A SCHEME to improve salmon stocks on the River Tavy will also ensure the future of green renewable energy produced by Mary Tavy and Morwellham hydro power stations. South West Water is working with the Environment Agency on the scheme to improve salmon stocks. It is part of a broader EA initiative to improve the ecology of the river and protect salmon stocks, which are widely regarded as a key indicator of the health of a river. South West Water will adapt the hydro intakes at Abbey Weir in Tavistock and the nearby Hill Bridge. Both are being carefully re-designed with new automatic screening devices to prevent young salmon escaping into the water channels that feed Mary Tavy and Morwellham hydro power stations. Mark Beighton, South West Water's water treatment manager, said: 'South West Water is committed to ensuring that our renewable energy projects remain positive to wildlife and river ecology and we are happy to work with the EA to ensure the hydro water intakes are as environmentally friendly as possible.' Bruce Newport, for the agency, said: 'These voluntary changes are of fundamental importance to the recovery of salmon stocks in the Tavy and we are very pleased that South West Water is working with us on this initiative.' South West Water's hydro power schemes currently prevent four to five million tonnes of CO2 from entering the atmosphere every year. The improvements to the hydro intakes at Abbey Weir and Hill Bridge will not only improve the health of the Tavy but also help the company reduce its carbon footprint in the region. As part of its contribution to the preservation and protection of the environment, South West Water now generates 5.73 MW of energy through hydro electric power and 1.46 MW through Combined Heat and Power (CHP -biogas). This combined energy production is enough to power a town with a population of more than 12,000 people. Mary Tavy hydro power station alone generates one third of the company's green energy. By working with the EA on the River Tavy initiative, the company says it is proactively improving the health of the river and achieving the perfect balance between renewable energy and the ecological improvement.
