SJD Teifi Strategy_Final

The Afon Teifi cSAC Conservation Strategy

Conserving Natura 2000 Rivers

The Afon Teifi cSAC Conservation Strategy

Stuart Davis

For more information on this document, contact:

Countryside Council for WalesPlas GogerddanAberystwythCeredigion SY23 3EETel: +44 (0)1970 821100Fax: +44 (0)1970 828314

This document was produced with the support of the European Commission’s LIFE Nature Programme. Itwas published by Life in UK Rivers, a joint venture involving English Nature (EN), the CountrysideCouncil for Wales (CCW), the Environment Agency (EA), the Scottish Environment Protection Agency(SEPA), Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), and the Scotland and Northern Ireland Forum for EnvironmentalResearch (SNIFFER).

© (Text only) EN, CCW, EA, SEPA, SNH & SNIFFER 2003

ISBN 1 85716 767 8

A full range of Life in UK Rivers publications can be ordered from:The Enquiry ServiceEnglish NatureNorthminster HousePeterboroughPE1 1UAEmail: [email protected]: +44 (0) 1733 455100Fax: +44 (0) 1733 455103

This document should be cited as: Davis S (2003). The Afon Teifi cSAC Conservation Strategy. ConservingNatura 2000 Rivers. English Nature, Peterborough.

Technical Editor: Lynn Parr

Cover design: Coral Design Management, Peterborough.Printed by Astron Document Services, Norwich, on Revive, 75% recycled post-consumer waste paper,Elemental Chlorine Free. 1M.

Conserving Natura 2000 RiversThis conservation strategy for the Afon Teifi has been produced as part of Life in UK Rivers, aproject to develop methods for conserving the wildlife and habitats of rivers within the Natura 2000network of protected European sites.

The project's focus has been the conservation of rivers identified as Special Areas of Conservation(SACs) and of relevant habitats and species listed in annexes I and II of the European Union Directiveon the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora (92/43/EEC) (the HabitatsDirective).

Conservation strategies have been produced for seven SAC rivers in the UK to meet the need formanagement plans.The strategies demonstrate how the statutory conservation and environmentagencies have developed conservation objectives, and drawn up action plans with their local partnersfor achieving 'favourable conservation status' under the terms of the directive for its listed habitats andspecies.

For SAC sites, the directive requires:

Conservation measures to be established that correspond to the ecological requirements of the Annex I and II habitats and species present.

Appropriate steps to avoid the deterioration of habitats and the habitats of species, as well as the disturbance of the species.

Appropriate assessment – in view of the site's conservation objectives – of the implications of any plan or project likely to have a significant effect on the SAC.

Each river conservation strategy identifies the conservation measures necessary for its SAC, describesappropriate safeguards against deterioration or disturbance, and represents an aid to assessing any planor project affecting the SAC.

In essence, the strategies set out a management plan for securing conditions whereby a SAC site cancontribute to achieving favourable conservation status for its designated habitats and species at anational and European level.

To accompany the river conservation strategies, the project has also produced a set of reports collatingthe best available information on the ecological requirements of each species and habitat, while afurther series contains advice on monitoring and assessment techniques. Each report has beencompiled by ecologists who are studying these species and habitats in the UK, and has been subject topeer review, including scrutiny by a Technical Advisory Group established by the project partners. In thecase of the monitoring techniques, further refinement has been accomplished by field-testing andworkshops involving experts and conservation practitioners.

Life in UK Rivers is a demonstration project and, although the reports have no official status in theimplementation of the directive, they are intended as a helpful source of information for organisationstrying to set conservation objectives and to monitor for favourable conservation status for thesehabitats and species.

Titles in the Conserving Natura 2000 Rivers ecology and monitoring series are listed inside the backcover of this report, and copies of these, together with other project publications are available on theproject website: www.riverlife.org.uk.

Afon Teifi cSAC Conservation Strategy

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ContentsPolicy statement 4

1 Introduction and overview 5

1.1 The Afon Teifi Conservation Strategy 51.2 Structure of a standard CCW management plan 6

2 Vision statement 6

3 Site description and background information 73.1 Outline of past and current management 7

4 Confirmation of special features 7

5 Operational objectives relating to the functioning of the wetland ecosystem 85.1 Water quality 85.2 Water quantity and flow characteristics 105.3 Management of river channel and banks 105.4 Management of wetlands in the Teifi catchment 11

6 Operational objectives relating to the management of fish features 116.1 Artificial barriers to migration and movement 116.2 Fish stocking 12

7 Conservation objectives, status and rationales for the interest features of the cSAC 127.1 Ranunculus habitat 127.2 Floating water-plantain (Luronium natans) 137.3 Otter (Lutra lutra) 157.4 Brook lamprey (Lampetra planeri), river lamprey (Lampetra fluviatilis)

and sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) 177.5 Bullhead (Cottus gobio) 197.6 Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) 20

8 Action plans 238.1 Action plan for maintaining the functioning of the wetland ecosystem

and for the general management of fish features 238.2 Action plan for individual features 23

Acknowledgements 23

References 24

Appendix A:Action plans and progress 25

Appendix B: Report of first meeting of Teifi Network, 15 August 2002 29

Appendix C:Afon Teifi SSSI citation 35

Appendix D: Reasons for recommendation as a cSAC 39

Appendix E: Afon Teifi SSSI Potentially Damaging Operations 41


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Policy statementThe Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) is the UK government's statutory adviser on wildlife,countryside, and marine conservation matters in Wales. It is the executive authority for theconservation of habitats and wildlife.Through partners it promotes the protection of landscape,opportunities for enjoyment and the support of those who live, work in and manage the countryside.It enables these partners including local authorities, voluntary organisations, and interested individualsto pursue countryside management projects through grant aid. CCW is accountable to the Secretaryof State for Wales, who appoints and provides its annual grant in aid.

For more information go to: http://www.ccw.gov.uk

1 Introduction and overview 1.1 The Afon Teifi Conservation Strategy

The Afon Teifi Conservation Strategy is based on accepted CCW procedures for preparingmanagement plans.The structure of a standard plan is set out in more detail below.This strategyincludes additional material arising from the management planning process, and developed as part ofLife in UK Rivers.

Before the Life in UK Rivers project on the Afon Teifi, extensive consultation with stakeholders hadalready taken place during CCW’s notification of the river as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI),consultation on behalf of the UK government on its possible designation as a Special Area ofConservation (SAC), and again to inform the Environment Agency's Local Environment Agency Plan(LEAP) for the Teifi Valley. Over the course of the project, further consultations took place on theEnvironment Agency's Teifi Catchment Abstraction Management Strategy and commenced followinginitiatives arising out of Local Authority Community Strategies.

Because of this background it was considered that the major stakeholder concerns and key issues hadalready been identified and that the Afon Teifi Conservation Strategy should concentrate on addressingthem. Authorities with statutory powers or duties relating to the river were involved in Life in UKRivers through the Rhwydwaith Dyffryn Teifi/Teifi Valley Network. Engagement with other stakeholderswas through providing information.

A CCW management plan normally covers features of domestic SSSIs as well as features ofinternational sites.The Afon Teifi is also an SSSI, which is notified for over 20 special features, in additionto the features of the candidate SAC (cSAC) covered here.These SSSI features are outside the scopeof the LIFE project but the conservation strategy will require revision to incorporate these features. Afurther cSAC feature, the Littorelletea vegetation, has been recognised for the Afon Teifi cSAC since the


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The Afon Teifi is one of the longest rivers in Wales. It runs from the Cambrian Mountains in the north toCardigan Bay in the southwest.The river runs through farmland, rocky, tree-lined areas and moorland.

Tristan Hatton-Ellis/CCW

commencement of Life in UK Rivers.This is outside the scope of the project but will need to beincorporated into the conservation strategy in future.

The remaining features are, to an extent, accommodated by the conservation strategy as it stands,because a key requirement for all features is the maintenance of the Teifi as a fully functioning wetlandecosystem. Life in UK Rivers has focused on achieving this.

Many of the monitoring projects identified in this plan are at an early stage and will develop further asinformation from current and planned research projects becomes available.

1.2 Structure of a standard CCW management planA standard plan includes the following:

A vision statement setting out how CCW would like the site to be.

A site description and background information providing basic information.

Confirmation of special features, listing those features for which the site will be managed.

Conservation objectives for each feature including:

A broad objective setting out favourable conservation status for each feature.

Identification of factors that might affect CCW’s ability to achieve the condition required for the feature.

Selection of factors that need to be measured to enable CCW to be confident of the feature's condition.Where tolerances are known, operational limits are set and monitored.Where tolerances are not yet known, a surveillance project is required.

Identification of attributes, specified limits and monitoring setting out what needs to be measured to be confident of the feature's condition.

An assessment of conservation status as defined by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) (1998).

A management rationale that considers the status of the feature and the factors affecting it and sets out the action required to achieve it.

An action plan and management projects that set out the details of the work required.

2 Vision statementThe Afon Teifi will support a wide range of well-distributed wetland habitats within its catchment.Natural fluvial processes will operate to the fullest extent possible and water quality will be good.

The extent of water crowfoot (Ranunculus spp.) habitat will not decrease significantly and the characterof its vegetation will vary according to the physical and chemical conditions in different parts of thesite.The populations of floating water plantain (Luronium natans) in the lakes Llyn Teifi, Llyn Bach, LlynEgnant, Llyn Hir and Llyn y Gorlan, and in the main river at Tregaron, should be stable or increasing. Itwill be successfully reproducing by vegetative means at these locations and will flower in the lakes atleast one year in six.The otter (Lutra lutra) will breed and recruit successfully within the site and willmaintain or increase its 2001 distribution.

The brook lamprey (Lampetra planeri), river lamprey (Lampetra fluviatilis), sea lamprey (Petromyzonmarinus) and bullhead (Cottus gobio) will be present throughout their 2001 distribution, with populationsstable or increasing and with a full range of age classes present.

The population of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) will increase from 2001 levels. In particular, numbers ofadults, including multi-sea winter (MSW) fish will increase.


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3 Site description and background information

The Teifi is one of the longest rivers in Wales. Its source is at 455 m in the Cambrian Mountains, fromwhere it descends steeply through moorland and forestry to the ecologically important peat basin ofTregaron Bog, where the gradient is negligible.The river continues through rural areas, largelysupporting dairy and mixed-stock farms. Rocky, tree-lined sections are a feature of the catchment withrapids and waterfalls at Cenarth.The river is important as a relatively unmodified example of an uplandriver, with a long lowland section.

3.1 Outline of past and current management

An outline of general management relating to the Afon Teifi and its catchment is available in theEnvironment Agency's Teifi Valley Local Environment Agency Plan (2000).This is available athttp://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/regions/wales/?region=wales&lang=_e

4 Confirmation of special featuresThe following features are covered in this plan.These are the features for which the Afon Teifi wasrecommended as a cSAC at the start of Life in UK Rivers.

Water crowfoot (Ranunculus spp.) habitat.

Floating water plantain (Luronium natans).

Otter (Lutra lutra).


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The Afon Teifi cSAC (red line), and parts of the Teifi river system outside the cSAC (blue lines). The Afon TeificSAC has the same boundaries as the SSSI, with the exception of small areas of the SSSI at the estuary, whichform part of the Cardigan Bay cSAC.

OS base maps reproduced with permission HMSO. Crown copyright reserved. CCW licence no. 100018813.2004

Brook lamprey (Lampetra planeri), river lamprey (Lampetra fluviatilis) and sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus).

Bullhead (Cottus gobio).

Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar).

5 Operational objectives relating to thefunctioning of the wetland ecosystemAll the cSAC features depend on the Teifi wetland ecosystem. Only a limited number of locations,viewed in isolation, are critical to the functioning of the ecosystem. However, it is important that,overall, the wetland ecosystem is managed to maintain wetland habitats, allow natural fluvial processesto operate and ensure good water quality to the fullest extent possible. It would be desirable to setoperational limits, but there is insufficient information available at present to do so. Although termedoperational limits, the values quoted are the best available guidance, which are likely to requiremodification in the light of surveillance information.They apply to all features.

Climate change and trans-boundary air pollution could be relevant to the management of all thefeatures but are beyond the scope of this plan. All operational objectives will require the establishmentof monitoring projects.

5.1 Water qualityIn general, water quality in the Teifi is good.The following have been identified as problems in limitedareas:

Surface water acidification of selected tributaries and the Teifi Pools.

Organic pollution from agriculture.

Elevated levels of phosphorus from agricultural land and sewage treatment works.

Synthetic pyrethroid sheep dips.

Surface water acidification (an uncharacteristic reduction in pH and alkalinity and elevated traceelement concentrations) could affect the brook lamprey, bullhead and Atlantic salmon populations inthe cSAC. Surface water acidification occurs in the Teifi headwaters, specifically in certain uplandtributaries, for example the Groes, Berwyn, Meurig, Marchnant and Lluest, and first-order streams suchas in the Brefi sub-catchment. Some of these watercourses are within the cSAC.

In the Teifi catchment, surface water acidification has two key sources. The first is acid precipitation,which, in combination with the effect of woodland (especially coniferous forest) and soils and waterwith low buffering capacity (a low resistance to changes in pH) produces acidified surface water. Thesecond is the abandoned metal mines in the upper tributaries and headwater streams of the catchment(for example, near Strata Florida).Through release of copper, lead, zinc and aluminium (and perhapsiron and manganese) into runoff, the old mine tailings intensify surface water acidification.

In the Teifi Pools, the past and current abundance of planktonic algae is a concern. Mild eutrophicationin these waters is a possibility. Both nitrate and phosphorus are likely to be problematic.The sources ofboth are diffuse. It is likely that the nitrate derives from precipitation and the phosphorus from farmland runoff, with its quality affected by sheep and aspects of their management. In the main river Teifi,elevated levels of phosphorus are the concern. Observations of CCW staff and others have highlightedlocalised epiphytic and epilithic algal problems within Cors Caron National Nature Reserve (NNR).Very mild and periodic eutrophication is a possibility. Soil studies of the floodplain in Cors Caron haveshown soils saturated with phosphorus.As with the Teifi Pools, the source of phosphorus is diffuse andlinked to livestock and aspects of their management.


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There are isolated records of organic pollution incidents in the Teifi. In the past these have caused fishdeaths in localised areas. In some areas excess growth of epilithic and epiphytic algae suggests thatnutrient enrichment is occurring. Sections of river where water quality is poor can prevent dispersaland migration of fish species.

There have been a number of incidents of pollution from synthetic pyrethroids from sheep-dip in theTeifi catchment.There is also some evidence of a decline in some invertebrates in the upper catchment,and pollution from sheep dip has been suggested as a possible contributing factor.

Other factors, while not known to be causing problems at present, could be problematic in the future.These are:

Release of aluminium sulphate and polyelectrolytes from water treatment works.

Elevated levels of suspended solids from silviculture, agriculture and development.

Discharges from overstretched sewage treatment works.

5.1.1 RationaleThe Environment Agency is already carrying out work to tackle the water quality issues set out above.This work is set out in the Teifi Valley Local Environment Agency Plan: Action Plan (2000).

With the exception of salmon there is little information on the critical levels of water qualityparameters for each feature. It is thought that the salmon is the most sensitive feature and operationallimits have been set on the basis of current knowledge of its requirements.The European UnionFreshwater Fish Directive sets standards for salmonid waters. Guideline phosphorus standards forcSAC rivers have been set by the Environment Agency.

Surveillance should be carried out to ensure that appropriate operational limits can be developed.Thisis already carried out by the Environment Agency, although some additional sampling locations mayneed to be considered to accommodate the full range of cSAC features.

5.1.2 Operational limitsUpper limit: Not set.

Lower limit: Water quality must meet the following Environment Agency General QualityAssessment (GQA) and River Ecosystem (RE) classification targets within the current distribution ofthe Atlantic salmon in the cSAC/SSSI throughout the year until specific targets are available:

GQA Chemistry window Grade A

GQA Biology window Grade A

River Ecosystem Class RE1

Phosphorus (mg l-1 TRP) > 0.02 in headwaters

> 0.04 in river.

Water quality must meet the following National Water Council (NWC) estuarine water quality targetthroughout the year within the estuarine area of the cSAC:

Estuary water quality NWC Class A

Outside the Atlantic salmon distribution (some tributaries and the Teifi Pools), water quality must meetthe following targets throughout the year until specific targets are available:

GQA Chemistry window Grade B

GQA Biology window Grade B

River Ecosystem Class RE2.

Water quality targets are required for Llyn Teifi, Llyn Bach, Llyn Egnant, Llyn Hir and Llyn y Gorlan.


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5.2 Water quantity and flow characteristics

Changes in land management, such as improved drainage, have probably altered the flow regime of theTeifi leading to a more uneven and extreme distribution of flows than was historically the case. Thereare increasing pressures to abstract more water from the Teifi and this could affect water quantity andflow characteristics.

5.2.1 RationaleThe critical water quantity and flow characteristics are unclear for all features. Surveillance of waterquantity and flow should be carried out, together with investigations of the impact of reservoirabstraction regimes and compensation flows from Llyn Teifi and Llyn Egnant.The surveillance data,together with monitoring information on individual features, should be used to set operational limits.

5.3 Management of the river channel and banks

Bank protection to control erosion, flood protection works and management of gravel shoals inchannels can affect the river channel locally and downstream, and thereby modify habitats important tocSAC features.Trampling and erosion caused by stock crossing or drinking from the river can alsoaffect channel characteristics, in addition to increasing suspended solids. Concern has been expressedabout a perceived increase in silt in the Teifi, particularly around Cors Caron.

Removal of woody debris could affect all fish features and the otter by reducing habitat diversity,particularly the amount of cover and refuge available for various fish life stages. Furthermore, good-quality habitat is prevented from forming. For Atlantic salmon and bullhead, the decline in distinctterritories and the additional invertebrate food sources provided by woody debris are important. Forbullhead, evidence suggests that larger adults often associate with woody debris in depositional areaswhere gravel substrate is not a limiting factor in the river as a whole. For lamprey ammocoetes, thepresence of silt beds is also important.

Erosion of banks is reduced when there is good bankside vegetation cover, particularly tree cover.Treecover is also important inproviding characteristicshady conditions requiredfor the development of somevariants of Ranunculusvegetation and in providingresting and breeding sites forotter. Shady conditions arealso important in creatingrefuge areas for fish species.Leaves and other debrisfrom bankside trees are animportant source of organicmaterial in the river system.

5.3.1 RationaleThere are only a very limitednumber of locations on theTeifi where thesemanagement works wouldbe damaging in isolation.However, the cumulative


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Banks can erode when there is insufficient tree cover or other vegetation.A management project is required to encourage appropriate managementof the Teifi banks and river channel.

Tristan Hatton-Ellis/CCW

effect of these works would eventually be come damaging to some if not all of the cSAC features.These works are all covered by the SSSI Potentially Damaging Operations (Appendix E). In addition,consent is required from the Environment Agency for some works and is not given at inappropriatetimes of the year. A management project is required to encourage appropriate management of the Teifiriver channel and banks.

5.4 Management of wetlands in the Teifi catchment

Wetland habitats in the Teifi catchment, beyond the boundaries of the cSAC, are important to thefunctioning of the river ecosystem. For example, wetland areas will support amphibians that form partof the diet of the Teifi otter population. Catchment wetlands also have a water storage function, whichcan influence flows in the river. Land drainage for agriculture and some development projects,particularly on the river floodplain, have reduced wetland areas in the Teifi catchment.

5.4.1 RationaleOnly in a limited number of cases would the loss of an individual wetland area be seriously damaging tothe cSAC features, but continued loss of wetlands in the catchment would eventually become damaging.An increase in wetland areas in the catchment would benefit the overall integrity of the river systemand could reduce applications for works to control erosion and flooding. A management project isrequired to encourage retention and recreation of wetlands in the Teifi catchment.

6 Operational objectives relating to managementof fish featuresAll operational objectives will require the establishment of monitoring projects.

6.1 Artificial barriers to migration and movement

The Environment Agency Salmon Action Plan identified artificial barriers at Felin Geri Mill nearNewcastle Emlyn and the top weir at Dolbantau on the Clettwr as affecting Atlantic salmon and suchbarriers could also affect other fish.The effect of a barrier is generally dependent upon water levels,though height can be prohibitive for some species such as the bullhead.The spawning and seawardmigrations of Atlantic salmon and river and sea lamprey could be affected.The brook lamprey’s limitedmigration could also be affected. Re-colonisation after, for example, a severe organic pollution eventcould be disrupted by this. In addition, there could be a decline in suitable habitat structures if flow andsediment delivery are constrained.The effects can be increased when combined with uncharacteristicflows.

6.1.1 RationaleThe use and development of artificial barriers to migration and movement is regulated by theEnvironment Agency and in some cases by planning controls. All current artificial barriers needidentification and assessment of their effect on fish features and action is required if the effect issignificant.

This issue is being addressed by the Environment Agency as set out in its Teifi Valley Local EnvironmentAgency Plan and in its Afon Teifi Salmon Action Plan.The Objective 1-funded Fishing Wales project islikely to deliver some improvement works. CCW should liaise with the Environment Agency over thiswork.


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6.2 Fish stocking

Stocking of brown trout has occurred in the Teifi catchment, and been sanctioned by the EnvironmentAgency. Stocking of salmon juveniles by Llandysul Angling Association has also occurred. In both cases,the stocking was with native-bred juveniles that would probably not affect the genetic integrity of thenative stocks.

It is known that brown trout prey on bullhead (Tomlinson & Perrow 2003). If stocking were excessiveand/or included larger fish (> 75 g) this could cause predation to increase.The consequences ofstocking and the subsequent predation may be a decline in the distribution and viability of localbullhead populations.

The effect of stocking on the Atlantic salmon population is unknown. Stocking of other species, such asbrown trout, may increase inter-specific competition between trout and salmon juveniles for food andhabitat. Stocked adult salmonids can also pose a potential threat through increased predation. Adulttrout are likely to prey on salmon fry and small parr. However, the predation on eggs and alevins is notnormally significant, as these life-stages are contained within the substrate.There is also the possibilityof transfer of diseases and parasites from one species to another and that if spawning fish of otherspecies are too abundant these may over-cut the redds (spawning beds) of the Atlantic salmon.

The stocking of salmon juveniles raises other concerns.There is now evidence of locally adaptivegenetic variation in salmon stocks.This may apply to the populations of an individual tributary. Ifresident salmon populations interbreed with stocked fish, it may confer reduced adaptiveness upon theoffspring.This may mean that individuals are more likely to be affected by disease and parasites or thatthe timing of their runs is inappropriate. Additionally, an increase in intra-specific competition canoccur due to over-stocking. Disease and parasites from stocked fish could affect native fish.

A precautionary approach based on the assumption that salmon exist in locally adapted populations isnecessary, and the case for salmon stocking should be evaluated against alternative managementoptions and conform to agreed guidelines/criteria. For the stocking of other species, it must conform toagreed guidelines/criteria and the benefits of stocking must outweigh the disadvantages for stocking toproceed.

6.2.1 RationaleDraft guidelines on fish stocking in cSACs have been produced jointly by an advisory group includingCCW and the Environment Agency. Stocking is controlled by the Environment Agency, and CCWshould continue to liaise on this.

7 Conservation objectives, status and rationalesfor the interest features of the cSAC

7.1 Ranunculus habitat

Ranunculus habitat is defined as follows in the Interpretation Manual of European Union Habitats, EUR 15/2(1999):

Watercourses of plain to montane levels, with submerged or floating vegetation of the Ranunculion fluitantis and Callitricho-Batrachion (low water level during summer) or aquatic mosses.


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7.1.1 Favourableconservation status

The extent of vegetation communities forming the Ranunculus habitat must be stable or increasing.

The vegetation communities forming the Ranunculushabitat should be self-maintaining on a long-term basis).

7.1.2 Key factorsThe key factors are those relating tothe functioning of the wetlandecosystem.

7.1.3 Conservationobjective for Ranunculus habitat To maintain Ranunculus habitat at a favourable conservation status where:

The composition and extent of Ranunculus habitat vegetation communities

Upper limit: None.

Lower limit: The conservation objective will be set from the information in the Life in UK RiversRanunculus monitoring protocol (Hatton-Ellis et al. 2003) and a CCW project due to report in 2005.

7.1.4 Status of the feature FAVOURABLE (provisional description as of September 2002).

The conservation objective has not been finalised or monitoring carried out; hence the status isunknown. CCW believes monitoring will identify status as favourable; therefore the condition of thisfeature is provisionally described as favourable.

7.2 Floating water-plantain (Luronium natans)

7.2.1 Favourable conservation status The L. natans populations will be viable throughout their current distribution in the cSAC(maintaining themselves on a long-term basis).

Each L. natans population must be able to complete sexual and/or vegetative reproduction successfully.

Potential for genetic exchange between L. natans populations, in and/or outside the cSAC,must be evident in the long-term.

There will be no contraction of the current L. natans distribution in the cSAC.

The cSACwill have sufficient habitat to support L. natans populations within their current distribution.

Dispersal of L. natans must be unhindered.


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Nigel Holmes

Vegetation communities dominated by Ranunculus spp. are animportant interest feature of the Afon Teifi cSAC.

7.2.2 Key factorsAs well as those factors realting to thefunctioning of the Teifi as a wetlandecosystem, the following is important:

Arificial ‘draw down’ in the reservoirsat Llyn Teifi and Llyn Egnant may affectL. natans by causing a decline in suitablehabitat. This effect may be moreimportant than any benefit such asincreased potential for geneticexchange through flowering. Artificial‘draw down’ needs investigation andwhere possible should be minimised.No operational limits will be set untilan investigation has been completed.

7.2.3 Performance indicators, limits and monitoring

7.2.3.1 Distribution of populations This needs to be investigated in both the Teifi Pools and the river.

7.2.3.2 Presence of stolons This indicator will demonstrate that lake and river populations have potential for regeneration,vegetative dispersal, and genetic exchange. Evidence of vegetative reproduction is important becausepopulations can be damaged. It is the main means of dispersal.

7.2.3.3 Presence of floating flowers This indicator will show that lake populations have the potential for seed dispersal and genetic exchange.It is important that there is evidence of sexual reproduction, especially in the long term, as this providesan alternative means of dispersal and genetic exchange over short and long distances.A lower limit hasbeen selected only for the lake populations of the cSAC. Flowering in the main river is not essential.

7.2.4 Objective for L. natansTo maintain L. natans at favourable conservation status where:

The distribution of the L. natansUpper limit: Not required.

Lower limit: Present in the visible littoral zone of Llyn Teifi, Llyn Bach, Llyn Egnant,Llyn Hir and Llyn yGorlan one year in three.

Present at 90% of upstream (principal) monitoring sites for river populations one year in three.

Present at 70% of downstream (marginal) monitoring sites for river populations one year in three (sitesto be determined).

It is assumed that L. natans outside the visible littoral zone (the majority of the population) of each lakewill be in good condition if those in the littoral zone are in good condition. It is also assumed that eachlake has one population where as the river contains many individual populations.

The 90% and 70% figures for river populations are based on evidence that L. natans populations canbecome extinct due to the less-constant character of river environments.


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Richard Lansdown

L. natans is in the main Afon Teifi, as well as the Teifi Pools.

L. natans stolonsUpper limit: Not required.

Lower limit: Present in the visible littoral zone of Llyn Teifi, Llyn Bach, Llyn Egnant, Llyn Hir and Llyny Gorlan (or in any part of these lakes) one year in three.

Present at 90% of upstream (principal) monitoring sites for river populations one year in three.

Present at 70% of downstream (marginal) monitoring sites for river populations one year in three.

L. natans floating flowersUpper limit: Not required.

Lower limit: Present in the visible littoral zone of Llyn Teifi, Llyn Bach, Llyn Egnant, Llyn Hir and Llyny Gorlan (or in any part of these lakes) one year in six.

There is no requirement for L. natans to flower in the river, although it is known that it does sooccasionally due to the coincidence of dispersal and suitable conditions.

CCW has already carried out some monitoring work on L. natans at Cors Caron.This is reported inRA Jones' CCW Monitoring Report No 98/27 (1998). A CCW contract covering the populations inthe Teifi Pools is due to report in 2004.

The conservation objectives will be reviewed in light of the 2004 report and the Life in UK Rivers L. natans monitoring project (Wilby et al.).

7.2.5 The status of the feature UNFAVOURABLE (provisional description as of September 2002).

The conservation objective has not been finalised or monitoring carried out; hence the status isunknown. Therefore the condition of this feature is provisionally described as unfavourable.

7.2.6 Rationale This feature can be maintained in favourable condition by supporting the functioning of the Teifi as awetland ecosystem.

7.3 The otter (Lutra lutra)

7.3.1 Favourable conservation statusTo maintain favourable conservation status:

The otter population must be viable throughout its distribution in the cSAC (maintaining itself on a long-term basis).

The otter must be able to breed and recruit successfully in the cSAC.

There will be no contraction of the 2001 otter distribution in the cSAC.

Otter food sources must be sufficient for maintenance of the population.

The cSAC will have sufficient habitat, including riparian trees and vegetation and wetlands, to support the otter population in the long term.

There should be no barriers to the free movement of otters in the cSAC.

Disturbance of otters in the cSAC, including breeding areas, must be minimal except where established tolerances exist.


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7.3.2 Key factorsAs well as those factors relating to the functioning of the Teifi as a wetland ecosystem, the following areimportant:

Food availability.

Road kills.

Disturbance.

Availability of suitable breeding habitat.

Other factors thought to be of minor importance include:

Introduced species (for example, mink).

Disease (for example, Aleutian and distemper diseases).

Pesticide pollution.

Other toxic chemicals (for example, PCBs).

7.3.3 RationaleOtters depend on food that comes from a range of aquatic environments, such as small streams andmarshes (Chanin 2003a). Fish make up the majority of the otter diet (often >75%), though amphibiansand crustaceans are also constituents. Eels are particularly favoured. At times, an alternative prey, suchas frogs, can assume a greater importance than fish.

Studies have indicated that the viability of an otter population partially relates to the viability of its foodsources. With respect to fish, it has been shown that a fish biomass of >10 g m-2 is adequate forotters, but a biomass of <5 g m-2 may be inadequate. It is not known whether food availabilty islimiting the Teifi otter population.The degree to which the otter depends on eels, other fish,particularly salmonids and alternative prey on the Teifi is also unknown.This requires investigation(Chanin 2003b).Maintaining the integrity of the Teifi as a wetland ecosysytem is important in maintaining otter food

supplies.

In Wales and England, there are at least 100 otterdeaths on roads each year and road kills haveincreased markedly from the mid-1980s. In the Teificatchment, there are no recognised black spots forotter road kills. There are, however, a small numberof road kills recorded each year and this requiressurveillance.

It is important that sufficient suitable breeding habitatis available.This can largely be achieved throughmaintaining the integrity of the wetland ecosystem, inparticular areas of bankside trees and scrub. It is alsoimportant that key breeding areas are not disturbed.

Otters are sensitive to human disturbance andespecially to sudden changes in activity.They areparticularly sensitive to disturbance by dogs.Thefemale otter is particularly sensitive to disturbancewhen she has cubs. In the Teifi catchment existingfishing and canoeing activities are not thought to becausing disturbance, but expansion into new areas orclearing of new access routes could be problematic.Proposals for increased recreational activity on theestuary, which includes important otter feeding and


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Geoff Liles

To maintain the Teifi otter population infavourable condition, there must be sufficienthabitat and food sources, and minimaldisturbance of its breeding areas.

resting areas, will require careful management. Surveillance is required as are measures to raiseawareness among river users of appropriate management of otter habitat. A CCW report on therequired research, surveillance and monitoring is due in 2004.

7.3.4 Performance indicators Records of otter breeding To ensure the persistence of the otter in the Teifi catchment we must know that the otter is breedingsuccessfully. The use of records of otter breeding (for example, cub sightings) as an indicator willillustrate such occurrences. Records of otter breeding will measure spatial and temporal variation inbreeding success.

7.3.5 Conservation objective for the otter To maintain the otter at favourable conservation status where:

Records of otter breeding:Upper limit: Not set.

Lower limit: A breeding record at least one year in three from specified locations.The conservationobjective may be modified in light of the report referred to above.


The conservation objective has not been finalised or monitoring carried out; hence the status isunknown. CCW believes monitoring will identify status as favourable. Therefore, the condition of thisfeature is provisionally described as favourable.

7.4 Brook lamprey (Lampetra planeri), river lamprey (L. fluviatilis) and sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus)

7.4.1 Favourable conservation statusThe lamprey populations of the cSAC will be viable throughout their current distribution (maintaining themselves on a long-term basis).

There will be no contraction of the current lamprey distribution in the cSAC.

Within the current lamprey distribution there will be sufficient habitat to support a viable lamprey population.

Migration of river and sea lamprey adults and ammocoetes must be unhindered by unnatural barriers (Maitland 2003).

7.4.2 Key factorsThe key factors for lampreys arethe functioning of the Teifi as awetland ecosystem and themanagement of fish featuresgenerally. Management of the


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Andy Strevens/Environment Agency

Brook lamprey populations are considered to be in favourablecondition, though there has been no recent monitoring.

Cardigan Bay cSAC is relevant but not within the scope of this plan.

7.4.3 Performance indicatorsAmmocoete distribution.

Ammocoete density.

Ammocoete age-class structure.

Adult river and sea lamprey run size.This will measure the abundance of lamprey adults returning to the Teifi to spawn (recruitment to the annual spawning run).

7.4.4 Conservation objective for lamprey speciesTo maintain the lamprey at favourable conservation status where:Ammocoete distributionUpper limit: Not set.Lower limit: Ammocoetes must be present every year at ammocoete monitoring sites (sites to bedetermined) (all optimal and sub-optimal habitat sites).

Ammocoete densityUpper limit: Not set.

Lower limit: For brook and river lamprey, ammocoete density must be >10 m-2 every year at allmonitoring sites classified as optimal habitat and >2 m-2 every year at all monitoring sites classified sub-optimal habitat.

For sea lamprey, ammocoete density must be at least 0.2 m-2 every year at all monitoring sites classedas optimal habitat and at least 0.1 m-2 at all monitoring sites classified as sub-optimal habitat.

Ammocoete age-class structureUpper limit: Not set.

Lower limit: For each species two age-classes must be present two years in three in the populationssampled at ammocoete monitoring sites classified as optimal habitat.

Adult river and sea lamprey and run size Upper limit: Not set.

Lower limit: To be determined.



7.4.6 Rationale This feature can be maintained in favourable condition by maintaining the functioning of the Teifi as awetland ecosystem. Development of monitoring of lamprey will require liaison with the EnvironmentAgency to build on existing monitoring sites and programmes for other species.The Life in UK Riverslamprey monitoring report will inform this work (Harvey & Cowx 2003).


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7.5 Bullhead (Cottus gobio)

7.5.1 Favourable conservation statusThe bullhead population of the cSAC will be viable throughout its current distribution (maintaining itself on a long-term basis).

There will be no contraction of the current bullhead distribution in the cSAC.

Within the current bullhead distribution there will be sufficient habitat to support a viable bullhead population.

7.5.2 Key factorsThe key factors for bullhead are thefunctioning of the Teifi as a wetlandecosystem and the management of fishfeatures generally.

7.5.3 Performance indicators Bullhead distribution

Bullhead density

Proportion of 0+ age class (the young of the year).

7.5.4 Conservation objectivefor the bullheadTo maintain the bullhead at favourableconservation status where:

Bullhead distributionUpper limit: None set.

Lower limit: Bullhead must be present every year at all bullhead index monitoring sites.

Bullhead must be present one year in five at all bullhead monitoring sites. Index monitoring sites havegood bullhead abundance and the population has a good demographic structure (sites that underpinthe long-term viability of the species in the Teifi catchment).

Bullhead densityUpper limit: None set.

Lower limit: A bullhead density of >0.2 m-2 must be present every year at all upland bullhead indexmonitoring sites.

A bullhead density of >0.5 m-2 must be present every year at all lowland bullhead index monitoringsites.

A bullhead density of >0.2 m-2 must be present one year in five at all upland bullhead monitoring sites.

A bullhead density of >0.5 m-2 must be present one year in five at all lowland bullhead monitoringsites.

Proportion of 0+ age class (young of the year)Upper limit: None set.

Lower limit: Every year the bullhead 0+ age class must comprise >40% of the population at allbullhead index monitoring sites.


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Environment Agency

The bullhead needs sufficient habitat to enable it to maintainitself on a long-term basis.

7.5.5 The status of the featureFAVOURABLE (provisional description as of September 2002).


7.5.5 RationaleThis feature can be maintained in favourable condition by maintaining the functioning of the Teifi as awetland ecosystem. Development of monitoring of bullhead will require liaison with the EnvironmentAgency to build on its existing monitoring sites and programmes for other species. The Life in UKRivers bullhead monitoring report (Cowx & Harvey 2003) will inform this work.

7.6 Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)

7.6.1 Favourable conservation status The Atlantic salmon population of the cSAC will be viable throughout its 2001 distribution (maintaining itself on a long-term basis).

There will be no contraction of the 2001 Atlantic salmon distribution in the cSAC.

Within the 2001 Atlantic salmon distribution there will be sufficient habitat to support a viable Atlantic salmon population.

Migration of adults and smolt Atlantic salmon must be unhindered by unnatural barriers.

7.6.2 Key factors As well as factors relating to the functioning of the Teifi as a wetland ecosystem and the generalmanagement of fish features, the following are important:

Declining catches of Atlantic salmon in the Teifi, in particular MSW fish.

Competition with sea trout.

Exploitation of salmon at sea.

Poaching.

Legal exploitation by rods and nets.

Predation.

The following factors are thought to be of minor importance:

Fisheries targeted on other species in salmon feeding grounds.

Natural mortality caused by oceanic climate change/low marine survival.

Disease and parasites.

Pike predation.

7.6.3 RationaleThe Environment Agency's Afon Teifi Salmon Action Plan reports a decline in catches since the 1960s.This may be partly due to some of the annual salmon run now entering the river after the closure ofthe fishery in the autumn.The factors set out below may be contributing to the decline but the relativeimportance of each factor has not been demonstrated. It is therefore appropriate to address thesefactors through a combination of precautionary actions and investigative work.


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Multi-sea-winter (MSW) fish arethose that have previouslyspawned and returned to sea.They tend to be larger thanother salmon, to carry largernumbers of high-quality eggs(more yolk), and to cut deeperredds (spawning beds), whichhave a better chance of success.They enter the Teifi earlier inspring than other salmon. MSWfish are an important componentof the salmon population andrequire a performance indicator.

Numbers and distribution of seatrout (Salmo trutta) in the Teifihave increased since the 1950s. Itis possible that competition maytake place between salmon and sea trout but it is not clear whether this is the case in the Teifi orwhether it is significant.The Environment Agency has carried out some work on this in the past andCCW should liaise with the Environment Agency.

There is concern about the level of exploitation of salmon at sea, particularly in the Faroes andGreenland fisheries and in the Irish drift net fishery. No local action is possible on this issue but theEnvironment Agency has provided recommendations for action to government and others through theSalmon and Freshwater Fisheries Review,

Poaching is a concern, particularly at spawning grounds and in the middle and lower reaches of theestuary where illegal netting occurs. Measures to tackle the problem are being implemented by theEnvironment Agency as set out in the Afon Teifi Salmon Action Plan and the Afon Teifi LocalEnvironment Agency Plan.

Recommendations regarding exploitation by anglers and netsmen have been made in the Salmon andFreshwater Fisheries Review. The Environment Agency controls this exploitation and carries outreviews and monitoring as set out in the Afon Teifi Salmon Action Plan and the Afon Teifi LocalEnvironment Agency Plan. It would be beneficial for CCW to set up SSSI management agreements withangling associations on the Teifi, incorporating the current understanding on the level of angling inparticular in relation to possible increases in numbers of anglers.

Anglers have expressed concern about the level of predation on salmon by birds, particularlycormorants and goosanders.Avian predators may be controlled by shooting under licence from theWelsh Assembly Government. CCW is the statutory advisor to the Assembly on this and normallyadvises that shooting is not necessary unless there is evidence of a significant effect on economic orconservation interests and there is no other means of control. CCW is continuing to review thesituation in co-operation with other bodies including the Welsh Assembly Government and theEnvironment Agency.The work of the Environment Agency is set out in the Afon Teifi Salmon ActionPlan and the Afon Teifi Local Environment Agency Plan.

Observations of seals appear to be increasing around Cenarth Falls and in the estuary.Thecongregations of fish at these points render the fish susceptible to high predation rates. Measures are inplace to allow the shooting or relocation of seals if necessary.The work of Environment Agency is setout in the Afon Teifi Salmon Action Plan and CCW should continue to liaise with the EnvironmentAgency, fishery and conservation interests. Grey seals are a conservation feature of the Cardigan BaycSAC.


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Environment Agency

Declining catches of Atlantic salmon in the Teifi are causing concern.

7.6.4 Performance indicators Juvenile (fry and parr) Atlantic salmon distribution.

Juvenile Atlantic salmon density

Juvenile Atlantic salmon age class structure

Adult Atlantic salmon run size.This will measure the abundance of adult Atlantic salmon returning to the Teifi to spawn.

Abundance of MSW Atlantic salmon.

7.6.5 Conservation objectiveTo maintain the Atlantic salmon at favourable conservation status where:

Juvenile Atlantic salmon distributionUpper limit: None set.Lower limit: Juvenile Atlantic salmon must be present every year at all juvenile salmon index monitoring sites.

Juvenile Atlantic salmon must be present one year in three at all juvenile Atlantic salmon monitoringsites (standard and index).

Index monitoring sites have good juvenile Atlantic salmon abundance and the population has a gooddemographic structure (sites that underpin the long-term viability of the species in the Teifi catchment).

Juvenile Atlantic salmon densityUpper limit: None set.Lower limit: A juvenile Atlantic salmon density of >X/m-2 (see Section 7.6.6) must be present everyyear at all juvenile Atlantic salmon index monitoring sites.

A juvenile Atlantic salmon density of >X/m-2 must be present one year in three year at all juvenileAtlantic salmon monitoring sites (standard and index).

Juvenile age class structureUpper limit: None set.Lower limit: Two juvenile Atlantic salmon age classes must be present two years in three in thepopulations sampled at juvenile Atlantic salmon index monitoring sites.

Adult Atlantic salmon run sizeUpper limit: Not set.Lower limit: To be developed.

Recovery target value: To be developed

Abundance of MSW Atlantic salmon Upper limit: Not setLower limit: X% of the adult Atlantic salmon annual run size must consist of MSW Atlantic salmonevery year.

Recovery target value: To be developed

Development of monitoring of Atlantic salmon will require liaison with Environment Agency to build ontheir existing monitoring programme for the species. The Life in UK Rivers salmon monitoring reportwill inform this work (Cowx & Fraser 2003).

7.6.6 The status of the featureUNFAVOURABLE (provisional description as of September 2002).

The conservation objective has not been finalised or monitoring carried out, hence the status is


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unknown. CCW believes monitoring will identify status as unfavourable; therefore the condition of thisfeature is provisionally described as unfavourable.

8 Action plans

8.1 Action plan for maintaining the functioning of the wetlandecosystem and for the general management of fish features

Progress on projects in this section is described in Appendix A.

Carry out surveillance of appropriate water quality parameters.

Liaise with the Environment Agency.

Carry out surveillance of water quantity and flow.

Provide information to stakeholders.

Encourage appropriate management of the river channel and banks and of catchment wetlands.

Encourage retention and recreation of wetlands in the Teifi catchment.

8.2 Action plan for individual features

Monitor composition and extent of Ranunculus vegetation communities.

Monitor Luronium natans.

Research otter food availability and food sources in the Teifi catchment, in particular the status of the European eel.

Carry out surveillance of otter road kills, breeding habitat and disturbance to otters.

Monitor otter breeding.

Monitor lampreys.

Monitor bullhead.

Monitor Atlantic salmon.

AcknowledgementsThe European Commission via the LIFE-Nature Fund financially supported the production of the AfonTeifi cSAC Conservation Strategy.


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ReferencesChanin P (2003a). Ecology of the European Otter. Conserving Natura 2000 Rivers Ecology Series No. 10.English Nature, Peterborough.

Chanin P (2003b). Monitoring the Otter. Conserving Natura 2000 Rivers Monitoring Series No. 10.English Nature, Peterborough.

Cowx IG & Fraser D (2003). Monitoring the Atlantic Salmon. Conserving Natura 2000 Rivers MonitoringSeries No. 7. English Nature, Peterborough.

Cowx IG & Harvey JP (2003). Monitoring the Bullhead. Conserving Natura 2000 Rivers Monitoring SeriesNo. 4. English Nature, Peterborough.

Environment Agency Wales (1998). River Teifi Salmon Action Plan Consultation. Environment Agency Wales,Swansea.

Environment Agency Wales (1999). Local Environment Agency Plan, Consultation Report. EnvironmentAgency Wales, Haverfordwest.

Environment Agency Wales (2000). Local Environment Agency Plan, Action Plan. Environment AgencyWales, Haverfordwest.

Harvey JP & Cowx IG (2003). Monitoring the River, Brook and Sea Lamprey. Conserving Natura 2000Rivers Monitoring Series No. 5. English Nature, Peterborough.

Hatton-Ellis TW, Grieve N & Newman J (2003). Ecology of Watercourses Characterised by Ranunculionfluitantis and Callitricho-Batrachion Vegetation. Conserving Natura 2000 Rivers Ecology Series No. 11.English Nature, Peterborough.

Hendry K & Cragg-Hine D (2003). Ecology of the Atlantic Salmon. Conserving Natura 2000 RiversEcology Series No. 7. English Nature, Peterborough.

JNCC (1998). Common Standards for Monitoring Designated Sites: A Statement on Common StandardsMonitoring. Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough.

Landsown RV & Wade PM (2003). Ecology of the Floating Water-plantain. Conserving Natura 2000 RiversEcology Series No. 9. English Nature, Peterborough.

MAFF (2000). Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Review. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food,London.

Maitland PS (2003). Ecology of River, Brook and Sea Lamprey. Conserving Natura 2000 Rivers EcologySeries No. 5. English Nature, Peterborough.

Tomlinson ML & Perrow MR (2003). Ecology of the Bullhead. Conserving Natura 2000 Rivers EcologySeries No. 4. English Nature, Peterborough.

Wilby N, Eaton J & Clarke S (2003). Monitoring the Floating Water-plantain. Conserving Natura 2000Rivers Monitoring Series No. 9. English Nature, Peterborough.


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Appendix A:Action plans and progress

A1. Carry out surveillance of appropriate water qualityparameters

This is related to Section A2: ‘Liaise with Environment Agency’.

Insufficient information is available on the key water quality parameters to set operational limits atpresent.The Environment Agency sets targets and monitors water quality on rivers including the Teifiunder its General Quality Assessment and River Ecosystem classification schemes. Details of theseschemes are available at: www.environment-agency.gov.uk.

These schemes look at a fairly wide range of parameters, some of which will not be relevant to thecSAC features. In addition, other parameters not covered by Environment Agency monitoring could becritical for individual cSAC features. In particular, it is thought that monitoring suspended solids couldbe important. Life in UK Rivers has established some general principles for monitoring siltation(www.riverlife.org.uk).

Some new monitoring sites, in addition to established Environment Agency sites, will be necessary tocover some of the cSAC features, in particular on the tributaries.

An interagency Technical Advisory Group, including CCW and the Environment Agency, has producedguideline phosphorus standards for cSAC rivers. Phosphorus is likely to be a critical parameter but theguideline standards may need to be adjusted to cater for the requirements of individual cSAC features.Appropriate sampling locations on the Teifi need to be identified.

There is less existing information on lake water quality than river water quality.The Joint NatureConservation Committee (JNCC) is developing generic guidance on lake water quality as part of itsCommon Standards Monitoring Programme, and more information on this is available at:www.jncc.gov.uk.

Again, this guidance will need to be adapted to cater for the requirements of individual cSAC featuresand appropriate sampling locations need to be identified.

The data outlined above need to be considered in conjunction with data on the performance ofindividual features.This should enable specific operational limits to be set or identify any furtherinvestigations necessary.

Regular local liaison meetings are held between the Environment Agency and CCW, including the Teificatchment.These provide a forum for discussing and organising work on this project.

A2. Liaise with Environment Agency

In 1996 a memorandum of understanding in respect of river SSSIs and cSACs was agreed between theEnvironment Agency and CCW. A consenting protocol between the two organisations covering theAfon Teifi was issued in 1999 and there are established consultation procedures to ensure liaison overactivities requiring authorisation and consent.

A joint CCW and Environment Agency Habitats Directive Implementation Group holds regularmeetings to discuss and progress issues relating to the directive, in particular the review of existingconsents and associated research work.

CCW is part of the Environment Agency’s Teifi Catchment Abstraction Management StrategyStakeholder Group.This provides a forum for liaison on water resource issues.

The Environment Agency is one of the partners in the Rhwydwaith Dyffryn Teifi/Teifi Valley Network.This provides a forum for sharing information and co-ordinating liaison with other stakeholders.


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Regular local liaison meetings are held between the Environment Agency and the Countryside Councilfor Wales, including the Teifi catchment.This is a forum for discussing and progressing a wide range ofissues not covered elsewhere.

The following specific issues have been identified in the Afon Teifi Conservation Strategy as requiringliaison with Environment Agency. All can be accommodated within the liaison mechanisms identifiedabove.

Impact of sheep dip on the river.

Fish stocking.

Artificial barriers to fish migration.

Water quality monitoring.

Monitoring of water quantity and flow.

Monitoring of cSAC features, particularly fish.

Public information.

Data sharing and collation.

Wetland management and creation.

A3. Carry out surveillance of water quantity and flow

This is related to project Section A2: ‘Liaise with Environment Agency’.

CCW is part of the Environment Agency’s Teifi Catchment Abstraction Management Strategy (CAMS)Stakeholder Group.This provides a forum for liaison on water resource issues.A consultationdocument outlining the initial assessment process was published by the Environment Agency in July2003.This suggests that generally, throughout the catchment, there is adequate water, even at low riverflows, to support current levels of abstraction, maintain environmental quality, recreation and wildlifeinterest.

Recently, part of the methodology for CAMS has been revised to take account of the requirements ofthe Habitats Directive.The revised methodology is more sensitive to the requirements of the habitatsand species most vulnerable to flow reductions and may therefore alter the outcome of CAMS for atleast some stretches of the river.

The Environment Agency already carries out some monitoring of water quantity and flow and hasidentified actions to address related issues in the Teifi Valley Local Environment Agency Plan: ActionPlan.

Existing abstractions including the Teifi Pools reservoir abstraction regimes and compensation flows willbe included in the review of consents process required under the Habitats Directive.They are also duefor consideration in the environmental assessment process associated with a current proposal for awater transfer between the Wye and Teifi catchments.

The distribution of existing Environment Agency monitoring sites requires review in respect of thelocation and critical times of year for specific cSAC features. Additional sampling sites or times may berequired and once a suitable run of data is available, they can be used with feature monitoring data tosuggest appropriate operational limits for water quantity and flow. This project can be pursued throughthe regular local CCW and Environment Agency liaison meetings.

A4. Provide information to stakeholders

The aim of this project is to raise awareness of the cSAC features among stakeholders and encouragethem to value the features. Providing information that assists and encourages the promotion and


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sustainable development of the Afon Teifi as a tourist attraction is seen as a key mechanism forencouraging stakeholders to value the river. Information on specific management issues, such asmanagement of bankside trees, is covered separately in Section A5.

Rhwydwaith Dyffryn Teifi/Teifi Valley Network An early decision was made not to duplicate previous consultations with the general public but tofocus the project on demonstrating progress towards addressing issues already identified. Aprofessional facilitator was used to assist in planning the interaction with stakeholders and the initialaims were ambitious:

To develop and implement a joint agency environmental strategy for the Teifi Valley, as the overarching document for the area, guiding individual agency plans and activities.

To seek to identify, assess, prioritize, and solve important local environmental issues that require a high level of coordination.

To deliver noticeable benefits to the people and environment of the Teifi Valley.

The key agencies, involved in implementing existing plans and strategies in the Teifi Valley – CeredigionCounty Council, Pembrokeshire County Council and Carmarthenshire County Council, and theEnvironment Agency – were invited to a first meeting to establish in principle, a broad remit and wayforward for the Teifi initiative.The facilitators’ report of the meeting is in Appendix C.The group didnot support the production of an overarching strategy but considered the following would be useful:

Sharing/scoping information and views on existing and new strategies and activities.

Avoiding duplication by consulting on separate but related projects together.

Coordinating publicity/education/public awareness activities and material for the area.

Forming the basis for extracting and spending money.

Providing information on partners’ activities in the area and working collaboratively where possible.

Resolving issues between appropriate parties.

The group named itself Rhwydwaith Dyffryn Teifi/Teifi Valley Network and holds regular meetings, whichwill continue after Life in UK Rivers has finished.The local enterprise agency,Antur Teifi, has joined thegroup.The main project pursued so far has been the development of a website for the Teifi Valley:www.teifivalleynetwork.org/index.htm.

This is intended to provide some information on the area but also to provide links to other websitesincluding those of the partner organisations and to the Life in UK Rivers website(www.riverlife.org.uk).Taith Teifi is a proposal to create a walking trail along the length of the Teifi Valley,and the Teifi Network has provided a forum for partners to discuss the development and possiblefunding of the project.

Work by the project officerDuring 2002 the project officer attended a range of local agricultural shows and other events.The aimwas to support the events by providing an interesting display and to present the Afon Teifi as a valuableinternational wildlife site and an asset to the community.The project officer prepared a leaflet, posterand car stickers for distribution at events and these have also been made available to other outletswithin the Teifi Valley.

A5. Encourage appropriate management of the river channeland banks and of catchment wetlands

There are some aspects of river management in which it would be beneficial to raise the awareness ofbest practice among riparian landowners and users. A combination of face-to face advice and provision


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of written material would be appropriate. Face-to-face advice could be delivered either through specifictalks and presentations or from stands at local agricultural shows and events.This part of the projectshould be discussed at the Rhwydwaith Dyffryn Teifi/Teifi Valley Network (see Section A4) to ensurethat existing provisions are not duplicated.The topics where such an approach would be useful are:

Management of bankside trees and riparian vegetation.

Removal of woody debris.

Activities that cause disturbance to otters.

A strategic approach is needed to the management and restoration of wetlands in the Teifi catchment.A wetland management plan would contribute to this.The plan should collate information on currentand historic areas of wetlands in the catchment. Areas where wetland habitat is scarce and areas mostlikely to be suitable for restoration identified.

The river floodplain at Cors Caron has been identified as an area suitable for restoration, which couldserve as a demonstration project. An initial study and report has been produced by the RiverRestoration Centre (www.therrc.co.uk) and is being pursued by CCW.

Financial incentives should encourage appropriate management of river channel and banks andcatchment wetlands.

The Environment Agency’s Objective 1-funded ‘Fishing in Wales’ project provides for riparianmanagement, including creating ungrazed streamside corridors. CCW and the Environment Agency areworking together on this project to ensure that the needs of fisheries and other conservation interestsare properly balanced.

Tir Gofal is part of the Welsh Assembly’s agri-environment programme and is partly financed by theEuropean Union.The scheme is delivered by CCW in partnership with a number of otherorganisations.Tir Gofal is a whole farm agri-environment scheme, available on farmed land throughoutWales, which rewards farmers for caring for wildlife, historical and cultural features on their land.TirGofal applicants within and adjacent to the Afon Teifi cSAC are particularly encouraged to includecreation of streamside corridors and appropriate management of wetlands in their farm managementplans.

Landowners within the cSAC applying to CCW for consent for riparian management works areencouraged to consider creation of streamside corridors as a means of controlling erosion. Paymentsare available though management agreements to provide a financial incentive. CCW should now seekagreements with angling associations on the Teifi to assist them in appropriate management of theirbeats. In general, angling associations on the Teifi are well-informed on the key areas of otter habitatand on their management, through previous Environment Agency-funded work.

CCW grant aid to the Wildlife Trust South and West Wales for its Teifi Marshes Reserve supports themanagement of a large area of wetland in the lower Teifi catchment.


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Appendix B: Report of first meeting of TeifiNetwork, 15th August 2002This report has been transcribed from flip charts that were produced at the meeting.

B1. Meeting aims

To establish, in principle, the broad remit and way forward for the Teifi initiative, building on interest so far.

To agree next steps.

B2.The potential added value of the initiative

In this first session, the group brainstormed how they thought the initiative could make a realdifference to the area:

Linking environment, economy, and social aspectsMaking links between environment, economy, and social aspects (e.g. education).

Themed area/product linking environment to economy (but beware packaging a diverse area into a single pigeonhole).

Using natural and human resources for the benefit of tourism, e.g. trail, linked to places of interest, sympathetic accommodation providers able to respond to the needs of client groups.

A framework for wildlife/sustainable tourism, e.g. the Teifi Trail, linked to other initiatives in the area.

Identifying things that are compatible with high environmental quality, e.g. economic activities.

Raising levels of appreciation of opportunities the environment offers re: economic regeneration – don’t always need bricks and mortar.

Integrated action and communicationImproving communication and information flows between different authorities.

Helping to integrate action across authority boundaries.

Cross cutting themes could be tackled – but only if the agenda and range of organisations is broad enough to incorporate things like tourism and community requirements.

Enabling organisations/sectors to be more focused on the issues of concerns to the area, so they don’t go off on tangents.

Reducing duplicationAvoiding consultation duplications – avoiding annoying the public and reducing consultation fatigue.

Exchange of information to ensure that existing information e.g. on people’s views are used.

Increased community ownershipInclusion of all sectors of the community to foster ownership of the initiative’s aims – bringing together a top-down and bottom-up approach.

Improved communications to give clearer messages and get better results

B3.Types of activities and issues the initiative could coverBuilding on the results of the previous exercise, participants considered what activities the initiativeshould undertake, and what types of issues, plans, and strategies the initiative should focus on or link to.


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B3.1 Statement of activities and purposeThe initiative is focused on the Teifi, acting as an integrating hub or whole area/strategic mechanism forpromoting the links between the high quality environment, economy and social aspects (e.g. quality oflife) by:

Sharing/scoping information and views on existing and new strategies and activities (possibly creating some kind of practical joint vision as a starting point?).

Avoiding duplication by consulting on separate but related projects together.

Coordinating publicity/education/public awareness activities and material for the area.

Forming the basis for extracting and spending money.

Providing information on partners’ activities in the area and working collaboratively where possible.

Resolving issues between appropriate parties

B3.2 Description of the initiativeSome very draft ideas for a 'strapline' that would help to describe what the initiative does are:

Sustainable development forum.

Quality of life performance indicators.

Nature for people/nature for you.

The Teifi as the artery of the community.

High quality environment – economic link.

Green business park.

B3.3 Issues/plans/strategies/initiatives of central interest to the initiativeNNR Objective 1 bid (CCW) – Cors Caron, Coedmor, Pen yr Ergyd.

Nature for People Objective 1 (CCW).

Habitat restoration (CCW, Environment Agency, community groups, Rivers Trusts).

Teifi Trail project, including wider countryside access opportunities and links to tourism/local economy.

Sustainable fisheries (Environment Agency).

Teifi Brown Trout.

River Festival (Antur Teifi).

Wetland Management.

Interpretation/education.

B3.4 Issues/plans/strategies/initiatives that others will be leading on, but thatthe initiative should seek to influence/link to:ConservationConservation management plans (CCW and others).

Wildlife conservation (CCW remit).

Conservation objectives for ‘wildlife & habitat features’ (CCW).

TourismTourism development in Cardigan


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Tourism (Tourism growth area)

Sustainable tourism

Sustainable abstraction (Environment Agency, Catchment Abstraction Management Strategies [CAMS])

Local authority strategic plansCommunity strategies (x3)

Local Agenda 21 plans

Planning policy (Unitary Development Plans [UDPs])

Infrastructure development

‘Communities First’

Economic development strategies.

Countryside management (Countryside Strategies)

Teifi Estuary Management Plan (TEMI)

Recreation /accessCountryside access and Rights of Way (Rights of Way Improvement plans)

Wetland management plan for Teifi catchment

Wetland Management (relating to/integrating with water resource and flood management, development,conservation, tourism)

Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS)

Flood/drought management (catchment)

Local Biodiversity Action Plans (LBAPs)

LBAPS integration

Salmon Action plans (SAPs)

Fisheries Action plans (FAPs)

Agriculture

Forestry/woodland strategy

Environment Agency local strategies

Water conservation (Dwr Cymru, Environment Agency, Local communities and business)

B4 Specific examples of possible short-term activities anddiscussionsParticipants discussed possible projects that could demonstrate how joint action could make adifference in the short term:

Joint logo – Teifi logo for actions done under this banner.

Teifi Valley marketing – develop a brand – producing something for distribution.

Finding examples of Green Dragon Awards (Environmental Management System), and offer to put them in our marketing material.

Offering advice to enhance the river festival – marketing, bringing together individual communities, link to fisheries marketing (Environment Agency input).

Link community websites to each other.

Joint website – one-stop shop for finding out what is going on and who to go to for what (advice/funding) – signposting.


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Interpretation boards for Teifi area.

Scoping the Teifi Trail – getting it underway – where it should go, what to be included – a desk study of rights of way – engaging with wider interests – making links with a view to making Objective 1 bid

Training/workshops for local businesses, e.g. about the Teifi or bats, etc.

Sharing information on the design and preparation of Objective 1 bids in Teifi Valley.

Providing walks and talks – trained people, pulling together on existing activities.

Longer term/later:

Helping the community to improve redundant waterfront buildings/general area at Cardigan;e.g. link to interpretation centre

Establishing a Rivers Trust – volunteers and anglers to do restoration/rehabilitation/ conservation work.

Who should be involvedIn this session, participants discussed which organisations could be involved in the partnership, and inwhat way.


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Level Responsibility/activity Suggested organisationsSteering A tight-functioning team, coordinating and Agencies with control and influence

building the initiative, taking strategic decisions, over land in the area with emphasisbuilding ‘buy in’ from their own and other’s on tourism, environment, recreation:organisations. CCW

Environment Agency WalesCarmarthenshire CCCeredigion CCAntur Teifi

Involvement A wider and open mechanism, involving people Pembrokeshire CCand organisations in shaping and delivering Forestry Commissionspecific joint projects and programmes Angling (which may involve putting together funding Farmers’ Unionsbids, etc.). Wildlife Trusts

Local Agenda 21Welsh Development AgencyWelsh Tourist BoardPembrokeshire NPAEconomic development and /or tourism sections of CCsCommunity groups– wide involvement, decided on project-by-project basis.

Consultation Activities reaching an even wider group, As relevantgetting views on projects, programmes or priorities to inform activities(But NB: use existing information first).

Information Providing information– from information As relevant/education leaflets to education workshops – to an even

wider set of people and organisations.

B5. Evaluation of the meeting

Before leaving, participants were asked to complete an evaluation form. The comments and ratings aregiven below:

1. How would you rate the meeting overall?

2. How satisfied were you with the outcome/decisions of the meeting?

3. How did you feel about the style of the meeting? In particular, was it useful to have itfacilitated rather than chaired?

Yes, very useful.Yes.Yes, because it would have been difficult to suggest an independent chair.Yes.Yes, very useful to have impartial steer.Yes, impartial.Very, very useful to have it facilitated. Everyone was able to make their viewpoint known. A constructive use of time.Yes.

4. Do you have any remaining concerns about this initiative?

Needs to be focused.None.


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Extra people especially general should only be brought in if clearly necessary.No.Organisational buy-in, time resources.All partners do not seem 100% convinced of need for the group/network and rather feel that existing liaison should be improved.Left too early to consider discussion on the partnership ‘entity’ – legal, informal.

5.Any suggestions for future meetings?

None.As discussed.Good location.Tight agenda.Facilitator again?Wider audience.

6. ParticipantsSarah Andrews (CCW Carmarthenshire)Sue Byrne (CCW Ceredigion)Stuart Davis (Life in UK Rivers/CCW)Ian Dutch (Ceredigion CC)Elwyn Hughes (Carmarthenshire CC)Mike Jenkins (Environment Agency Wales)Allan Lewis (Ceredigion CC)Pippa Miller (Environment Agency Wales)Andrew Parkin (CCW Pembrokeshire)Liza Tomos (CCW West Area)

FacilitatorLindsey Colbourne

Interested parties unable to attendRosie Carmichael (Carmarthenshire CC)Jon Turner (CCW Ceredigion:Teifi)


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Appendix C:Afon Teifi SSSI citationCYNGOR CEFN GWLAD CYMRUCOUNTRYSIDE COUNCIL FOR WALES

SITE OF SPECIAL SCIENTIFIC INTEREST CITATION

CEREDIGION / PEMBROKESHIRE / CARMARTHENSHIRE AFON TEIFI SSSI

Local Planning Authority: Cyngor Sir CeredigionPembrokeshire County CouncilCarmarthenshire County CouncilPembrokeshire Coast National Park

Date of Notification: 8 December 1997

National Grid Reference: SN785675 to SN158502

O.S. Maps: 1:50,000 Sheet number: 145,146,147 1:10,000 Sheet number: SN14 SE,NE

SN23 NE,NW,SESN24 SE,SWSN33 SE,SWSN34 SE,SW,NWSN43 NW, NESN44 SE,SW,NWSN54 NE,NW,SWSN55 SW,SESN64 NWSN65 NE,NW,SW,SESN66 NE,SESN76 NE,NW,SW

Site Area: 772.6 ha

Description:

Afon Teifi rises at an altitude of 455 m at Llyn Teifi on the western slopes of the Cambrian mountains. Itflows south-west, through the raised mire complex of Cors Caron and on through the Teifi Gorge,entering Cardigan Bay at Cardigan.The geology consists of Ordovician and Silurian mudstones,siltstones and sandstones, that are extensively mantled by Quaternary deposits of variable, butsometimes considerable thicknesses. These consist of sands and gravels, glacial lake clays, alluvium andpeat. Afon Teifi is of special interest for a range of river types and associated riverside habitats;flowering plants; bryophytes; otter; Cetti's warbler; bottlenose dolphin; brown hairstreak; fish;dragonflies and a variety of other invertebrates as well as both breeding and wintering birdcommunities and for geomorphological features at Cenarth and Cors Caron.Ten tributaries; the Cych,Clettwr, Grannell, Ceri, Dulas, Piliau, Groes,Tyweli, Cerdin and Brefi, are also included in the site.

Geomorphology:

The Teifi valley is notable for a range of geomorphological features exemplified by SSSI sites at CorsCaron and Cenarth. At Cors Caron, Afon Teifi flows through an area of fine-grained lake sedimentsand provides an exceptional opportunity for studying fluvial transport processes dominated bysuspended sediment movement. It provides a marked contrast with the upstream and downstream


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reaches where coarse bedload transport is dominant, which is more typical of upland rivers in mid-Wales.There are also important contrasts in bank erosion and stability within the site that areassociated with variations in the vegetation.

The Teifi at Cenarth exemplifies several such river gorges along its course, as at Cilgerran, Henllan,Alltcavan, Llandysul and Llanllwni.These were fashioned by glacial meltwater across spurs during ice-sheet melting.This event was followed by the development of Lake Teifi, a large proglacial lake.Afterlake drainage, the Teifi took a preferred route along the meltwater gorges, thus abandoning itsApreglacial course that is still evident in nearby abandoned dry valleys that are infilled by thickaccumulations of glacial lake clays.

Biology:

Upstream of Cors Caron the Afon Teifi is an upland oligotrophic (nutrient-poor) river.Where it runsthrough peat, species such as the liverwort Scapania undulata and bog pondweed Potamogetonpolygonifolius with filamentous green algae occur within the channel, with species including purple-moorgrass Molinia caerulea, mat grass Nardus stricta and bog-mosses Sphagnum spp. characteristic of thechannel margins.Where the channel crosses rocky areas or mineral soil, the channel is often shaded bywillows Salix spp. and the channel flora consists mainly of shade-tolerant lower plants including Scapaniaundulata and the mosses Racomitrium aciculare and Rhynchostegium ripariodes, with filamentous algae andlichens Verrucaria spp. occurring on cobbles.

Afon Teifi, as it flows through Cors Caron, supports a distinctive plant community which reflects theslow flow, the oligotrophic water and the more mesotrophic (less nutrient-poor) banks, with clay andalluvium as well as peat.Typical species here are water horsetail Equisetum fluviatile, water sedge Carexaquatilis and broad-leaved pondweed Potamogeton natans. Cors Caron has an important regulatoryinfluence on flows in the Afon Teifi between Tregaron and Llandysul.The river, along most of this length,supports species including stream water-crowfoot Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. penicillatus, unbranchedbur-reed Sparganium emersum and common water-starwort Callitriche stagnalis. Similar vegetation occursin the Grannell and Dulas tributaries which join the Afon Teifi along this stretch, but in the smallerstreams few aquatic higher plant species occur, although intermediate water-starwort C. hamulata ischaracteristic.The liverwort Pellia epiphylla is common on clay banks in the small streams.

A short stretch of the main Afon Teifi around Llanybydder supports mesotrophic to eutrophic(nutrient-rich) vegetation including intermediate water-starwort, Canadian waterweed Elodea canadensisand branched bur-reed Sparganium erectum.

Below Llandysul,Afon Teifi is generally mesotrophic with species including common duckweed Lemnaminor, stream water-crowfoot and alternate water-milfoil Myriophyllum alterniflorum occurring, togetherwith a range of bryophytes including Cinclidotus fontinaloides, Rhynchostegium riparioides and Fontinalissquamosa. Reed canary-grass Phalaris arundinacea is a characteristic bankside plant.

The Cych and Clettwr tributaries support oligotrophic to mesotrophic communities, with speciesincluding hemp-agrimony Eupatorium cannabinum and bittersweet Solanum dulcamara characteristic ofthe banks and stream water-crowfoot Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. pseudofluitans within the channel onthe Cych.The mosses Hygrohypnum ochraceum and Fontinalis squamosa are present.

The Teifi Marshes support extensive Phragmites australis reedbeds and a mosaic of flood-plain fen,swamp, grassland and saltmarsh communities displaying transitions between freshwater and brackishcommunities.Woodland, scrub and hedgerows add to the diversity of the marshes. Estuarine alder Alnusglutinosa carr at Rosehill is of particular interest.

In the upper reaches of the Teifi Estuary intertidal flats are predominantly muddy. In the lower reachessand flats, shingle with associated vegetation and saltmarsh occur.

Afon Teifi is the major British stronghold of the nationally rare northern yellow-cress Rorippa islandica.The nationally scarce floating water-plantain Luronium natans occurs in the Teifi Pools and in a numberof other locations on the Afon Teifi, including Cors Caron. Five other nationally scarce higher plantspecies and seven species rare in west Wales also occur within the site.Afon Teifi is the only known site


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in Wales for the hybrid pondweed Potamogeton x olivaceus. It supports an important assemblage ofbryophyte species including the only known Welsh populations of the nationally rare multi-fruited rivermoss Cryphaea lamyana and four other bryophytes listed in the European Red Data Book.

Afon Teifi is of high invertebrate interest and eight Red Data Book species are known to occur,including the caddis flies Oecetis notata and Ylodes simulans and the five-spot ladybird Coccinellaquinquepunctata.The Red Data Book whorl snail Vertigo lilljeborgi occurs in riverside backwaters andwetlands.Thirty four nationally scarce invertebrates have been recorded, including brown hairstreakThecla betulae, with the freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera being of particular interest.Fifteen breeding dragonfly species, including the club-tailed dragonfly Gomphus vulgatissimus, have beenrecorded on the Teifi Marshes and nearby stretches of the river.

The otter Lutra lutra is widespread along Afon Teifi and its tributaries where appropriate bankside coverexists.Water vole Arvicola terrestris has been recorded.The river corridor, including bankside tree cover,bridges and other structures, provides valuable feeding habitat, and some roosting habitat, for up toeleven bat species, including Daubenton's bat Myotis daubentonii, greater horseshoe bat Rhinolophusferrumequinum and lesser horseshoe bat Rhinolophus hipposideros.

Afon Teifi and its tributaries support non-migratory fish species including native brown trout Salmotrutta fario, pike Esox lucius and important populations of brook lamprey Lampetra planeri and bullheadCottus gobio. Migratory fish which spawn within the river system include river lamprey L. fluviatilis, sealamprey Petromyzon marinus,Atlantic salmon S. salar, sea trout S. trutta trutta and the eel Anguilla anguilla.Grayling Thymallus thymallus and the rare allis shad Alosa alosa have also been reported.

Afon Teifi supports a range of breeding birds including dipper Cinclus cinclus, kingfisher Alcedo atthis, sandmartin Riparia riparia and sedge warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus.Associated wetlands providefeeding habitats for waders such as lapwing Vanellus vanellus, snipe Gallinago gallinago, curlew Numeniusarquata and redshank Tringa totanus.The Teifi Marshes are of particular ornithological significance andsupport important populations of breeding birds including snipe, water rail Rallus aquaticus, reed buntingEmbiriza schoeniclus, reed warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus and the rare Cetti's warbler Cettia cetti, thelatter at the north-west limit of its range.The lower reaches of the river, together with the associatedmarshes hold a notable range of wintering waterfowl.

Bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus and harbour porpoise Phocoena phocoena have been recorded inthe estuary.

Remarks:

The Teifi Marshes form part of the Welsh Wildlife Centre owned by the Wildlife Trust,West Wales.

The Afon Teifi site includes parts of the Cors Caron and Coedmor National Nature Reserves. CorsCaron is also a site designated as a wetland of international importance under the terms of the RamsarConvention.

The upper course of Afon Teifi is within the Cambrian Mountains Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA).

Parts of the lower course of Afon Teifi are within the Preseli ESA.

The source of Afon Teifi falls within the Elenydd-Mallaen Special Protection Area.

Parts of this site have been selected as a result of the former Nature Conservancy Council=sGeological Conservation Review, a national survey and evaluation of sites of geological andphysiographical interest.

The main river is of Nature Conservation Review status.

The Afon Teifi SSSI incorporates land previously notified as part of the adjacent Cors Caron SSSI,Coedydd a Chorsydd Aberteifi SSSI, Pen yr Ergyd SSSI and Elenydd SSSI and incorporated the whole ofthe land previously notified as the Netpool Wood SSSI.

Afon Teifi supports the following species and habitats covered by European Directive 92/43/EEC on theConservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora:


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Floating vegetation of Ranunculus of plain, submountainous rivers - Annex I.

Floating water plantain - Annex II.

Otter - Annex II and IV.

Atlantic Salmon - Annex II and IV.

Bullhead - Annex II.

Allis shad - Annex II and V.

Brook lamprey - Annex II.

Sea lamprey - Annex II.

Grayling - Annex V.

Freshwater pearl mussel - Annex II and IV.

River lamprey - Annex II and V.

Bottlenose dolphin - Annex II and IV.

Harbour porpoise - Annex II and IV.

Daubenton's bat - Annex IV.

Pipistrelle bat - Annex IV.

Lesser horseshoe bat - Annex II.

Brown long-eared bat - Annex IV.

Natterer's bat - Annex IV.

Brandt's bat - Annex IV.

Whiskered bat - Annex IV.

Noctule bat - Annex IV.

Greater horseshoe - Annex II.

Serotine bat - Annex IV.

Leisler's bat - Annex IV.

Otter, Daubenton's bat, pipistrelle bat, lesser horseshoe, brown long-eared bat, Natterer's bat, Brandt'sbat, whiskered bat, noctule bat, greater horseshoe, serotine bat, Leisler's bat, freshwater pearl mussel,bottlenose dolphin, brown hairstreak and harbour porpoise are listed under Schedule 5 of the Wildlifeand Countryside Act 1981 (as amended).

Floating water plantain and multi-fruited river moss are listed under Schedule 8 of the Wildlife andCountryside Act 1981 (as amended).

Cetti's warbler is listed under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, (as amended).


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Appendix D: Reasons for recommendation as acSACThis area has been recommended as a cSAC because it contains habitat types and/or species that arerare or threatened within a European context. The SSSI citation describes the special interests forwhich the site was notified in the British context. [NB: not for marine interests below mean low watermark].The interests for which the site was selected as SSSI may differ from the interests selected in aEuropean context.

The area is considered to have a high diversity of habitats/species of European importance.

D1. Interest(s) submitted to the European Commission

1. Bullhead (Cottus gobio), for which this is considered to be one of the best areas in the UK.Thebullhead is a small bottom-living fish found in the upper reaches of lowland rivers and lower and middlereaches of upland rivers in England and Wales. It is not found in badly polluted rivers.

2. River lamprey (Lampetra fluviatilis), for which this is considered to be one of the best areas in theUK.The river lamprey is a primitive, jawless fish resembling an eel. Confined to western Europe, itmigrates from the sea to spawn in silt beds of many rivers in the UK. One population in the UK is,however, known to live entirely in fresh water.The river lamprey is absent from some rivers because ofpollution and barriers to migration.

3. Brook lamprey (Lampetra planeri), for which this is considered to be one of the best areas in theUK.The brook lamprey is a primitive, jawless fish resembling an eel and is the smallest of the lampreysfound in the UK. It lives entirely in fresh water and occurs over most of the UK in streams andoccasionally in lakes.

4. Floating water-plantain (Luronium natans), for which this is considered to be one of the bestareas in the UK. The floating water-plantain is a rare, small, white-flowered water plant only found inEurope. In the UK it is considered a nationally scarce plant. It is found in Wales and central andnorthern England, growing in lakes, reservoirs, ponds, slow-flowing rivers and canals. The floating water-plantain occurs as two forms: in shallow water with floating oval leaves, and in deep water withsubmerged rosettes of narrow leaves.

5. Otter (Lutra lutra), for which this is considered to be one of the best areas in the UK.The otter issemi-aquatic mammals, requiring both good fishing grounds for food and suitable shelter on land forresting and breeding. Once widespread in Europe, the otter population declined sharply during the1960s and 1970s. It is now showing signs of recovery in the UK and is spreading to repopulate itsformer areas. The UK, and in particular Scotland, supports some of the largest concentrations of ottersin Europe, with both freshwater and coastal populations.

6. Oligotrophic to mesotrophic standing waters with vegetation of the Littorelleteauniflorae and/or of the Isoëto-Nanojuncetea, for which the area is considered to support asignificant presence. Clear-water lakes or lochs with aquatic vegetation and poor to moderate nutrientlevels. In the UK this freshwater habitat is represented in the north and west by lakes with low tomoderate nutrient levels.These waters are often vulnerable to acid deposition and nutrient enrichment.Shoreweed (Littorella uniflora) and water lobelia (Lobelia dortmanna) are characteristic of shallow lakeareas. In deeper water, alternate water-milfoil (Myriophyllum alterniflorum), and quillworts (Isoetes spp.)are found.These lakes usually have healthy salmonid fish populations. Brown trout (Salmo trutta) arecommon, although in some lakes, species such as arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus), whitefish (Coregonuslavaretus) or vendace (Coregonus albula) also occur.


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7. Sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus), for which the area is considered to support a significantpresence.This is a primitive, jawless fish resembling an eel. It is the largest of the lampreys found in theUK. It inhabits North Atlantic coastal waters and migrates to spawn in rivers. It has a widespreaddistribution within the UK, although populations have declined due to pollution and barriers tomigration.

8.Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), for which this is considered to be one of the best areas in the UK.The Atlantic salmon is the largest of our migratory fish and spawns in the least polluted rivers ofnorth-west Europe. It has declined due to over-fishing at sea, pollution and barriers to migration withinits spawning rivers.The UK supports a large proportion of the salmon population in the EuropeanUnion.

9. Watercourses of plain to montane levels with Ranunculion fluitantis and Callitricho-Batrachion vegetation, for which this is considered to be one of the best areas in the UK. Riversthat support characteristic communities of water-crowfoot (Ranunculus spp.), which often dominate theplant community in the river channel.This vegetation occurs in relatively unpolluted waters, in a diverserange of river types.


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Appendix E: Afon Teifi SSSI Potentially DamagingOperationsRef. no Type of operation

1. Cultivation, including ploughing, rotovating, harrowing and re-seeding.

2. The introduction of grazing to ungrazed areas and alterations to the grazing regime in other areas (including type of stock, intensity or seasonal pattern of grazing).

3. Stock feeding, the introduction of stock feeding and alterations to stock feeding practice.

4. Mowing or cutting vegetation, the introduction of mowing or cutting and alterations to the mowing or cutting regime (such as from haymaking to silage).

5. Application of manure, slurry, silage liquor, fertilisers and lime to agriculturally unimproved permanent grass, forestry and all other unimproved riparian habitats.

6. Application of pesticides, including terrestrial and aquatic herbicides, (weedkillers) excluding spot treatment of noxious weeds.

7 Dumping, spreading or discharging of any materials.

8. Burning and alterations to the pattern or frequency of burnings.

9. Release into the site of any wild animal*, plant, seed or micro-organism.

10. Killing, injuring, taking or removal of any wild animal*, or the eggs/nests of any wild animal or the disturbing, taking, damaging or destroying of any wild animal in its place of shelter excluding pest control, existing fishing and game shooting.

11. Destruction, displacement, removal or cutting of any plant or plant remains, including tree,shrub, herb, hedge, dead or decaying wood, moss, lichen, fungus, leaf-mould, turf or peat.

12. Tree and/or woodland management, the introduction of tree and/or woodland management and alterations to tree and/or woodland management including planting, felling, pruning and tree surgery, thinning, coppicing, changes in species composition and removal of fallen timber.

13a. Drainage including the use of mole, tile, tunnel or other artificial drains.

13b. Modification to the structure of water courses including rivers, streams, springs, ditches,dykes, drains, oxbows, backwater channels and mill leats/races including their banks and beds, as by re-alignment, regrading, damming, dredging, shoal removal, excavation, dredging and the installation and repair of weirs, sluices, fish ladders and croys, and the installation of new fishing platforms, fords and stock watering points.

13c. Management of aquatic and bank vegetation for drainage purposes.

14. Alterations to water levels and tables and water utilisation including irrigation, storage and abstraction from existing water bodies and through boreholes. Also the modification of current drainage regime, (e.g. through the installation of new pumps).

15. Infilling or digging of ditches, dykes, drains, ponds, pools, marshes, oxbows, backwater channels, mill leats/races, quarries or pits.

16a. Freshwater fishery production and/or management, including sporting fishing and angling,commercial netting, the introduction of freshwater fishery production and/or management and alterations to freshwater fishery production and/or management.

16b. Introduction of or alterations to seafood or marine life collection, including commercial netting, the use of traps or fish cages.

17. Reclamation of land from sea, estuary or marsh.


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19. Erection and repair of sea defences or coast protection works, including cliff or landslip drainage or stabilisation measures.

20. Extraction of minerals including peat, shingle, hard rock, sand and gravel, topsoil, subsoil,shells and spoil.

21. Destruction, construction, removal, rerouting, or regrading of roads, tracks, walls, fences,hardstands, banks, ditches or other earthworks, including soil and rock exposures.

22. Storage of materials.

23. Erection of permanent or temporary structures or the undertaking of engineering works,including drilling or the laying, maintenance or removal of pipelines and cables, above or below ground.

24. Modification of natural or man-made features (including cave entrances) and clearance of boulders, large stones, loose rock or scree and the battering, buttressing or grading of geological exposures, river banks and cuttings (rock and soil) and infilling of pits and quarries.

26. Use of vehicles or craft within the control of the owner or occupier.

27. Recreational activities within the control of the owner or occupier.

28. Introduction of game or waterfowl management and alterations to game and waterfowl management and hunting practice.

* "animal" includes any mammal, reptile, amphibian, bird, fish or invertebrate (including honey bees).


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Conserving Natura 2000 RiversEcology Series

1 Ecology of the White-clawed Crayfish, Austropotamobius pallipes2 Ecology of the Freshwater Pearl Mussel, Margaritifera margaritifera3 Ecology of the Allis and Twaite Shad, Alosa alosa and A. fallax4 Ecology of the Bullhead, Cottus gobio5 Ecology of the River, Brook and Sea Lamprey, Lampetra fluviatilis, L. planeri and Petromyzon marinus6 Ecology of Desmoulin’s Whorl Snail, Vertigo moulinsiana7 Ecology of the Atlantic Salmon, Salmo salar8 Ecology of the Southern Damselfly, Coenagrion mercuriale9 Ecology of the Floating Water-plantain, Luronium natans10 Ecology of the European Otter, Lutra lutra11 Ecology of Watercourses Characterised by Ranunculion fluitantis and Callitricho-Batrachion Vegetation

Monitoring Series

1 A Monitoring Protocol for the White-clawed Crayfish, Austropotamobius pallipes2 A Monitoring Protocol for the Freshwater Pearl Mussel, Margaritifera margaritifera3 A Monitoring Protocol for the Allis and Twaite Shad, Alosa alosa and A. fallax4 A Monitoring Protocol for the Bullhead, Cottus gobio5 A Monitoring Protocol for the River, Brook and Sea Lamprey, Lampetra fluviatilis, L. planeri and

Petromyzon marinus6 A Monitoring Protocol for Desmoulin’s Whorl Snail, Vertigo moulinsiana7 A Monitoring Protocol for the Atlantic Salmon, Salmo salar8 A Monitoring Protocol for the Southern Damselfly, Coenagrion mercuriale9 A Monitoring Protocol for the Floating Water-plantain, Luronium natans10 A Monitoring Protocol for the European Otter, Lutra lutra11 A Monitoring Protocol for Watercourses Characterised by Ranunculion fluitantis and

Callitricho-Batrachion Vegetation

These publications can be obtained from:

The Enquiry ServiceEnglish NatureNorthminster HousePeterboroughPE1 1UAEmail: [email protected]: +44 (0) 1733 455100Fax: +44 (0) 1733 455103

They can also be downloaded from the project website: www.riverlife.org.uk

Information on Conserving Natura 2000 Rivers and the Life in UK Rivers project can be found at

www.riverlife.org.uk

This document was produced with the support of the European Commission’s LIFE NatureProgramme and published by the Life in UK Rivers project - a joint venture involving EnglishNature, the Countryside Council for Wales, the Environment Agency, the Scottish EnvironmentProtection Agency, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Scotland and Northern Ireland Forum

for Environmental Research.

The River Teifi is of international conservation importance for its Ranunculus vegetation

communities, bullheads, floating water-plantain, otters,lamprey, Littorellacea vegetation and Atlantic salmon.Consequently, the river has been recommended as a candidate Special Area of Conservation under the

Habitats Directive.

This conservation strategy aims to ensure that the requirements of the special features are consideredwhen any activity is planned that might affect theriver ecosystem.This strategy also provides action

plans for the long-term management of these habitatsand species.

The Life in UK Rivers project was established to develop methods forconserving the wildlife and habitats of rivers within the Natura 2000

network of protected European sites.

Set up by the UK statutory conservation bodies and the EuropeanCommission’s LIFE Nature programme, the project has sought to identifythe ecological requirements of key plants and animals supported by river

Special Areas of Conservation.

In addition, monitoring techniques and conservation strategies have beendeveloped as practical tools for assessing and maintaining these

internationally important species and habitats.

Documents

SJD Teifi Strategy_Final