WORK to create a fish pass on a 300 year old weir in the North-East is underway.
Five hundred tonnes of stone will be used to build the fish pass at Lintzford, near Rowlands Gill.
Once complete, it will allow migratory fish to access parts of the River Derwent that have remained off-limits for more than 300 years.
Migratory fish as well as important species like lamprey, eels and grayling have not been able to freely move up the river at since the weir was built to provide water to power Lintzford Corn Mill.
The project is being led by Tyne Rivers Trust as part of the Land of Oak and Iron project, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Douglas Phillips, director of Tyne Rivers Trust, said: “Three hundred years ago the building of the weir effectively blocked off large sections of spawning ground to migratory fish and made it impossible for them to complete their journey upstream to lay eggs. The fish pass uses local stone to rest against the historic weir preserving the character and heritage of this picturesque spot.”
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