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Hundreds of fish are believed to have died in a pollution incident at Oak Beck, Harrogate.
The cause of the incident, which occurred at Oak Beck Park, close to the retail park, is not yet known.
A Yorkshire Water spokesperson said:
“Our teams, along with the Environment Agency, have conducted initial investigations after reports of a pollution at Oak Beck over the weekend.
“Our tests have indicated the substance entering the beck is not sewage. We are continuing to investigate and will also be visiting local businesses to try and trace the source.”
The beck flows into the River Nidd.
Councillor Paul Haslam, who represents Harrogate Old Bilton on Harrogate Borough Council and Bilton and Nidd Gorge on North Yorkshire County Council, informed Yorkshire Water of the incident after being notified by a resident yesterday.
Cllr Haslam posted some images, which we have published, that were sent to him by the resident.
They show fish floating on the surface and the water looking extremely brown.
Cllr Haslam said the only way to get over the seriousness and upsetting nature of what had happened was to quote the person who reported it, who said:
“There are hundreds of dead fish in the water. I am presuming it’s sewage by the colour and presence of foam. No smell though.“I could have cried this morning at the scale of the disaster. As I took my first photo evidence, from the bridge on Oak Beck Road, a kingfisher flew under the bridge heading downstream.”
Read more:
- Sickness outbreak prompts concerns River Nidd is not safe for swimming
- Harrogate council agrees sale of land next to Oak Beck retail park
Major incident opened into River Nidd ‘disaster’
The Environment Agency has opened a category 1 major pollution incident after a 12-mile stretch of the River Nidd turned chocolate brown.
Experts are still trying to assess the extent of the damage to fish and other river life between Gouthwaite reservoir and Hampsthwaite after huge quantities of silt flowed downstream on Saturday.
Anglers and ecologists are calling for action against whoever is responsible and urging the Environment Agency and Yorkshire Water, which was carrying out safety work at Gouthwaite, to come up with a recovery plan.
An Environment Agency spokesman said today it “continued to investigate” the Yorkshire Water works, which is is thought may have stirred up the silt that flowed downstream on Saturday.
The spokesman added:
“Large quantities of silt in a river can harm fish and smother aquatic plants and invertebrates, starving them of light and oxygen.
“Whilst there is no longer any silt entering the river system, it may still be visible as it moves downstream. The Environment Agency continue to monitor the situation and assess the impacts to determine what further action may be necessary.”
With the water still discoloured, it remains difficult to assess the impact on river life.
The work at Gouthwaite dam
Dr. John Shillcock, president of Nidderdale Angling Club and a former ecology officer in the area, said:
“In my past experiences, quantities of sediment of this type block out light and can reduce oxygen levels in the river, harming or even killing river life including invertebrates and other organisms on which fish and other river life depend.
“We are awaiting reliable data on the level of sedimentation before we can assess what damage has been done to an extremely precious river system.
“We would like Yorkshire Water to work closely with the Environment Agency to collect as much data and samples as to work out the best course of action to minimise the immediate danger to river life, and to build a deliverable long-term strategy to enable the river to recover from this avoidable incident as quickly as possible.”
Read more:
- River Nidd turns brown after environmental ‘disaster’
- Who is the mystery Good Samaritan carving seats in Nidd Gorge?
The affected stretch of the Nidd is known for grayling and trout.
One angler, who asked not to be named, said the amount of silt would harm oxygen levels on which fish depend. He added:
“There should be some sort of action against whoever is responsible for this. It is an environmental disaster.”
‘Heartbreaking to see’
Alastair Ferneley, vicar of Holy Trinity Church, Dacre Banks, said:
“It’s just heartbreaking to see at the moment — it makes me feel sick in the pit of the stomach.
“As I understand it the slit could choke all the bottom dwelling invertebrates and take out the entire food chain — all the things I watch for: dippers, kingfishers, otters, most of the flying insects that spawn in the rivers, the birds and bats that feed on them.
“I’m hoping it won’t be as bad as a I fear it could be. What we need is a good flood to two to clear the silt out and quickly, but not sure that’s very likely.
“It’s a taste of how fragile the environment and everything that depends on it is.”
A Yorkshire Water spokeswoman said it had nothing to add to its statement yesterday, which said it was working with the Environment Agency to investigate what had caused the sediment in the River Nidd to be disturbed. The statement added:
“We’ve temporarily suspended some work our capital partners Mott MacDonald Bentley were doing upstream at Gouthwaite reservoir while we investigate.”
River Nidd turns brown after environmental ‘disaster’
The River Nidd has turned chocolate brown amid fears for the lives of thousands of fish following an environmental ‘disaster’ over the weekend.
Several miles of the Nidd between Gouthwaite reservoir and Hampsthwaite have been affected.
It is believed safety work by Yorkshire Water at Gouthwaite reservoir, which is just north of Pateley Bridge, may have stirred up silt deposits.
A Yorkshire Water spokeswoman said:
“We’re working with the Environment Agency to investigate what’s caused the sediment in the River Nidd to be disturbed.
“We’ve temporarily suspended some work our capital partners Mott Macdonald Bentley were doing upstream at Gouthwaite reservoir while we investigate.”
The work at Gouthwaite dam
John Shillcock, an ecologist who is president of Nidderdale Angling Club, described the incident as an “environmental disaster”, the scale of which remained unclear. He added:
“It is impossible to know at this stage what the effect has been on the fish and invertebrates.
“There is no sign of rising or dead fish and it is not safe to wade to take invertebrate samples. There is no visibility to know where you are putting your feet.”
Read more:
- Raw sewage released into Harrogate district rivers for 36,000 hours last year
- New flood alerts this evening on River Nidd near Harrogate
He said Yorkshire Water was excavating a trench as part of a long-term project to install a siphon at Gouthwaite dam to enable it to rapidly reduce water levels in an emergency.
He added it appeared this had churned up 120 years of accumulated silt, which had flowed from the reservoir into the river via the discharge control valves.
Mr Shillcock said the angling club had asked to be kept informed about the works and it wanted to know whether an environmental assessment had been conducted to assess risks ahead of works of this magnitude.
He said the Nidd from the dam downstream was a lovely upland trout and grayling water.
The water, he added had been “crystal clear” and of such quality there had been no need to stock fish for the last three years.
These pictures taken yesterday show the colour of the water.
A new independent fishmonger will open on Commercial Street today.
Tarbett’s describes itself as the largest independent fish retailer in Yorkshire and will open its fourth branch in Harrogate this morning.
It takes over a unit formerly occupied by Save the Children, which has been empty for four years.
Amy Shaw, the business manager, said:
“Commercial Street is the perfect place for us because it is very similar to our location in Chapel Allerton, which also has an independent butchers. It makes sense for us to be in Harrogate because we already have a lot of customers here. Our home deliveries are popular and we regularly supply Harrogate businesses.”
Read more:
Tarbett’s will start trading at a time when Harrogate town centre lacks a traditional fishmongers, following the relocation of Ramus from Kings Road earlier in the year. Ramus is now based at Fodder farm shop and café.
Amy added:
“Perhaps other fishmongers were too far out. We hope to encourage the public to shop with us through our convenient location.”
The business was founded by Liam Tarbett upon leaving university. Starting his enterprise at a farmer’s market in Leeds, he now has shops in Chapel Allerton, Leeds Kirkgate Market and Wetherby.
The fish retailer offers a wide range of products at its other locations including Shetland scallops, extra-large king prawns, Scottish salmon fillet and sashimi grade tuna. Its arrival on Commercial Street has been celebrated by neighbouring retailers.