Action Plan: Rivers & Streams

The mosaic of features found in rivers and streams supports a diverse range of plants, animals, fish and invertebrates. They act as important corridors that link together other wildlife features and provide safe routes for species to move between sites. They are also of value to humans through the various recreational uses associated with them such as fishing and canoeing. Many of our rivers and streams have been heavily modified in the past, resulting in degraded habitats supporting fewer species. This trend is now being reversed with opportunities to recreate naturally functioning systems being implemented.

In Northumberland the water vole is present on a number of watercourses, but populations are generally small and isolated. In contrast, the otter is returning to previous haunts after suffering a serious decline. Wooded river valleys provide some of the most important habitats for bats, with abundant invertebrate food resources and suitable roosting sites in trees and under bridges.

Gravel shoals and floodplain wetlands are important breeding sites for oystercatcher, common sandpiper and grey wagtail. A range of fish species of conservation concern occur in Northumberland’s rivers and burns, including the lampern, brook lamprey, marine lamprey (which spawns in freshwater), Atlantic salmon, sea trout, brown trout and bullhead.