Case Studies

Our role: In July 2006, Surf Telecoms commissioned Ecosulis, to undertake a white-clawed crayfish survey along Wellow Brook, Radstock, Wiltshire. The instructions were to assess the presence/absence of white-clawed crayfish 100m upstream and 100m downstream of a section of the brook prior to and post the installation of a cable beneath the watercourse.

The Environment Agency informed Surf Telecoms during their initial consultation that whiteclawed crayfish were present in Wellow Brook and requested that a monitoring survey of this species be undertaken prior to and post the installation of fibre optic cables beneath the brook bed. Ecosulis liaised with the Environment Agency in order to agree the proposed approach for the works and survey requirements. The pipe was installed through thrust boring under the brook as oppose to damning the brook, which was recommended to minimise direct impacts to the watercourse and white-clawed crayfish.

The surveys identified almost three times as many white-clawed crayfish in July (pre-works) as there were in October (post-works). A higher incidence of crayfish recorded in October in the downstream section of the brook suggests that impacts to the watercourse as a consequence of the drilling and cable installation were minimal. It was concluded that the reduction of overall numbers of white-clawed crayfish recorded between these survey dates was likely to be caused by environmental factors as opposed to impacts from the cable installation. It was recommended that the brook be maintained in its current state with consideration given to the removal of urban debris.