River Usk - Environmental Significance

Environmental Significance

The whole river has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). It contains estuary with mudflats and salt marsh, lagoons, bog and marsh, varied grassland and woodland habitats along its course. Its flora and fauna is diverse and includes salmon, trout, otters, twaite, shad, lamprey, perch, sea trout, chub, dace and roach as well as kingfishers, herons and other wildfowl and bird life. Dippers can be seen upriver along with red kite.

The Usk has long been a noted salmon and trout fishing river. Salmon of over 30 lb (14 kg) can still be caught. The river has the highest estimated salmon egg deposition of any river south of Cumbria and the Scottish rivers, and exceeded its spawning target. The river has recently been rated as the best fly fishing water in Wales for salmon and inside the UK Top Ten.

The Normal Tidal Limit (NTL) of the river is the bridge at Newbridge-on-Usk, some five miles north of Newport.