Written by Nigel Geary
Waddow Weir, sitting on the River Ribble between Edisford Bridge and Brungerley Bridge, is one of the most iconic landmarks on the Ribble – a stunning curved structure steeped in industrial history, and for generations one of the most productive salmon lies on the river. Yet for all its beauty, the weir presents a significant barrier to migratory fish, and ensuring that the existing fish pass and channel remains open and functional is a challenge that requires constant vigilance.
Fred Higham M.B.E. – A Quiet Champion for the River
For many years, one man has been quietly pressing for action on this issue. Fred – and he’ll hate us saying this – has long been regarded as something of a father figure to the river. Fred’s concern has been a consistent one: that the fish pass channel can become blocked with debris washed down during and after flood events, potentially denying migratory salmon, sea trout and brown trout access to the high-quality upstream waters of the Ribble.
Fred’s persistence has paid off.
A Collaborative Approach
Over recent months, we are pleased to report that working together with the Ribble Rivers Trust (RRT), the Environment Agency (EA), and the RFCA, plans are currently being reviewed that will hopefully mitigate future debris from blocking the fish pass. It is very much a team effort, and exactly the kind of joined-up working that produces real results for the river.
In the meantime, RFCA and EA Fisheries Officers Damian and Darren are working closely together to ensure that if the channel does become blocked, it is identified quickly and dealt with efficiently. To support this, the RFCA has invested in a specialist GoPro camera, enabling straightforward inspection of the channel without the need for major intervention. A team of pre-identified volunteers will carry out regular inspections, and should any blockage be detected, steps will be taken promptly to have it cleared safely — ensuring that migratory fish are not denied access to upstream waters any longer than necessary.
Going Above and Beyond
We would be remiss not to make specific mention of the recent floods and the impact they had on the channel. In the aftermath, it was Damian and Darren from the EA Fisheries team who stepped in to inspect and remove a blockage — and that deserves to be acknowledged properly.
We all understand the very real budgetary and staffing pressures that the EA operates under, and we would never take their support for granted. But one thing is absolutely certain — we are incredibly fortunate to have a dedicated and brilliant local fisheries team who consistently go above and beyond what is asked of them. Their commitment to this river is unwavering, and the RFCA is genuinely grateful.
I must also mention Jack Taylor – and I apologise to Jack for not including him in our first draft, an oversight we were keen to put right. On his own initiative he went in and cleaned out the trap a couple of months ago – nobody asked him, nobody told him to, he just got on with it.
And as we highlighted in our last blog, we are equally fortunate to have two outstanding volunteers whose contribution to the inspection and monitoring of the channel has been invaluable. Their efforts, given freely and without hesitation, are exactly what makes this kind of collaborative work possible.
The Fish Counter — Validation and Maintenance
Significant work is underway towards the validation and maintenance of the fish counter at the weir, something we are very much hoping will come to reality in the spring of 2026. The EA’s analysis team, has already visited the site on multiple occasions and has a clear plan in place.
The validation process will involve deploying a specialist camera – positioned downstream of the counter – to run for a minimum of four days, comparing its findings against the counter’s recorded figures. The work is planned for May/June, subject to suitable water conditions, as the camera requires low to moderate flows to operate effectively.
Alongside the validation, Morton also intends to clean the counter’s electronic bars, which have accumulated significant deposits that may be affecting the accuracy of size readings — potentially causing fish to be recorded in the wrong size category. Both the validation and cleaning work involve navigating complex confined spaces regulations, which have required a considerable amount of preparatory paperwork, though Morton is working through this diligently.
In the meantime, you can view and download the EA Waddow Counter Data 2024–2026 here. We look forward to reporting on this important milestone when the time comes.
Looking Ahead
This is very much a step in the right direction. The RFCA and the RRT are continuing to work with the EA on remedial improvements to the fish pass and channel, and the validation of the fish counter at the weir remains a key priority.
In the coming months, we hope to be able to share more on these developments and the wider improvements being made at Waddow. Watch this space.
________________________________
The upper Ribble is a healthy, high-quality salmonid river — home to salmon, sea trout and brown trout. Protecting and improving fish passage at structures like Waddow Weir is central to securing the future of these populations for generations to come.