Case study:Improving the Conservation Status of Freshwater Pearl Mussel Targeting the Clun SAC and Upstream Waters

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Location: 52° 27' 19.75" N, 3° 12' 51.23" W

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Project overview

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Status	In progress
Project web site
Themes	Environmental flows and water resources, Fisheries, Habitat and biodiversity, Hydromorphology, Land use management - agriculture, Land use management - forestry, Monitoring, Social benefits, Water quality
Country	England
Main contact forename	Mike
Main contact surname	Kelly
Main contact user ID
Contact organisation	Shropshire Hills AONB Partnership
Contact organisation web site	http://www.shropshirehillsaonb.co.uk/
Partner organisations
Parent multi-site project
This is a parent project encompassing the following projects	No

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Project summary

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Objectives
- To restore the Clun SAC to favourable Condition
- Riparian habitat restoration/creation by stock exclusion, control of Phytophthora alni by coppicing, tree planting, provision of sustainable livestock watering, improvements in stock crossings
- Surveys and scoping studies to inform conservation activity

Background
Clun SAC was designated in 2004 for it population of Freshwater pearl mussels (Margaritifera margaritifera) demonstrating the European and UK government commitment to its protection. The SAC is in unfavorable condition - Pearl mussels are indicators of excellent water quality, requiring oligotrophic water for their survival. Recruiting populations of pearl mussels help maintain good water quality, as individuals they are able to filter up to 50 litres of water per day to help maintain habitat for other freshwater wildlife (including host salmonids). Pearl mussels are keystone species and are model species to deliver catchment wide conservation strategies; by protecting the pearl mussel, river habitats will be improved for a range of other species.

Reasons for the project:
Freshwater pearl mussels are dependent on low sediment and nutrient levels, fast flows of cool water, clean gravels and fringing shade. They also rely on the presence of juvenile salmonids for part of their life-cycle. It is thought that the decline in the population has been occurring for a number of decades, age profiles indicate a population that has failed to recruit juveniles probably since the 1960’s. Recruiting populations are usually numbered in the hundreds of thousands, the Clun population is now estimated at just over 1000 individuals, considered to be permanently stressed and in rapid decline they are in danger of imminent extinction.

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Catchment and subcatchment Select a catchment/subcatchment Site Edit site Name WFD water body codes WFD (national) typology WFD water body name Pre-project morphology Reference morphology Desired post project morphology Heavily modified water body National/international site designation Local/regional site designations Protected species present Invasive species present Species of interest Dominant hydrology Dominant substrate River corridor land use Average bankfull channel width category Average bankfull channel width (m) Average bankfull channel depth category Average bankfull channel depth (m) Mean discharge category Mean annual discharge (m3/s) Average channel gradient category Average channel gradient Average unit stream power (W/m2) Project background Edit project background Reach length directly affected (m) Project started Works started Works completed Project completed Total cost category Total cost (k€) Benefit to cost ratio Funding sources Cost for project phases Phase cost category cost exact (k€) Lead organisation Contact forename Contact surname Investigation and design Stakeholder engagement and communication Works and works supervision Post-project management and maintenance Monitoring Reasons for river restoration Edit reasons for restoration Mitigation of a pressure Hydromorphology Biology Physico-chemical Other reasons for the project Measures Edit Measures Structural measures Bank/bed modifications Floodplain / River corridor Planform / Channel pattern Other Non-structural measures Management interventions Social measures (incl. engagement) Other Monitoring Hydromorphological quality elements Edit Hydromorphological quality elements Element When monitored Type of monitoring Control site used Result Before measures After measures Qualitative Quantitative Biological quality elements Edit biological quality elements Element When monitored Type of monitoring Control site used Result Before measures After measures Qualitative Quantitative Physico-chemical quality elements Edit Physico-chemical quality elements Element When monitored Type of monitoring Control site used Result Before measures After measures Qualitative Quantitative Any other monitoring, e.g. social, economic Edit Other responses Element When monitored Type of monitoring Control site used Result Before measures After measures Qualitative Quantitative Monitoring documents Upload monitoring documents Additional documents and videos Upload additional documents Additional links and references Edit links and references Link Description Supplementary Information Edit Supplementary Information