Wye and Usk Foundation facts for kids

The Wye and Usk Foundation is a special group that works to protect and improve the River Wye and River Usk. These rivers flow through parts of Wales and England. The Foundation is like a guardian for the rivers, making sure they are healthy for everyone. This includes local people, those who like to fish, and all the amazing wildlife that lives there.

Protecting Our Rivers: The Wye and Usk Foundation

The Wye and Usk Foundation is an environmental charity. This means it's a non-profit group focused on helping nature. It started in 1995 because there were fewer Atlantic salmon in the rivers. Salmon are important fish that need clean, healthy rivers to live and breed.

The Foundation is based in Talgarth, Powys, in Wales. But its work helps both the Welsh and English parts of the river areas. These areas are called "catchments," which means all the land where water drains into the rivers. The Foundation is also part of a bigger group called The Rivers Trust.

How the Foundation Helps Rivers and Wildlife

The Wye and Usk Foundation does many things to keep the rivers healthy. They work on the main rivers and also on smaller streams that flow into them.

Looking After River Homes

One important job is called habitat conservation. This means taking care of the natural homes for plants and animals.

• They manage plants along the riverbanks. This is called "riparian vegetation." It helps keep the soil strong and provides shade for fish.
• They put up fences to stop farm animals from walking into the river. This stops the riverbanks from getting damaged and keeps the water cleaner.

Helping Fish Move Freely

Sometimes, old dams or weirs can block fish from swimming upstream. The Foundation builds special "fish passes." These are like ladders or ramps that help fish get past obstacles. This lets them reach their breeding grounds.

Keeping Rivers Clean

The Foundation also works to keep the rivers tidy.

• They organize litter clean-ups to remove rubbish from the water and banks.
• They add new gravel to parts of the river where it has been washed away. Gravel beds are very important places for fish to lay their eggs.

Fighting Invasive Species

Some plants and animals are not native to the rivers. They can cause problems for the local wildlife. These are called "invasive non-native species." The Foundation works to control them.

• One example is giant hogweed, a large plant that can harm people and push out native plants.
• Another is the American signal crayfish, which can eat native fish and damage riverbanks.

Watching the Rivers with Webcams

The Foundation uses technology to keep an eye on the rivers. They have webcams on the River Wye and River Usk. They also have cameras on two of the Wye's main smaller rivers: the River Lugg and the River Monnow. These webcams help them see how the rivers are doing and if there are any issues.

The Wye and Usk Foundation's work is vital for keeping these beautiful rivers healthy for future generations.