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20 <br />M.-F. O'Grady and J. Curtin <br />Loose stone "flooded" weirs have <br />been built to perform three different <br />functions - to trap and accumulate <br />gravels for spawning purposes, to <br />create a hydraulic gradient at intervals <br />in low grade (< 0.5%) channels <br />thereby improving the quality of ju- <br />venile salmon and adult trout habitat <br />and to alter uniform glides in high <br />gradient (> 0.3%) zones generating a <br />riffle/glide/pool sequence. Productive <br />salmonid habitat in deep (1.0 m- <br />2.5 m) glides with a poor gradient <br />< 0.05%) have been created by plac- <br />ing stone mattresses on channel beds <br />which reduce the discharge area at <br />summer level thereby increasing <br />water velocities and creating a more <br />complex ecological regime. The stone <br />bed and increased discharge regime <br />have created quality salmonid habitat <br />(O'Grady eta]., 1991). In deep (2.0 m- <br />2.5 m) channels these mattresses <br />have been flat in section. In shallower <br />channels (1.0-1.5 m) gulleys have <br />been built into these structures in <br />central positions to scour pools <br />downstream of the mattresses. Large <br />boulders have been placed on the bed <br />in these pool areas to provide lies for <br />adult trout. Deflectors built in alterna- <br />ing sequence along a channel have <br />been constructed to restore natural <br />channel base width, thereby increas- <br />ing vertical scour and recreating a <br />thalweg. These have been con- <br />structed of loose stone or timber. In <br />the latter case the frames have been <br />constructed of forestry poles and the <br />structure filled with light branches as <br />described by (White and Bryndilson, <br />1967 and others). Mid-stream V <br />shaped (islands) structures have been <br />built in shallow glides to mean sum- <br />mer flow level to constrict the summer <br />discharge regime thereby increasing <br />velocities and enhancing salmonid <br />stocks (O'Grady et al., 1991). Bank <br />protection works may have to be in- <br />corporated into these programmes. <br />Gravel beds have been reintroduced <br />as necessary where spawning im- <br />balances are evident. The range and <br />mixture of stone sizes used for sal- <br />mon and trout spawning beds are <br />based on the findings of Fluskey <br />(1989) who established the preferred <br />range of stone sizes in redds dug by <br />salmon and trout in Irish rivers. Areas <br />of river bed with a hard compacted or <br />smooth rock bed have been covered <br />with a layer of rubble to increase mac- <br />roinvertebrate production (Needham, <br />1969) and provide a more complex <br />hydraulic regime suited to juvenile sal- <br />monids. This strategy has also proved <br />successfull (O'Grady et al., 1993). <br />The fast rate and extent of recolonisa- <br />tion of "new" stony areas by macro- <br />invertebrates in Irish rivers has been <br />described by Lynch and Murray (in <br />press). The impact of excessive bank- <br />side vegetation in shading channels <br />and reducing salmonid stocks has <br />been recognised and is being <br />addressed (O'Grady, 1993). The <br />authors are aware of the potential <br />value of "lunker structures" and 1/2 <br />logs" used widely in North America to <br />increase the adult trout carrying <br />capacity of channels (White and Bryn- <br />dilson, 1967 and others). To-date, we <br />have not had an opportunity to eval- <br />uate these in Irish rivers. In general