08/04/2011
Most of the West Highlands received a good 24 hours of heavy rain on Wednesday (6th of April). The Carron catchment was no exception, and several temporary white-water torrents appeared on the hill-sides. The river rose very quickly, spilling over its banks at many points and carrying some very large debris with it.
Before (above) and during (below) the Spring flood.
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The loose gravel and cobbles that make up most of the river bed of the Carron provide excellent spawning and nursery habitat for both salmon and trout but are also highly mobile during spate flows, displacing unhatched eggs and young fry.
It is thought that a number of large spates during the 1990s may have contributed to the collapse in the Carron’s fish stocks, and this week’s flood was certainly large enough to displace large quantities of gravel. It was hoped that last year’s excellent rod-catch was indicative of an excellent spawning season for the wild fish. However, as this spate came at a time when young fry had not yet developed sufficient swimming capability to find shelter, many may have been lost. Similarly, unhatched eggs may have been crushed by shifting gravels or washed out of the river. Electro-fishing surveys later in the year will help determine whether the breeding season was a success.