While I was away on holiday at the early part of July I heard of a pollution incident on the River Devon. Allegedly an acid spill by Scottish Water- the company paid to maintain our water supply standards had resulted in significant fish deaths on the upper reaches of the Devon, above Dollar . There was initially a warning to not fish, or swim in the river but I believe both restrictions were soon withdrawn however fishing above Dollar is badly affected. I am not sure if there is an actual restriction in place, agencies were quick to put out warnings about the hazard but there is little news on the state of affairs now.
(UPDATE 7/8/11: Apparently the fish death at Coulter was no more than 3000 fish and there is still a good heda of stock alive and well. Most casualties were Perch Fry apparently. In addition Howietoun Fishery, the Stirling University fish farm establishment in the Coulter catchment, was affected but stories of a wipeout are apparently exaggerated. Swanswater is apparently open, quite clear and fishing well)
These links give some info:
Disappointingly there have been no posts on the River Devon Angling Association website which I think is pretty woeful. What’s the point of having a website if not to keep your members informed?
To throw flames on the fire so to speak, I heard today through another angler that Loch Coulter, the club run loch above North Third Fishery, has suffered a total wipeout of fish apparently caused by Blue/Green Algae. The algae is beleived to have got downstream of the loch in a burn that outflows the loch. I have no other information to support this story and I can find no postings anywhere to back it up so until corroborated take it with a pinch of salt but a total shame if true. Again Stenhouse and Larbert Angling Club are another club with no obvious web mechanism to inform members and public. I am told that Environmental Health are investigating the situation. If I find any relevant links I will post them here.
I would imagine the local commercial fisheries of North Third and Swanswater would be concerned as there would be, one would imagine, some possibility of water from this loch making its way downhill towards them.
2/8/2011: The following release has just appeared on the Stirling Council Website: Blue Green Algae in Loch Coulter
2/8/11: STV
2/8/11: BBC
2/8/11: NHS Forth Valley
5/8/11: Latest word is that North Third is unaffected and Swanswater is taking precautions- with Strawbales being placed across the mouth of the Sauchie Burn – I guess to act as a coarse filter. I heard rumours that Earlsburn might be affected too- but I see no official corroboration of this and I don’t really see why it should be if you look at the lie of the land on a OS map- think this element is just the story growing arms and legs to be honest.
