FEEDER STREAMS TROUT HABITAT ENHANCEMENT 2010,2011
Following on from the recommendations which were issued by the Central and Eastern Regional Fisheries Boards when they carried out a fish stock survey of our water in 2005 (cost €16,500 sponsored by Kelt and the TSAA) the Ballymore Eustace Trout and Salmon Anglers’ Association (TSAA) in conjunction with the Eastern Regional Fisheries Board (ERFB) conducted a Liffey Habitat Enhancement Scheme for salmon on the main channel of the Liffey in 2007 at a cost of €14000 which was sponsored by Dublin City Council and Kildare County Council. This work is detailed in another section of our website. In 2009 the Association decided to concentrate on Trout Habitat Enhancement work on our feeder streams of the Liffey and in the first instance the feeder streams flowing through the Factory (Old Woollen Mill) land as these streams are at the head of our Fishery.
In 2009 the TSAA used the professional expertise of the ERFB to draw up a work schedule and this was presented to Kildare County Council with our application for funding under the KTK Inert Landfill Funding Scheme. In 2010 the Association received €5,500 from this fund to carry out the work.
Permission was acquired from the owners of the Factory land and the initial clearing of scrub to allow access by man and machinery to the Tail Race commenced on the 17th August 2010. On the 9th September 2010 the Tail Race was electrofished by Fergal Caffrey and Maurice Carolan of the ERFB to establish a trout population baseline for future comparisons and a number of trout fry were counted, measured and returned to water.
On the 13th September 2010 a mini-digger and dumper arrived on site and the serious work began of removing fallen trees and all sorts of debris from the stream. Six bags of mainly drink cans were removed from the stream area and these were left at the Liffey Bridge for collection by Kildare County Council staff. Gravel and small boulders obtained from KTK were drawn from the Kimmeens and distributed into the stream. A couple of delays occurred due to a track coming off the mini digger twice but the work with the machines continued until 21st September when the machines were returned to the hire company Haven Hire.
Some of the heavier timber near the stream was cut by chainsaw to allow more light into the stream area and brambles were also cut. The heavy growth at the mouth of the stream was thinned out and silt removed by Des, Myles and Tommy of the TSAA.
Water cress was removed from the upper portion of two streams from the 23rd September 2010 until the final big push on Saturday 2nd October 2010 when a crew from the TSAA (Des, Gary, Dave, Niall, Barry and Tommy) finished the work of removing some reeds that were blocking the flow of the streams and clearing the streams of all lodged debris which resulted from the clear out. Meanwhile Joe and Myles carried out repairs to Fr. Charles holy well.
A fish pass was constructed the following week by the ERFB to allow trout reach the upper section of one of the streams and grass seeds were spread on the ground that was disturbed by the enhancement work.
Three of the six sacks of litter collected from site (not inside factory buildings)
Mini digger working on stream
Adding spawninggravel to stream
More spawning gravel and boulders into the stream
Some scrub cut back from stream
Dumper in action placing boulders in stream
Mini digger clearing away scrub
Work over for the day
Stream enters Liffey
Mouth of Stream (Vegetation thinned out and silt removed)
Upper stream blocked by watercress and reeds
Upper stream completely covered with watercress
Joe and Myles carry out repairs to Fr. Charles holy well
Bed of watercress opened to allow stream flow through
Men at work (Dave, Gary, Des, Barry, Niall) watercress and some reeds removed
Nice stream flowing though factory land again (Niall, Gary, Des, Dave)
Gary, Niall, Barry well into the bed of watercress
A path cut through reeds and watercress, a real stream again
A second stream with watercress removed
The two master craftsmen have restored Fr. Charles well
New fish pass constructed
Folly or imatation Stone Circle in Factory
In September 2010 Trout Habitat Enhancement work was carried out on the tailrace of the Old Woollen Mill (Factory) by the Eastern Regional Fisheries Board and the Ballymore Eustace Angling Club. This work was continued by the Angling Club this year on two other feeder streams running through in the Factory land.
Towards the end of September 2011 the ERFB (now called Inland Fisheries Ireland) and the Angling Club concentrated our efforts on the Brook of Donode at Peter Lawlor’s farm in Coughlanstown. Much needed bank clearance work, to allow light into the stream, was carried out. Boulders, to create eddies and weir effects and act as trout shelter places, were added to the stream.
In order that the salmon wouldn’t feel discriminated against, salmon habitat enhancement work was carried out on the main channel of the Liffey at Kelly’s, Hines’s and Kane’s Fords (along Doran’s Park). This work comprised of raking the gravel bed of the Liffey to make it more conducive to redd (nest) making for spawning salmon in what is considered one of the best salmon spawning areas of the Liffey.
The Ballymore Eustace Trout and Salmon Anglers’ Association would like to express our sincere thanks and appreciation to landowners Peter Lawlor, Mrs. Joan Dolan, Cova Enterprises, Paddy Nolan, Matt & James Purcell and Kevin Keenan.
Alan ( Fisheries)bank clearing 
Raking Gravel Bed Hines’s Ford 
Kane’s Ford 
Kanes Ford 
James giving Tidy Towns a dig out on bottleneck of Seasons Stream