Drought

Thousands of fish are reported to have died when an entire stretch of river dried up as it passed through a beach in Conwy. Local residents and anglers fought to rescue fish fry caught in rapidly diminishing pools on the Afon Dulas – but for many it proved too late.The compact, 12km river begins on the slopes of Moelfre Uchaf south of Betws yn Rhos. As it travels north towards Liverpool Bay, it passes through the coastal village of Llanddulas and runs alongside its beach before reaching the sea.Last summer, for the first time in living memory, sections of the river dried up completely. During the late June 2026 heatwave, water levels once more dropped to dangerously low levels and a fish rescue operation was mounted by determined volunteers.Now, amid the year's third heatwave, parts of the river have completely dried out, North Wales Live reports. While the weather plays a role, some residents suspect interference upstream and have also pointed to the damaging effects of a severe winter storm.Fish rescue efforts were spearheaded by a local wildlife enthusiast. Trout fry and young eels were gathered using nets, sieves and buckets for transfer upstream.Online, she expressed her frustration: "The water was so shallow I was literally able to rescue a fish in the scoop part of my dog's ball launcher. All of the trapped fish have died and there are now thousands of fish and fish fry carcasses drying out in the heat."Natural Resources Wales (NRW) was notified but said it could not take action. A NRW spokesperson said: "We have received reports of low flows on the Afon Dulas and understand public concern about the impact these conditions can have on fish populations and the wider river environment."Lack of rainfall has led to low river levels and isolated pools in smaller streams, creating conditions that can cause stress and mortality among fish populations."Attempting to relocate fish during low flows and high temperatures can cause further harm, as many do not survive handling and relocation."A distinctive feature on Llanddulas beach is a timber footbridge crossing Afon Dulas. It forms part of the Wales Coast Path linking Old Colwyn to Pensarn. Usually the water here reaches knee or ankle depth and flows rapidly.n the past there were sections where the river ran considerably deeper. One person recounted online: "40 years ago I stepped off of a rock into that river and went straight under, didn't realise the depth of it. I was rescued and coughed up water and was sick. Sad to see it dry, we used to fish in there."Fish that were saved were moved to pools underneath another distinctive local structure, a six-pier railway viaduct supporting the North Wales Coast Line. Additional fish were relocated to pools below a bridge supporting the A55 Expressway.The remainder were abandoned to die in sun-warmed river pools. One hypothesis suggests the river's course was modified by stones and shingle deposited inland during a storm in winter 2023-24.A substantial portion of Llanddulas beach benefits from shingle and rock armour protection, though this ceases at the mouth of Afon Dulas where water cascades over a striking weir into the sea.
The coastal defences essentially confine the river along the beach until it reaches the sea. Afon Dulas is now strewn with pebbles that residents maintain came from the beachNRW stated it has no knowledge of any dams or significant abstraction operations that would account for diminishing river flows. A spokesperson explained: "We recently audited impoundments and abstractions in the catchment and found none that would explain the low flows."However, small abstractions of less than 20 cubic metres per day are exempt from licensing, and while their combined impact may affect river levels during dry periods, we cannot regulate them."We will continue to monitor conditions, investigate any factors that may be affecting river levels, and respond appropriately to incidents on a case-by-case basis. We encourage people to report environmental concerns, including distressed fish, dry riverbeds or pollution, via our online incident form or by calling our incident hotline on 03000 65 3000."The organiser of the recent fish rescue believes NRW must collaborate with Conwy Council to identify solutions. In an era of rising temperatures, rivers running dry are likely to become increasingly prevalent, she warned.She added: "The first thing people say is you need to dredge the river. There are very few instances where that would make a difference – I think this is one of them."If this is to continue and NRW cannot determine a source, we should question whether this continues to be managed as a main river."