Major Environmental Threat to Salmon Stocks from Hydro sponsored by Omagh District Council on Foyle Tributary
Posted by admin on May 28th, 2010 - No Comments »
The following article has been submitted by Mr Terry Smithson, Secretary, Omagh Anglers’ Association
In January 2007 we were informed that the Planning Office had granted planning application for a Kaplan hydro scheme on the River Camowen. After initial investigation, it was found that the Loughs Agency were aware of plans but at the time they believed it was for an educational project; they also had permission to have the scheme temporarily closed down during the smolt run. We, Omagh Anglers’ Association, were not at all happy with this and called a public meeting in the Silverbirch Hotel in February 2007 attended by representatives from the Loughs Agency, EHS, FASTA, ourselves and two local councillors, Mr Mc Elduff and Mr Buchanan. I delivered a presentation at the meeting and expressed our dismay at the mere thought of a hydro scheme on a river that had 25% of the brood stock of the Foyle system.
The meeting did not go too well but it did highlight the level of support we had. Peter Close of the EHS said that he would grant an abstraction and impoundment licence if the Council met all criteria. The two councillors were of little help. On the night of the meeting they both said that they were unaware of the scheme but on reading previous council meeting minutes, it became apparent that this was indeed not the first time they may have heard of this scheme. Following this meeting, we and FASTA had several meetings with Omagh District Council’s Chief Executive Danny McSorley who appeared to be ready to ride roughshod over the top of us. However, we held strong and succeeded in encouraging him to attend meetings where I gave a talk and presentation to the councillors in the council chambers. The lack of knowledge within the council chamber about salmon and their habitat was quite evident.
Eventually the council came up with the idea to alter the plans and develop an Archimedes screw-type turbine which is supposed to be fish-friendlier. We, however, could get no assurances on this despite having sought them since the September meeting. Two members of Omagh Anglers’ Association and Mark Gough from FASTA accompanied local councillors to the River Dart in England to see one of these turbines in operation.
After many emails seeking information and being told that a meeting would be forthcoming in March 2010 we found to our disbelief that the Council had once again applied for planning permission without letting all interested parties know of the final submission. The site has already been cleared of trees; the Planning Office wrote to me on 12 May 2010 saying that they could see no problem with the site being cleared. It has also come to light that they must also produce an Environmental Impact Assessment which we are now awaiting.
To date (20 April 2010), Omagh District Council, under the leadership of Chief Executive Danny McSorley and his assistant Alison McCullagh, have still not contacted any stakeholders regarding their future plans for the Camowen. The Loughs Agency are also quiet on this front and, as a body charged with conservation and protection in the area, their silence on this matter is deafening. In my opinion, the Executive of the Loughs Agency should be forcing the Council’s hand in this to find out exactly what is happening to a river that holds 25% of salmon brood stock of the Foyle system at a time when salmon stocks are already at a dangerously low level.
Please note: Presentation to be uploaded soon.
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