The Small Streams Characterisation System Courses (SSCS) are now being run by the East Wicklow Rivers Trust in partnership with County Wicklow Partnership. If you wish to participate in the first online SSCS course, on the 24th October 2020, and the subsequent field day in spring 2021, could you please forward an email confirming your interest in the course to the following two email addresses:
wicklowrivers@mail.com and ken@kenwhelan.info
Small Streams Characterisation System (SSCS) Course
One day (online) and one full day in the field
https://atlanticsalmontrust.org/small-streams-course/
The course is designed to train those who are interested in small streams on how best to monitor and characterise these small water bodies. The rationale behind the course is outlined below:
- The course is based on a simple premise: that obtaining high-quality information on the condition of our small streams is key for catchment and fishery managers to put in place plans to protect the high quality water-courses and improve the problematic areas.
- This citizen science based training programme covers the collection of data on fauna, flora and hydromorphology (the physical structure of the stream channel). It provides volunteers with the required skills and training to walk and monitor the small streams in their particular location, both small mountain streams and discrete coastal streams.
- The objective of the assessment is not to intentionally seek out pollution points but to objectively assess the current status of small streams. In many ways identifying and highlighting the presence of pristine streams that have been little impacted by agricultural or forestry practices, is as important as identifying problems in damaged or degraded streams.
- The Institute of Fisheries Management has accredited the course and will issue a Certificate of Achievement to those who successfully complete the SSCS course.
There is no requirement on a participant to take the assessment, but an IFM Certificate cannot be issued unless a participant has completed the full two day course and the assessment. Each student on the course will be enrolled as a Friend of the Atlantic Salmon Trust for one year (http://www.atlanticsalmontrust.org/support-us/become-a-friend/).
