Work to restore essential habitat for one of Wales’s most endangered species has been completed in a north Wales river.
The site in Gwynedd, recently acquired by Natural Resources Wales (NRW), is one of the last strongholds of pearl mussel populations in the UK. But human activity in past decades, where the river was dredged and the land drained, has degraded the features of the river that are essential for the species to breed and survive.
Over six months, embankments of dredged material have been removed to reconnect the river with its natural floodplain. Over 850 tonnes of boulders and cobbles have been carefully placed back into the river along with over 330 tonnes of fresh gravel to provide better quality habitat for pearl mussels and other species which rely on it.
The boulders will trap the gravel, preventing it from washing away, and allowing young pearl mussels to bury in it - a critical stage in their lifecycle.
Drainage ditches which had previously been cut through an area of peatland are being filled in. Restoring the peatland will improve water quality in the river and increase the quantity of water available during droughts.
Fencing installed around the perimeters will also keep livestock out of the river.
Tree planting is planned which will restore natural bankside habitat and provide shade for the river, and the mussel beds in the future.
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Posted On: 31/01/2023