Restocking sets Slough stream on the road to recoveryAn environmentally sensitive Slough stream hit by a pollution incident last October, killing 10,000 fish, was put firmly back on the road to recovery as of the 31st of January. More than 200 chub were put into the Salt Hill Stream in the town by fisheries officers from the Environment Agency. The restocking is just the start of a long recovery process, and Environment Agency officers hope to introduce more fish in the future to give the stream a helping hand, boosting the local fish population and restoring its ecological balance. An estimated 10,000 fish were wiped out on 11 September 2006 when the Salt Hill Stream, an important tributary of the Thames, was hit by an unknown pollutant which passed through the stream near Newbar Way, Chalvey, Slough. The Environment Agency received calls from members of the public about dead fish in the stream, and reported that the water had turned milky-grey in colour. Environment Agency fisheries officers at the scene estimated more than 10,000 fish were killed by the pollutant, including gudgeon, bullhead, perch, pike, roach, dace and chub. George Gerring, a fisheries officer for the Environment Agency, said: “The upper reaches of the stream normally have good water quality standards providing an important habitat for wildlife in an urban area, so we are pleased to have started the restocking process. We have already seen signs of fish moving downstream into the area, so we know the stream is recovering. “The fish we’ve introduced were carefully chosen, and they have been screened to ensure they are healthy and free of disease. We want this recovery to continue and we are asking for the public to keep an eye on the stream and report any pollution incidents to us immediately by calling 0800 80 70 60.” |
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