AS the salmon fishing season begins in Scotland, a river will also begin to flow again.
Ten miles of the River Garry, much of it visible from the A9, has been dry since the mid-1950s, but now it is to have consistent water flow again.
Spawning salmon will have access to its currents for the first time in more than 60 years.
The River Garry, a tributary of the River Tummel, was partially harnessed for the production of hydro electricity in the 1930s, with further works completed by the North of Scotland Hydro Electricity Board in the 1950s.
This resulted in the removal of some of the flow of the river, as well as some tributaries, leading to the loss of the river’s salmon population. The formal announcement was made at the Tay District Salmon Fisheries Board’s (TDSFB) annual ceremony to celebrate the opening of the River Tay salmon fishing season at Meikleour – marked by the traditional blessing with a quaich of Glenturret whisky.
SSE, the energy company, confirmed that engineering work will commence in a few weeks time to restore flows to the River Garry, some 15 miles north of Blair Atholl in Highland Perthshire.
It is estimated that this is likely to produce an additional 1,500 adult salmon returning to the river annually.
An initial breach has already been made at the Struan Weir to begin the process.
Jim Smith, SSE’s managing director of generation, said: “Ever since its inception as the Hydro Board in 1943, SSE has been charged with the responsibility of managing the waters carefully where we operate our hydro assets. We recognise this stretch of the River Garry as a special case for water restoration.”
Bill Jack, chairman of the TDSFB, added: “This most welcome news is a milestone in salmon conservation.”
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