RIVER EHEN (Ennerdale Water to Egremont)

[Mark R]

Guide.

[Jim Pullen]

You point out that a stretch of the Ehen is private, You will find out that most of the river is private.

Also it is a SSI due to the rare fresh water mussels, which must be protected

So there! Be careful not to crush those mussels as you calmly float several feet above them...

[callwild]

Weir at the outskirts of Egremont by the business park is the site of the infamous Poke's Hole.
Nothing to be worried about but in high water produces a nice playwave.

[Jim Pullen]

Poke's Hole video.

[Poke]

Being pedantic, 'poke's hole' is about 300m downstream of the weir next to the industrial estate... ;-)

Be careful of the one just upstream of the road bridge - in super high-flows it begins to look like a keeper. It has to be hooning through though.. most levels it's OK.

[ollismark]

BARBED WIRE - two strands with separating poles secured just above foot / cycle bridge [c2c] in Cleator. Will need portage or removal before passage.

[Pete K]

Ran this on the 19th Jan in open canoes. Went from Ennerdale to Wath Bridge at low water. Modern wier near get on was fiercely towing back on centre shoot and sides where too shallow to run. Simple portage on left or we lined the boats down. Everything else was runnable although we dented a couple of boats and it could have done with some more water.
As described in the guide, trees are a mega problem. At the time we ran it there were 2 total blockages and we sawed loads of branches on route. Take care in high flows.

http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/ho ... ionId=5014

We ran at about 0.50 metres and scraped a bit. Leave it til it's above 0.60 metres at least if you're in canoes.

Pete Knight
TrueGritInstruction.com

[Jenny G]

For info: The River Ehen SSSI/SAC is designated for its population of freshwater pearl mussels and salmon. Freshwater pearl mussels have a fascinating life cycle, relying on salmon in their early stages of development and living for up to 120 years. They are very sensitive to disturbance. Canoeing/kayaking in shallow waters can damage the mussel beds and access into the river has potental to damage mussels through trampling. You should also avoid the river during salmon spawning . For further information see www.natureonthemap.naturalengland.org.uk or contact Jenny Grange at Natural England jenny.grange@naturalengland.org.uk.

[Jim Pullen]

Hi Jenny,
Can you suggest a minimum water level where canoeing is environmentally safe? I know that the environment agency have stated that provided you are not scraping the bed you will not affect salmon redds. Is the same true of these mussels?
Thanks.