivery will focus upon building a knowledge base through habitat walkovers and barrier assessments, progressing options for technical passage on the super fragmentor (School Weir) and delivering habitat improvements and easements around less formal barriers within the Sid. This project constitutes one year partnership funding and it is hoped that this will enable and attract further funding for wider delivery for Opening the Sid.
Barrier Improvement
Previous reports on school weir will be reevaluated and then a design for modification will be generated that satisfies fish migration and gains the support of the town. The Environment Agency will be fully engaged in the decision-making process and foremost in their support will be the consideration of flood risks within the scheme.
The walkover survey will identify other impassable and partial barriers to migration and will enable works to be prioritised.
In order to demonstrate to the town the benefits of barrier modification, we are intending to select one of the barriers in the Byes for modification this year. This will enable understanding of the benefits of this work early in the project.
Habitat Improvement
A visual assessment of the whole of the river system will develop a clear understanding of the quantity and quality of fish habitat available in the river. With an understanding of current fish populations and having surveyed the habitats within different stretches of the river, a program of habitat work will be compiled and some priority areas tackled this year.
2026 and Beyond
With the survey work completed, with public support and a clear picture of the needs of the river in place, it is hoped that an extensive program of work can be funded and implemented in 2026 and beyond to restore fish migration and ensure a good riverine environment for a burgeoning fish population.
If you have any queries, please email info@riversid.org
