Howsham Weir fish passage consultation

The Environment Agency is working together with Natural England to enable fish to pass Howsham Weir on the River Derwent.

The River Derwent is designated as nationally and internationally important, but its condition is suffering due to various factors, including weirs constructed for navigation and mills. Howsham Weir is an obstacle to migrating fish, eel and lamprey: installing fish passage here will improve populations by allowing them to move freely to breeding, nursery or feeding grounds.

The river and weir at Howsham are popular with canoeists and anglers, and installing fish passage may affect these activities. The length of the weir makes it difficult to find a solution to accommodate all the existing uses of the river, so the Environment Agency would like to hear your views on a series of options developed from initial discussions with stakeholders.

After this consultation, the Environment Agency will work with representatives of interested groups to assess the options before making its decision. Work will then proceed on a detailed design for the scheme.

To respond to the consultation please download the response form and email to howshamfishpass@environment-agency.gov.uk by the end of 8 September 2016. A summary of responses received will be published on GOV.UK within 12 weeks of this consultation closing.